More COVID-19 cases in Kivalina, as some area schools reopen January 21st |
Schools across Northern Alaska returned from winter break this week, but not all students will be returning to the classroom. As some communities see COVID-19 cases continue to spike, schools move into red, "high-risk" zones, requiring distance education to curb community spread. Between Jan. 7 and Jan. 14, 14 residents of Kivalina tested positive for COVID-19, with one case from a resident of Noatak, one case from a Buckland resident and another from Ambler. Kivalina has seen a recent spike in case numbers, with nearly 70 residents testing positive since the new year. The cases in Kivalina are considered mild and connected to previously known cases, according to a Jan. 16 Maniilaq press release. The Noatak resident tested positive in Kivalina, and is currently in isolation there.