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Indian Health Service (Department of Health and Human Services)

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The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing results through April 17, 2021.

According to the data, 192,868 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of less than 1 percent from the 192,833 cases previously reported by the IHS.

Altogether, 2,270,235 coronavirus tests have been administered within the IHS through April 17, the data shows. That represents an increase of less than 1 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, five areas are seeing higher COVID-19 rates. They follow:

Overall, 9.1 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 3.6 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 April 17, 2021.

 
IHS Area
 
 
Tested
 
 
Positive
 
 
Negative
 
Cumulative
percent
positive *
7-day rolling
average
positivity *
Alaska 578,807 11,779 493,109 2.3% 1.4%
Albuquerque 92,720 8,132 63,719 11.3% 4.3%
Bemidji 158,372 11,046 143,949 7.1% 6.7%
Billings 97,531 7,373 86,921 7.8% 0.9%
California 78,315 7,858 67,254 10.5% 5.5%
Great Plains 141,781 14,236 127,018 10.1% 3.0%
Nashville 75,786 6,070 68,877 8.1% 5.2%
Navajo 244,155 31,570 167,577 15.9% 3.4%
Oklahoma City 484,226 60,447 418,642 12.6% 2.6%
Phoenix 177,158 23,761 152,576 13.5% 4.7%
Portland 115,331 7,835 107,031 6.8% 12.5%
Tucson 26,053 2,761 23,138 10.7% 5.2%
TOTAL 2,270,235 192,868 1,919,811 9.1% 3.6%

* 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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