On Wednesday, the Kitsap Public Health District confirmed eight new positive cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the countywide total to 8,729 since the pandemic began in March of 2020.

Of the new cases, North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island both had one.

A total of 74 cases were considered in “isolation” by the health district, meaning they are “confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases who are in their recommended isolation period” (10 days after first symptoms.) 101 “total close contacts in quarantine” were also confirmed in Kitsap, meaning they are “residents who were determined to be close contacts of confirmed cases and are in their recommended quarantine period” (14 days after last contact with case).

Over the past two weeks, the county’s positive case rate per 100,000 residents has dropped to 57.3, which is below the “high level” of coronavirus activity — per state guidelines that means any rate 75 and above.

To date, the number of Kitsap County residents 12 and older who have initiated vaccination is 54.9%, and the rate of positive tests over the last seven days is 3.3%.

Of the 8,729 total cases, 303 have been reported on Bainbridge Island, 2,329 in Bremerton, 2,015 in Central Kitsap, 1,309 in North Kitsap and 2,773 in South Kitsap.

There have been 114 COVID-related deaths since the pandemic began and 67 since the start of the new year. Information on the most recent death was not available before press time. Of the 113 prior deaths, 55 were community members 80 and older, 27 ages 70-79, 20 ages 60-69, six ages 50-59, three ages 40-49, and two ages 30-39. The first 43 people who died all had underlying health conditions, but the district quit releasing that information.