The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus testing data, showing results as of 11:59 pm Eastern on May 21, 2020.
According to the data, 95,520 tests have been administered within the IHS system. Of those, 8,385 have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of nearly 4.1 percent from the 8,059 cases previously reported.
Overall, testing grew by 6.4 percent between May 20 and May 21, the data shows. It increased by 5.7 percent between May 19 and May 20 and 6.4 percent between May 18 and May 19.
Nationally, nearly 8.8 percent of coronavirus tests administered within the IHS are returning positive. But in the Navajo Area, which serves the largest reservation in the United States, it’s 22.1 percent.
The Phoenix Area, with 12.9 percent of tests returning COVID-19 positive, and the Nashville Area, with 11.4 percent positive, are also higher than the IHS national rate.
On the other end of the spectrum, aggressive efforts in the Alaska Area are turning up very few cases. Out of 15.729 tests administered, only 0.17 returned positive, the data shows.
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.
According to the IHS budget justification for the current fiscal year (2020), there were 2,895,571 American Indians and Alaska Natives in the U.S., which is the most recent user population estimate. Based on that number, nearly 3.3 percent of Native Americans have been tested for the coronavirus.
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 21, 2020.
| IHS Area | Tested | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 15,729 | 26 | 12,144 |
| Albuquerque | 9,565 | 655 | 4,957 |
| Bemidji | 3,950 | 140 | 2,328 |
| Billings | 9,019 | 187 | 7,038 |
| California | 2,632 | 103 | 2,045 |
| Great Plains | 4,759 | 226 | 4,380 |
| Nashville | 4,285 | 487 | 3,451 |
| Navajo | 21,794 | 4,826 | 15,911 |
| Oklahoma City | 10,544 | 277 | 9,260 |
| Phoenix | 8,955 | 1,156 | 7,224 |
| Portland | 3,279 | 264 | 2,840 |
| Tucson | 1,009 | 38 | 851 |
| TOTAL | 95,520 | 8,385 | 72,429 |
IHS: https://www.ihs.gov/coronavirus/
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