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Posted: December 6, 2021

ihscovid19The Indian Health Service has updated its coronavirus data, showing results through December 5, 2021.

According to the data, 292,114 tests have returned positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. That represents an increase of 0.6 percent from the 290,307 cases previously reported by the IHS on December 1.

Altogether, 3,454,916 coronavirus tests have been administered within the IHS, the results show. That represents an increase of about 0.6 percent from four days prior.

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 areas. Two of them 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, 10 out of 12 IHS areas are seeing high COVID-19 rates, marking yet another instance of surges across every region of Indian Country. The 📈 red graph symbol indicates the areas in which positivity rates are on the rise, with multiple symbols indicating notable increases:

Overall, 9.0 percent of IHS tests have been positive since the onset of the pandemic, the data shows. Meanwhile, the 7-day average stands at 9.5 percent following a long period of far lower rates in the spring of 2021.

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, 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 on Mondays and Thursdays. During the height of the pandemic throughout 2020 and the first half of 2021, results were provided 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 December 5, 2021.

 
IHS Area
 
 
Tested
 
 
Positive
 
 
Negative
 
Cumulative
percent
positive
7-day rolling
average
positivity
Alaska 870,453 26,964 734,732 3.5% 5.5%
Albuquerque 124,327 10,027 92,995 9.7% 10.4%
Bemidji 241,147 18,751 221,809 7.8% 10.4%
Billings 132,959 10,118 119,077 7.8% 6.5%
California 137,128 13,380 118,126 10.2% 4.3%
Great Plains 200,314 18,198 181,401 9.1% 10.3%
Nashville 123,910 10,008 111,048 8.3% 8.2%
Navajo 373,255 44,047 272,224 13.9% 14.5%
Oklahoma City 779,671 93,252 675,930 12.1% 8.0%
Phoenix 239,877 30,714 207,932 12.9% 15.7%
Portland 181,891 12,651 168,674 7.0% 3.2%
Tucson 49,984 4,004 45,855 8.0% 10.6%
TOTAL 3,454,916 292,114 2,949,803 9.0% 9.5%

COVID-19 testing data is updated on Mondays and Thursdays.

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

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