Beginning June 19, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation will no longer offer COVID-19 testing at the Alaska Airlines terminal in Bethel.
YKHC said that it’s discontinuing COVID-19 testing at the airport due to decreased demand. A few weeks ago, YKHC stopped offering drive-thru testing for the same reason.
YKHC is still offering walk-in COVID-19 BinaxNOW testing on the first floor of the Bethel hospital, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. A BinaxNOW test tests for antigens of the virus. YKHC also offers PCR or molecular testing for COVID-19, which are generally more accurate. Those tests are available by appointment.
The City of Bethel no longer requires people who are fully vaccinated to test or quarantine after traveling into the hub city. However, YKHC still strongly recommends that unvaccinated people test and quarantine after travel.
About 50% of the total population in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta has been vaccinated against COVID-19. To sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, you can go to YKHC’s website or call 800-478-6599.