The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing results through July 17, 2022.

According to the data, 494,244 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Altogether, 4,550,855 coronavirus tests have been administered within the IHS, the results show.

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 of 12 IHS areas. Two of them include the state of Arizona, indicating a disproportionate toll of COVID-19 in the state:

• Navajo Area — 16.7 percent
• Oklahoma City Area — 15.3 percent
• Phoenix Area — 15.2 percent
• California Area — 12.0 percent
• Albuquerque Area — 11.0 percent

On January 19, the Oklahoma City Area overtook the Phoenix Area as the region with the second highest percentage of cumulative percent positive tests. But the two regions still have nearly the same cumulative positivity rate as of July 17.

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 in the 12 areas of the IHS.

• Phoenix Area — 35.0 percent
• Nashville Area — 30.4 percent
• Navajo Area — 28.2 percent
• Portland Area — 27.1 percent
• Albuquerque Area — 25.3 percent
• Great Plains Area — 23.3 percent
• Bemidji Area — 22.9 percent
• Oklahoma City Area — 22.5 percent
• California Area — 20.8 percent
• Tucson Area — 17.4 percent
• Alaska Area — 14.2 percent
• Billings Area — 8.9 percent

Overall, 11.5 percent of IHS tests have been positive since the onset of the pandemic, the data shows. Meanwhile, the 7-day positivity rate has been steadily rising in the last couple of weeks. It has grown significantly to 22.9 percent, one of the highest rates seen since the 2021 Christmas holiday season.

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, 2021, 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 twice a week — usually on Mondays and Thursdays. Throughout 2020 and the first half of 2021, results were provided by the IHS 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 Jul 17, 2022.

COVID-19 testing data is updated on Mondays and Thursdays by 5 pm ET.

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