COVID-19

Dr. Ellen Hodges and Brian Lefferts discuss the BA-2 variant, and the benefits of vaccination for pregnant women.

On April 22, YKHC reported that Alakanuk, Bethel, Emmonak, Grayling, Kwigillingok, Nightmute, Nunapitchuk, Toksook Bay, and Tuntutuliak are experiencing widespread community transmission.

Starting Monday, April 18, only Rapid Binax COVID-19 tests will be available on the first floor every weekday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PCR tests will be available only by appointment between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays.

Since April 6, 2020, when the first COVID-19 case was identified in-region, there have been more than 15,000 cases reported. According to YKHC, the population of people served in-region is about 29,000.

YKHC's Dr. Ellen Hodges and Public Health Director Brian Lefferts discuss what's changed, what we've learned about the virus, and the state of the COVID-19 pandemic today.

“We're still in the more than 50 cases in the previous seven days. That automatically puts us in the medium-risk level,” explained YKHC Chief of Staff Dr. Ellen Hodges. “There is no low risk level for if you have 50 or more cases in our region."

For the fourth week in a row, COVID-19 cases in the Y-K Delta have decreased. From Feb. 28 to March 6, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation announced 192 new cases over the past week. That's 42% fewer cases than last week’s 331.

Hospitalizations in the region are on the rise, but "that's something that happens after the peak of any outbreak," according to YKHC's Dr. Ellen Hodges. "Our hospitalizations do continue for a while because hospitalizations and deaths are lagging indicators, meaning they come after the peak of cases when our vulnerable patients can be hospitalized and die."

“If we choose not to wear masks, you could be taking away someone else's choice to be able to go do things like go to school, or go to the post office, or go to the store,” YKHC's Brian Lefferts said. “So choosing to wear masks as a community is a way that we can all come together in solidarity."

Last week, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced 8,950 new COVID-19 cases across Alaska, a significant drop from the week prior. During that time, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta made up 9% of the state’s new cases.