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Indian Health Service (Department of Health and Human Services)

ihscovid19 Indian Health Service COVID-19 Data

Indian Health Service COVID-19 Data

ihscovid19The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing results through November 7, 2021.

According to the data, 275,749 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of 0.7 percent from the 273,792 cases previously reported on November 3.

Altogether, 3,267,795 coronavirus tests have been administered within the IHS, the results show. That represents an increase of 0.6 percent from four 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, 11 out of 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 and the rate has stayed consistently high. Throughout most of the pandemic, the Alaska Area had seen the lowest rate of COVID-19 cases within the IHS.

Overall, 9.0 percent of IHS tests have been positive since the onset of the pandemic, the data shows. Meanwhile, the 7-day average stands at 9.8 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 November 7, 2021.

 
IHS Area
 
 
Tested
 
 
Positive
 
 
Negative
 
Cumulative
percent
positive
7-day rolling
average
positivity
Alaska 814,260 24,025 684,903 3.4% 7.6%
Albuquerque 119,099 9,444 88,449 9.6% 8.9%
Bemidji 228,336 17,071 210,332 7.5% 12.7%
Billings 128,421 9,694 115,112 7.8% 13.7%
California 130,808 13,002 112,600 10.4% 6.5%
Great Plains 190,548 17,311 172,550 9.1% 9.3%
Nashville 119,598 9,741 106,950 8.3% 6.0%
Navajo 350,948 40,587 255,576 13.7% 13.9%
Oklahoma City 740,849 90,305 643,621 12.3% 5.5%
Phoenix 227,904 28,858 197,925 12.7% 15.3%
Portland 173,491 12,131 160,661 7.0% 4.4%
Tucson 43,533 3,580 39,831 8.2% 13.2%
TOTAL 3,267,795 275,749 2,788,510 9.0% 9.8%

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

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

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