COVID-19 Outbreak At Bethel Jail Grows

The COVID-19 outbreak at the Bethel jail continues to grow larger. As of Dec. 8, there were 65 active cases at the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center. That’s well over a quarter of the inmate population at the facility, and an increase of 26 cases within five days.Alaska Department of Corrections Spokesperson Sarah Gallagher wrote in an email that none of the active cases at YKCC are currently hospitalized. She said that a previously infected inmate had been transported to the Bethel hospital, but has since returned to the facility. She said that YKCC is continuing serial testing of inmates to try to isolate positive cases as soon as possible.