SEARHC personnel test a colleague for COVID-19 at the employee screening tent behind the hospital. Sitka, Alaska. April 28, 2020. (KCAW/Berett Wilber)
Public officials announced two new coronavirus cases in Sitka on Wednesday (6-10-20).
The first patient was a male in his thirties. He was tested for the virus on Tuesday, June 9, received a positive result Wednesday, and began quarantining at home.
KCAW Spoke with SEARHC spokesperson Maegan Bosak who confirmed that the case was not travel related. It was counted among the 20 new cases announced by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.
After the state tally was updated, local officials announced a fifth positive case in Sitka. The female patient was tested for COVID-19 on Friday, June 5, after experiencing mild symptoms.
According to press releases from the Sitka Unified Command, public health officials are investigating both cases to determine the source of the virus and identify contacts.
Until this week, only three others have tested positive for the coronavirus in Sitka. The most recent, a non-resident male who had traveled to Sitka and was exhibiting symptoms, tested positive on June 4.
Editor’s Note: This story was updated on 6-10-20 at 5:00 p.m. to include information about a fifth coronavirus case announced by the Sitka Unified Command. This is a developing and may be updated.
