Indianz.Com > COVID-19 > Indian Health Service (Department of Health and Human Services)
https://wp.me/pbXgss-1Dg
Posted: June 10, 2020

The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus testing data, showing results as of 11:59 pm Eastern on June 8, 2020.

According to the data, 13,487 tests administered within the IHS the have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of about 2.5 percent from the 13,165 cases previously reported.

Altogether, 162,676 coronavirus tests have been conducted through June 8. That represents an increase of nearly 3 percent from the day prior.

Overall, about 8.3 percent of IHS coronavirus tests are returning positive. But the rate is far higher, nearly 22.2 percent, in the Navajo Area, which serves the largest reservation in the United States. 

The Nashville Area, with 13.5 percent of tests returning COVID-19 positive, and the Phoenix Area, with 12.4 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 25,651 tests administered, only 0.21 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 are 2,895,571 American Indians and Alaska Natives in the U.S., which is the most recent user population estimate. Based on that number, 5.6 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 June 8, 2020. 

IHS Area Tested Positive Negative
Alaska 25,651 54 20,337
Albuquerque 14,270 835 9,431
Bemidji 8,748 273 8,420
Billings 14,482 258 13,617
California 3,297 134 2,625
Great Plains 9,899 571 9,148
Nashville 6,384 864 5,170
Navajo 31,436 6,986 23,087
Oklahoma City 19,161 426 16,977
Phoenix 20,461 2,535 17,635
Portland 7,197 485 6,388
Tucson 1,690 66 1,560
TOTAL 162,676 13,487 134,395

IHS: https://www.ihs.gov/coronavirus/

IHS COVID-19 Dashboard

Join the Conversation