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Indian Health Service (Department of Health and Human Services)

COVID-19 Indian Country IHS

The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing results through March 25, 2021.

According to the data, 189,799 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of 0.1 percent from the 189,563 cases previously reported by the IHS.

Altogether, 2,184,601 coronavirus tests have been administered within the IHS through March 25, the data shows. That represent an increase of 0.3 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, only one area continues to see higher COVID-19 rates. That’s a marked change from the multiple regions that were experiencing coronavirus spikes in the last few months.

Overall, 9.4 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 2.5 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 25, 2021.

 
IHS Area
 
 
Tested
 
 
Positive
 
 
Negative
 
Cumulative
percent
positive *
7-day rolling
average
positivity *
Alaska 557,205 11,478 472,922 2.4% 0.8%
Albuquerque 91,328 8,059 62,427 11.4% 3.0%
Bemidji 149,684 10,406 135,732 7.1% 3.9%
Billings 95,989 7,340 85,340 7.9% 2.0%
California 74,858 7,746 63,850 10.8% 5.0%
Great Plains 137,042 14,054 122,461 10.3% 3.3%
Nashville 72,562 5,990 65,839 8.3% 2.9%
Navajo 235,738 31,302 160,850 16.3% 3.5%
Oklahoma City 467,244 60,011 402,196 13.0% 2.8%
Phoenix 168,158 23,265 144,034 13.9% 3.5%
Portland 109,516 7,418 101,432 6.8% 3.3%
Tucson 25,277 2,730 22,394 10.9% 1.7%
Total 2,184,601 189,799 1,839,477 9.4% 2.5%

* 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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