COVID-19 virus

COVID-19 is an airborne illness. It is spread when we breathe, talk, cough, or sneeze. Steps to avoid spreading COVID-19 include: The best way to reduce your chances of getting COVID-19 is by staying up to date with vaccines. Other steps include washing your hands well and often, wearing a high- quality mask, opening windows, and keeping at least 3...READ MORE

COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death rates are less actively tracked now than they were early in the pandemic. Much of the available data is from 2023 or earlier. The increase of at-home testing (as opposed to in-clinic testing) has also made it harder to track infection rates. As of March 2023, the overall case rate for Alaska was 68.1 resident cases...READ MORE

Since March of 2020, 1,485 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 in Alaska....READ MORE

In May 2023, the CDC ended the public health emergency status linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. They did this because “as a nation, we now find ourselves at a different point in the pandemic – with more tools and resources than ever before to better protect ourselves and our communities.” But that does not mean COVID-19 is no longer a...READ MORE

Herd immunity is a way to protect a whole group of people from a virus or disease. Often this is done by vaccinating a large percentage of the population. Herd immunity is a way to protect those at increased risk from a disease, such as the Elderly, children, or those who are immunocompromised. It also protects those who can’t get...READ MORE

CDC recommends COVID-19 vaccines for all individuals aged 6 months and older. COVID-19 vaccines are safe to get while pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to get pregnant.  Studies involving thousands of women have found that the COVID-19 vaccines do not cause fertility issues and will not affect anyone’s ability to get or stay pregnant. These studies have also shown that the benefits of vaccination in...READ MORE

Information about the spread and prevention of COVID-19 and personal COVID-19 vaccination stories from early in the pandemic are shared by different Alaska Native elders....READ MORE

Early in the pandemic, the rate of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases among Alaska Native / American Indian (ANAI) peoples was assessed in 23 selected states. It was found to be 3.5 times that of non-Hispanic whites. Many of these ANAI individuals also lived in communities with limited access to health care. ...READ MORE

COVID-19 public service announcement in the Gwich’in language from the early days of the pandemic. Shares ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19....READ MORE

COVID-19 public service announcement in the Yup’ik language from the early days of the pandemic. Shares ways the COVID-19 vaccine protects you from serious illness....READ MORE