A further eleven seasonal workers at Silver Bay Seafoods in the Valdez region of Alaska have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total active cases in the area to 15.

All of the confirmed cases were identified as part of Silver Bay's routine screening, with nine being asymptomatic and two showing mild symptoms.

The workers are currently in isolation and following public health officials' guidance.

According to reports, the confirmed cases were in quarantine during their time in Valdez, decreasing the wider risk to the community to a lower level.

"All eleven cases are part of the same travel cohort, arrived in Valdez at the same time, and remained in quarantine with required social distancing measures and usage of proper protective equipment," said Richard Franks, plant manager at Silver Bay Seafoods Valdez.

Cases of COVID-19 have risen steadily across Alaska, with the seafood industry making up the bulk of the non-resident cases, especially as the salmon fishing season in Bristol Bay ramps up.

Three seasonal workers at the newly formed Cooke-Ocean Beauty joint venture, OBI Seafoods in Bristol Bay, Alaska, tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a statement from the company on June 29.

The week prior, 12 workers who were slated to work at the processing plant were identified as infected with the virus during the sixth day of their quarantine period.

Coronavirus

Silver Bay Seafoods suffers another COVID-19 outbreak