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Posted: October 14, 2021

ihscovid19The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing results through October 13, 2021.

According to the data, 260,314 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of almost 0.6 percent from the 258,791 cases previously reported on October 10.

Altogether, 3,111,256 coronavirus tests have been administered within the IHS, the results show. That represents an increase of 0.5 percent from three days 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 five 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, all 12 IHS areas are seeing high COVID-19 rates, marking yet another instance of surges across every region of Indian Country. The 📈 red graph symbol indicates the areas in which positivity rates are on the rise, with multiple symbols indicating notable increases:

Notably, the 7-day rolling average positivity for the Alaska Area has steadily grown in recent weeks. The region recorded its highest-ever rate with the release of data on October 6. Throughout most of the pandemic, the Alaska Area had seen the lowest rate of COVID-19 cases within the IHS.

Overall, 8.9 percent of IHS tests have been positive since the onset of the pandemic, the data shows. Meanwhile, the 7-day average stands at 10.4 percent following a long period of far lower rates in the spring of 2021.

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.

Beginning June 7, the IHS began updating its coronavirus data on a weekly basis. But as the number of COVID-19 cases grows again, the agency is updating results on Mondays and Thursdays. During the height of the pandemic throughout 2020 and the first half of 2021, results were provided every day.

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 October 13, 2021.

 
IHS Area
 
 
Tested
 
 
Positive
 
 
Negative
 
Cumulative
percent
positive
7-day rolling
average
positivity
Alaska 783,621 21,210 661,208 3.1% 10.0%
Albuquerque 114,587 9,013 84,542 9.6% 10.3%
Bemidji 213,775 15,440 197,340 7.3% 10.4%
Billings 123,083 8,980 110,453 7.5% 11.5%
California 124,448 12,476 106,994 10.4% 7.8%
Great Plains 178,717 16,240 161,867 9.1% 9.5%
Nashville 114,873 9,484 102,269 8.5% 6.6%
Navajo 327,618 37,361 237,754 13.6% 13.4%
Oklahoma City 708,887 87,896 617,496 12.5% 10.8%
Phoenix 216,928 27,346 188,452 12.7% 13.8%
Portland 163,968 11,491 151,810 7.0% 11.3%
Tucson 40,751 3,377 37,261 8.3% 6.5%
TOTAL 3,111,256 260,314 2,657,446 8.9% 10.4%

COVID-19 testing data is updated on Mondays and Thursdays.

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

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