On Oct. 20., the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation announced the most devastating COVID-19 numbers to date: 78 new coronavirus cases in a single day. YKHC also reported that a Y-K Delta Elder in their 70s passed away due to COVID-19 complications. Next of kin have been notified. This is the fourth coronavirus-related death for the region.
The vast majority of the new cases are from areas where YKHC has announced that community spread of COVID-19 is occurring. Fifty-one of the new cases are in Chevak, 11 are in Toksook Bay, 8 are in Quinhagak, and 5 are in Bethel. YKHC has announced that community spread is occurring in all four of those communities. YKHC also announced one new case in Hooper Bay, and two cases in two unnamed Y-K Delta villages.
YKHC’s press release states that the region is experiencing a “dramatic surge in COVID-19 cases and within the last seven days YKHC has sent multiple individuals by medevac to Anchorage due to serious infections of COVID-19. Because COVID-19 is a novel virus, hospitals do not have access to vaccines that can prevent transmission or medical treatments that can treat serious infections.”
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that YKHC announced the 78 new cases on Oct. 19.
