Public Media for Alaska's Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

YKHC Says Napaskiak No Longer Has Community Spread Of COVID-19

Napaskiak, AK
Mark Leary
/
Bethel Search and Rescue

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation says that there is no longer community spread of COVID-19 in Napaskiak. 

Over a month ago, YKHC announced that there was likely community spread in the village. This was after two individuals who were in Napaskiak tested positive for the virus. YKHC said that community spread was taking place since, in the second case, the person had not traveled recently and did not have close contact with the first case. The conclusion was that the virus was spreading through the community undetected. After the second case, YKHC conducted widespread testing in Napaskiak, which yielded no new cases. 

Despite the announcement that there is no longer community spread in Napaskiak, the Y-K Delta is still very much contending with the coronavirus pandemic. Over the course of July, YKHC announced that 22 people connected to the region had contracted the virus. The number of cases from the region, and Alaska in general, have consistently been on the rise since the state started relaxing its health mandates in May. 

YKHC urges Y-K Delta residents to avoid non-essential travel, get tested at the Bethel, St. Mary’s, and Aniak airports, wash their hands often, practice social distancing, wear a mask in public, and frequently disinfect surfaces.

Greg Kim was a news reporter for KYUK from 2019-2022.