The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus testing data, showing results as of 11:59 pm Eastern on May 20, 2020.
According to the data, 89,755 tests have been administered within the system. Of those, 8,059 have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents a 3.95 percent increase from the 7,735 cases previously reported.
Overall, testing grew by 5.7 percent between May 19 and May 20, the data shows. It increased 6.42 percent between May 18 and May 19.
Nationally, the COVID-19 infection rate is nearly 9 percent. But in the Navajo Area, which serves the largest reservation in the United States, it’s 22.4 percent.
The Phoenix Area, with 13.8 percent of tests returning COVID-19 positive, and the Nashville Area, with 11 percent positive, are also higher than the IHS national rate.
On the other end of the spectrum, aggressive efforts in the Alaska Area are turning up very few cases. Out of 14,741 tests administered, only 0.17 returned positive.
The data, however, is incomplete. While 100 percent of facilities run directly by the IHS are reporting data, only 33 percent of tribally managed facilities and 44 percent of urban Indian organizations are doing the same, the agency has told Indianz.Com.
COVID-19 Cases by IHS Area
Data are reported from IHS, tribal, and urban Indian organization facilities, though reporting by tribal and urban programs is voluntary. Data reflect cases reported to the IHS through 11:59 pm on May 20, 2020.
| IHS Area | Tested | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 14,741 | 26 | 11,571 |
| Albuquerque | 8,730 | 641 | 4,789 |
| Bemidji | 3,599 | 111 | 2,144 |
| Billings | 8,411 | 182 | 6,781 |
| California | 2,574 | 98 | 2,007 |
| Great Plains | 4,440 | 205 | 4,110 |
| Nashville | 4,130 | 455 | 3,335 |
| Navajo | 20,967 | 4,696 | 15,358 |
| Oklahoma City | 10,165 | 272 | 9,016 |
| Phoenix | 7,852 | 1,084 | 6,471 |
| Portland | 3,172 | 258 | 2,735 |
| Tucson | 974 | 31 | 825 |
| TOTAL | 89,755 | 8,059 | 69,142 |
IHS: https://www.ihs.gov/coronavirus/
IHS COVID-19 Dashboard
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