First case of COVID-19 confirmed in Talkeetna

UPDATE 6/14/20: On Saturday June 13th a local resident acknowledged in an upper valley social media group that she is the first known positive case in Talkeetna.  She had returned from a trip to the lower 48 on Wednesday and was tested at the airport.  On Thursday she was notified that the test was positive.  She is in isolation and another family member is in quarantine. She is asymptomatic.

In the social media post she said “I wanted to make this statement to show that the steps Alaska has put into place does work if you follow them. The hard part of COVID is you can have it without symptoms. So wearing masks is important. Also if you are having any symptoms, please get tested. … I hope others who have traveled will do the same to protect our community. “

There will be a free drive-up testing at Susitna Valley High School this coming Thursday, June 18th from 11 am to 3 pm.

6/12/20: On Friday afternoon, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services announced fifteen new cases of COVID-19, including the first confirmed case in Talkeetna.

The state also reported an additional death from COVID-19 of a Providence Transitional Care Center patient.  This is the second death from the disease associated with the facility.

DHSS does not release individually identifying information for confirmed COVID-19 cases.  Additional information from Friday’s announcement can be found at the state’s Coronavirus Response Hub.