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Holiday gathering recommendations from YKHC

Katie Basile
/
KYUK
Slaviq festivities at St. Sophia Church in Bethel on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2018.

In just a few weeks, the omicron variant has spread to become the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the United States. Scientists believe that the omicron variant is twice as transmissible as the delta variant of the virus, according to Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges. While omicron has not been detected in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta yet, Hodges says that people should act as though omicron is in the region already. With omicron in the backdrop of this holiday season, Hodges issued these recommendations for holiday gatherings.

If you are attending an in-person gathering:

  • Get vaccinated. If you are vaccinated, get a booster shot.
  • Stay home if you feel sick or unwell.
  • Avoid in-person gatherings with people outside of your household if there is an outbreak in your community.
  • Avoid in-person gatherings if you are immunocompromised.
  • Wear a mask to attend in-person religious celebrations. Stay 6 feet away from other households.

If you are hosting an in-person gathering:

  • Consider only allowing vaccinated people to attend your gathering.
  • Consider limiting the size of your gathering.
  • Open a window or a door and position a fan to improve ventilation.
  • Require masking if everyone at the gathering is not vaccinated or if there are multiple households attending.
  • Consider a virtual gathering instead.

If you are traveling:

  • Get tested. You can order a free, at-home testing kit from Bethel Public Health Nursing by calling 907-543-2110. YKHC’s testing center is closed from Thursday, Dec. 23 to Sunday, Dec. 26. 
    • Test yourself or get tested prior to traveling
    • Test yourself or get tested within 72 hours before the gathering
  • If you are visiting family in the lower 48, try to gather outdoors.
  • If you are not vaccinated, quarantine for 10 days after returning to the Y-K Delta.
  • If you are not boosted, consider quarantining for a few days and testing after returning from travel.

You can also visit YKHC’s website to see recommendations for holiday gatherings.

Greg Kim was a news reporter for KYUK from 2019-2022.
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