Officials urge end to non-family gatherings in Alaska region

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Friday, October 16th, 2020 6:26am

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BETHEL, Alaska (AP) — Health officials in an Alaska region with a growing COVID-19 outbreak have asked residents to stop gathering with non-household members to slow the spread of the virus.

KYUK-AM reports that officials said 126 people have tested positive for the virus in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta over the past two weeks.

The percentage of people who tested positive in the Bethel Census Area jumped from about 1% to nearly 5%.

The rate is more than 3% in the Kusilvak Census Area.

Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation said it is conducting about the same number of tests, but that more people are suddenly testing positive.

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