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Posted: November 12, 2020

COVID-19 Indian Country IHS

The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing results as of November 10, 2020.

According to the data, 82,126 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of about 1.3 percent from the 81,083 cases previously reported by the IHS.

Altogether, 1,202,490 coronavirus tests have been administered within the IHS through November 10, the data shows. That marks an increase of 0.3 percent from the day prior.

Since mid-October, 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 the Navajo Area (13 percent), the Phoenix Area (12.7 percent) and the Oklahoma City Area (8.9 percent). The first two regions 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 regions are seeing dramatic increases in COVID-19 cases. They are: the Great Plains Area (24.9 percent), the Bemidji Area (20 percent), the Albuquerque Area (16.7 percent) and the Billings Area (16.2 percent).

Overall, 7.3 percent of IHS tests have been positive since the onset of the pandemic. The 7-day average has grown higher over the last couple of weeks and now stands at 14 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.

The agency also provided to Indianz.Com the service population for 2019: 2,562,290. Based on that figure, 46.9 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives have been tested for the coronavirus since the IHS began reporting data in March.

The IHS user population, on the other hand, is a much smaller number. As of 2019, 1,662,834 American Indians and Alaska Natives have lived within a service delivery area and have received health care at an IHS or tribal facility during the previous three years.

Based on the user population, 72.3 percent of Native Americans have been tested for the coronavirus since the IHS began reporting data in March.

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 10, 2020.

IHS Area
Tested
Positive
Negative
Cumulative
percent
positive *
7-day rolling
average
positivity *
Alaska 320,180 5,684 279,530 2.0% 7.8%
Albuquerque 60,260 3,662 44,341 7.6% 16.7%
Bemidji* 80,968 4,748 74,078 6.0% 20.0%
Billings 74,120 5,255 64,689 7.5% 16.2%
California 26,826 1,700 24,217 6.6% 7.0%
Great Plains 95,440 8,185 86,583 8.6% 24.9%
Nashville 36,892 2,649 32,997 7.4% 6.9%
Navajo 127,733 14,105 94,286 13.0% 11.7%
Oklahoma City 233,325 20,222 207,648 8.9% 17.1%
Phoenix 94,878 11,961 82,127 12.7% 15.2%
Portland 42,800 3,224 39,104 7.6% 10.2%
Tucson 9,068 731 8,231 8.2% 11.7%
TOTAL 1,202,490 82,126 1,037,831 7.3% 14.0%

* Bemidji Area Testing Data decreased due to data reconciliation.

* Cumulative percent positive and 7-day rolling average positivity are updated three days per week.

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

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