A Nunapitchuk resident died of coronavirus in the Bethel hospital on Wednesday, August 19. Nunapitchuk mayor Noah Wise confirmed that the resident was born and raised in the Yukon-Kuskokwim village, left to live in Anchorage, and then returned this summer to their home.
The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporationannounced the death on Thursday, Aug. 20, saying that the resident was in their 50s and had previously tested positive for the virus. This is the second death in the region and the first resident, according to YKHC. The first hospitalization and death was announced July 27.
The region has seen a spike in cases in the past two months, including its first cluster last week when several people who had been in contact with prior positive cases also tested positive. Three jail employees and two courthouse employees were among the positive cases. So far, YKHC has announced 60 cases and two deaths.
Meanwhile, Nunapitchuk has been on lockdown since the evening of Aug. 15 because of a person in the community infected with the virus. This is the second time that Nunapitchuk has shut down the community to prevent the virus from spreading.
