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Posted: March 12, 2021

COVID-19 Indian Country IHS

The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing results through March 10, 2021.

According to the data, 188,017 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of 0.1 percent from the 187,827 cases previously reported by the IHS.

Altogether, 2,120,778 coronavirus tests have been administered within the IHS through March 10, the data shows. That marks an increase of 0.2 percent from the day prior.

Since mid-October of 2020, the IHS has been providing additional information about the spread of the coronavirus within the system. The cumulative percent positive column shows the historical COVID-19 infection rate, meaning the number of tests that have returned positive since the onset of the pandemic.

Based on the cumulative percent positive, the highest rates have been seen in three areas. Two of them include the state of Arizona, indicating a disproportionate toll of COVID-19 in the state:

The 7-day rolling average positivity column offers a more contemporary look at the impact of the coronavirus. The data shows where COVID-19 cases have been increasing recently.

Based on the 7-day rolling average positivity, three areas continue to see higher COVID-19 rates. They follow:

Overall, 9.6 percent of IHS tests have been positive since the onset of the pandemic, the data shows. Meanwhile, the 7-day average has declined significantly after increasing during the holiday season. It now stands at 3.4 percent.

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 March 10, 2021.

 
IHS Area
 
 
Tested
 
 
Positive
 
 
Negative
 
Cumulative
percent
positive *
7-day rolling
average
positivity *
Alaska 534,709 11,279 453,044 2.4% 0.9%
Albuquerque 89,752 8,030 61,522 11.5% 3.8%
Bemidji 143,960 10,162 130,258 7.2% 3.2%
Billings 94,491 7,302 83,933 8.0% 1.5%
California 72,658 7,604 61,301 11.0% 10.1%
Great Plains 134,342 13,913 119,908 10.4% 7.3%
Nashville 70,634 5,938 63,675 8.5% 3.8%
Navajo 230,556 31,072 156,832 16.5% 5.0%
Oklahoma City 454,501 59,554 389,851 13.3% 4.8%
Phoenix 165,183 23,159 141,152 14.1% 4.2%
Portland 105,223 7,283 97,193 7.0% 2.9%
Tucson 24,769 2,721 21,895 11.1% 4.5%
TOTAL 2,120,778 188,017 1,780,564 9.6% 3.4%

* Cumulative percent positive and 7-day rolling average positivity are updated three days per week.

Source: Indian Health Service (https://www.ihs.gov/coronavirus)

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