The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus testing data, showing results as of 11:59 pm Eastern on June 10, 2020.
According to the data, 14,136 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of nearly 2.4 percent from the 13,806 cases previously reported.
Altogether, 172,984 tests have been administered through June 10. That represents a 3.2 percent increase from the day prior.
Overall, about 8.2 percent of IHS coronavirus tests are returning positive. But the rate is far higher, 21.6 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 nearly 12.2 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 27,523 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 service population estimate. Based on that number, 6 percent of Native Americans have been tested for the coronavirus since the IHS began reporting data in March.
The IHS user population, though, 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, 10.4 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 10, 2020.
| IHS Area | Tested | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 27,523 | 59 | 21,096 |
| Albuquerque | 14,656 | 844 | 10,028 |
| Bemidji | 9,147 | 277 | 9,142 |
| Billings | 14,926 | 258 | 13,830 |
| California | 3,391 | 139 | 2,717 |
| Great Plains | 10,530 | 604 | 9,542 |
| Nashville | 6,726 | 909 | 5,542 |
| Navajo | 33,241 | 7,190 | 24,026 |
| Oklahoma City | 20,778 | 459 | 18,641 |
| Phoenix | 22,769 | 2,773 | 19,658 |
| Portland | 7,503 | 543 | 6,641 |
| Tucson | 1,794 | 81 | 1,637 |
| TOTAL | 172,984 | 14,136 | 142,500 |
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