The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation has confirmed four positive coronavirus cases in the region in one week. At least two came from non-residents traveling into Bethel, and the other two from villages.
Dr. Ellen Hodges says it’s a sign that the virus’ spread is accelerating in the state.
"And I do think that the state of Alaska keeps telling us, 'Well, we expected this as we opened the state, we expected there to be a rise in cases.' And I think that does trickle down into our region as our people travel back and forth," Hodges said.
YKHC urges people traveling into Bethel to take advantage of the free testing. Right now, between 20% to 80% of passengers opt to get tested, but YKHC wants every single passenger to take a test.
"I think it sets up a net where we can identify anyone who comes here who may, even if they don't know they have it. If they test positive, we can immediately have their close contacts isolated and tested, and limit the spread of the virus in our region because that's the key public health," Hodges said.
Right now, Hodges says that there doesn’t appear to be community spread in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Community spread happens when someone tests positive for the virus, but has not associated with anyone who has traveled outside of the community.
"Epidemiologically, it doesn't appear that we have community spread, but I don't want people to become complacent either. So I don't think that we meet, we don't meet the definition right now. Community spread for sporadic cases, even in a one week period of time, does not indicate community spread, but the virus is among us," Hodges said.
YKHC says that the rise in cases could continue. Summertime means communities are out fishing and subsisting, and gathering together is a huge part of how the region operates. YKHC urges people to practice physical distancing, to keep wearing masks, and to limit nonessential travel.
The healthcare provider says that travelers should go beyond Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s COVID-19 Health Mandate 10, which says that people coming into Alaska need to get tested at the airport or self-isolate for 14 days. YKHC says that people coming into Bethel should get tested and self-isolate until at least the test results come in, but ideally for 14 days.
“So if we have an exposure, we generally want to test people in that window about a week after they've been exposed by date days. But we know from epidemiological data that people can show symptoms up to 14 days. So we'd suggest 14 days of sort of hunkering down or self isolation, especially after travels to the lower 48,” Hodges said.
As of June 12, YKHC has tested 3,639 people, with 3,133 tests coming back negative and 498 pending.