Copper River Native Association Tests Find Two Positive Cases Of Covid-19

 As 4th of July Approaches & Cases Soar Nationwide, Coronavirus Enters The Copper River Valley.

Other Covid-Positive Patients Have Traveled Through Region

The Back Of Mt. Drum. (Photo, Neil Hannan)

  The 4th of July is just around the corner, along with a big parade and salmon bake. And Covid-19 has finally made its appearance,  just in time for the party.

After months of avoiding having any case of coronavirus in the Copper Valley, the Copper River Native Association – which has professional testing capabilities – announced on Friday, June 26th, that coronavirus had breached our shores.

One case seems to have been local and the other in Cantwell, across the Denali Highway. Cantwell is an Ahtna community with close family, cultural and historic ties in the valley – primarily with Gulkana Village.

A local resident asked CRNA on Facebook whether the people involved were local residents or "visitors."

CRNA responded:

While we know you're concerned about our community, patient privacy prevents us from currently sharing this information. Be assured patients who test positive are educated on isolating. Additionally, CRNA reports all positive cases to the State of Alaska where case managers work to contact those who could have been exposed thereby working to flatten the curve.

CRNA has tested one positive patient in our Tazlina Robert Marshall Clinic and one positive patient in our Cantwell Clinic. Both patients are currently self-isolating in accordance with State guidelines. Additional positive COVID-19 patients who were tested in Anchorage are known to have traveled recently in the Copper Basin region.

CRNA's Facebook site on Friday afternoon said: