The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation is in Chevak conducting community-wide coronavirus testing. The Chevak Tribal Council declared a community lockdown on Oct. 12 after a resident tested positive for the virus. That resident is a student at the Chevak school, according to Chevak Superintendent David Lougee.
Lougee said that the school has been closed to students and doing remote learning for a week, since Oct. 7, when the student who tested positive began experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. As of Oct. 13, all of the students and school staff the student came into contact with had entered a two-week quarantine. That includes the school cooks, forcing the school to suspend its lunch program for the time being.
Lougee said that teachers are using a combination of paper packets and Facebook Live videos to hold classes. The Chevak students watch the videos on their parents’ smartphones. The equipment for the school to set up its own internet connection with students arrived this week and is being put together. However, the iPads that the school purchased are on backorder until early November.
Lougee said that teachers, students, and parents are doing the best they can during this situation.
Chevak is one of at least four Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta communities in lockdown because of COVID-19. The other communities are Quinhagak and Kipnuk.
Correction: This story originally said that Kasilguk was still in lockdown because of COVID-19. That is incorrect. The tribal council ended its lockdown on Oct. 13.
