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Indian Health Service (Department of Health and Human Services)

ihscovid19

The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing results through May 23, 2021.

According to the data, 197,031 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of less than 1 percent from the 196,977 cases previously reported by the IHS.

Altogether, 2,399,168 coronavirus tests have been administered within the IHS as of May 23. That represents an increase of 0.1 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, four areas (out of 12 IHS areas) are seeing higher COVID-19 rates. They follow:

Overall, 8.8 percent of IHS tests have been positive since the onset of the pandemic, the data shows. Meanwhile, the 7-day average stands at 3.3 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 May 23, 2021.

 
IHS Area
 
 
Tested
 
 
Positive
 
 
Negative
 
Cumulative
percent
positive *
7-day rolling
average
positivity *
Alaska 612,762 12,114 522,876 2.3% 1.0%
Albuquerque 96,013 8,245 67,351 10.9% 2.4%
Bemidji 171,175 11,818 155,902 7.0% 5.0%
Billings 101,280 7,451 90,466 7.6% 2.4%
California 85,066 8,196 73,468 10.0% 4.5%
Great Plains 146,743 14,372 131,854 9.8% 7.4%
Nashville 80,396 6,304 73,246 7.9% 6.3%
Navajo 258,872 32,185 179,451 15.2% 3.7%
Oklahoma City 510,419 61,097 444,423 12.1% 2.5%
Phoenix 185,009 24,213 160,214 13.1% 6.7%
Portland 124,090 8,242 115,458 6.7% 4.0%
Tucson 27,343 2,794 24,395 10.3% 1.8%
TOTAL 2,399,168 197,031 2,039,104 8.8% 3.3%

* 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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