Emmonak is the latest community in the region to develop community spread of COVID-19, according to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation. Active cases in the lower Yukon hub cannot be linked to outside travel. This means that COVID-19 is spreading among community members.
The City of Emmonak, Emmonak Tribal Council, and Chuloonawick Native Village support the determination of community spread. The village has been under lockdown for nearly a month, after residents came down with the virus on Nov. 16. The Emmonak Tribal Council extends the lockdown by three weeks every time it learns of a new positive case. The lockdown is currently set to expire on Dec. 28.
As of Dec. 8, the Emmonak Tribal Council said that 35 people in the community have tested positive for the virus, and that three of those cases are still active.
The regional health corporation has determined that community spread of COVID-19 is occurring in at least 10 other communities in the Y-K Delta: Akiak, Bethel, Chevak, Kongiganak, Kwethluk, Napaskiak, Quinhagak, Scammon Bay, Toksook Bay, and Tuluksak.
