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Five more people test positive for COVID-19 in the Dillingham Census Area

Brian Venua/KDLG

Nineteen cases have been reported this week so far. According to the state, there’s a total of 62 active and recovered cases in the last 90 days in the Dillingham Census Area. There are now four communities in Bristol Bay with known positive cases of COVID 19.

Five new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Dillingham Census Area yesterday by the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation. All five new cases are in isolation.

Four of the people who tested positive are Dillingham residents; they were experiencing symptoms and had recently traveled, according to a press release from BBAHC. The fifth individual was identified as a close contact of someone with the disease.

There are now four communities in Bristol Bay with known positive cases of COVID 19. Nineteen cases have been reported this week so far. According to the state, there have been a total of 62 active and recovered cases in the last 90 days in the Dillingham area.

The Kanakanak Hospital in Dillingham is a critical access hospital and does not have any intensive care units or ventilators. If a patient requires a ventilator, they will likely be medevaced to Anchorage or Seattle.

The facility has only 16 beds with oxygen for the whole of Bristol Bay. Grandma’s House, the former retirement home in Dillingham, has been leased, but BBAHC is unable to staff the building.

In Dillingham, testing is available at the Capstone clinic by the Dillingham airport seven days a week, from 12 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. People experiencing symptoms can get tested at the hospital. To schedule a screening, call 907-842-9440.

This article was updated to include additional information about the four Dillingham residents who tested positive.

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

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