Public Radio for Alaska's Bristol Bay
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

13 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Dillingham Census Area since Friday

Izzy Ross/KDLG

Eleven of the people are residents of the census area and two are non-residents, according to the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation. All of them had close contact with previously-identified cases.  

 

 

Thirteen people in the Dillingham Census Area tested positive for the coronavirus from Oct. 23 - 26, according to the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation. 

The census area encompasses 11 communities including the City of Dillingham.

Eleven of the people who tested positive are residents of the area, and two are non-residents, the health corporation said Monday. All of them had close contact with previously-identified cases.  

The report of 13 new local cases comes as Alaska experiences a surge of coronavirus infections. The state logged a record-high 526 new coronavirus cases Sunday, and 348 cases Monday. It’s not clear whether any of the five Dillingham area cases the state reported over the weekend are part of the health corporation's most recent count. The corporation said Monday it defered to the state in keeping track of active case numbers, as the case counts are coming in from other testing sites as well. The state had reported 23 active cases in the Dillingham area as of Monday evening. 

 

In the Bristol Bay Borough, two people who are not residents of the community tested positive for COVID-19 Monday, the Camai Community Health Center reported. The individuals are part of a working group based elsewhere in the state. They are in isolation, and so far their close contacts have all tested negative, the clinic said. 

The state’s coronavirus case tally Sunday also included a newly-diagnosed resident in the Bristol Bay plus Lake and Peninsula Boroughs. There were two cases reported in that region Oct. 20. 

Those cases are likely in the Lake and Pen area, according to Camai clinic Director Mary Swain. Camai is testing an average of around 100 to 115 people a week in the borough, and before Monday afternoon no one had tested positive since Oct. 12.

Camai is conducting rapid testing at its Leader Creek testing site on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

In Dillingham, testing is available at the Capstone clinic by the Dillingham airport seven days a week, from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. People experiencing symptoms can get tested at the hospital. To schedule a screening, call 907-842-9440.

If you are sick or suspect that you may be infected, you should remain at home and contact your local clinic or healthcare provider. 

This story has been updated to include two new cases in the Bristol Bay Borough. 

Contact the author at isabelle@kdlg.org or 907-842-2200.

Related Content