The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus testing data, showing results as of 11:59pm Eastern on April 26, 2020.
According to the data, 26,560 tests have been administered within the IHS system. Of those, 2,882 have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The number represents an increase of 3.1 percent from the 2,882 cases previously reported.
Testing, overall, grew by about 2.4 percent between April 25 and April 26. The data reflects a second consecutive decline in day-to-day testing — a pattern that might reflect the onset of a weekend lull within the IHS.
Still, the results continue to show disparities across Indian Country. The California Area serves the largest population of American Indians and Alaska Natives in the country yet only broke the 1,000-test milestone on April 25. The region is now up to just 1,005 tests.
The Portland Area surpassed the 1,000-test milestone on April 24. The region serves 150,000 Native Americans in three Northwest states. No new tests were administered between April 25 and April 26, which again accounts for a weekend.
Testing is also barely growing in the Tucson Area, which serves more than 27,000 Native Americans in southern Arizona. Only 5 new tests were administered between April 25 and April 26. Previously, the region held flat at 588 tests for 4 days in a row. (Data: April 25, April 24, April 23, April 22)
The Bemidji Area is also trailing far behind,though testing has ticked up in recent days. Between April 22 and April 26, the region saw a 58 percent increase although the overall number of tests remains the lowest among all IHS regions.
In contrast, the Alaska Area saw a whopping 88.7 percent increase in testing between April 22 and April 26. The region, which serves nearly 175,000 Native Americans, accounts for the second-highest number of tests within the IHS.
“Data is reported from IHS, tribal, and urban Indian organization facilities, though reporting by tribal and urban programs is voluntary,” the IHS states on its website.
| IHS Area | Tested | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 4,123 | 16 | 3,261 |
| Albuquerque | 2,483 | 259 | 1,760 |
| Bemidji | 441 | 33 | 288 |
| Billings | 2,564 | 49 | 2,330 |
| California | 1,005 | 63 | 732 |
| Great Plains | 1,159 | 48 | 1,104 |
| Nashville | 1,549 | 128 | 1,376 |
| Navajo | 7,533 | 1,880 | 5,044 |
| Oklahoma City | 3,397 | 120 | 3,100 |
| Phoenix | 1,274 | 250 | 904 |
| Portland | 1,067 | 111 | 907 |
| Tucson | 593 | 16 | 483 |
| TOTAL | 27,188 | 2,973 | 21,289 |
IHS: https://www.ihs.gov/coronavirus/