Cold Bay has confirmed its first local cases of COVID-19. Two individuals tested positive for the virus Monday in the village near the tip of the Alaska Peninsula.
Upon receiving the positive test results, the individuals were immediately isolated, according to a statement from Eastern Aleutians Tribes, the regional tribal health-care provider.
Cold Bay city officials said in a statement they're working closely with local and state health officials to protect anyone who may have been in close contact with the sick individuals.
"You will receive a call from a public health nurse or another public health official if you have been identified by another patient as a 'close' contact, meaning you have been within six feet of an infected individual for 15 minutes or longer or you've been coughed or sneezed on by that person," said the statement.
The two individuals are not from Cold Bay — which has a population of 38 year-round residents and 12 to 18 rotational staff members that travel in and out of the community. How they contracted the virus remains under investigation, officials said.
Laura Tanis, communications director for Aleutians East Borough, said that due to Cold Bay's small population size, and to protect the personal information of its citizens, guests, and businesses, the city will not be releasing any further information on this developing situation, other than what has been published in the release.
