55 new positive cases of COVID-19 in Kitsap County

12 in N. Kitsap, which now has 802 since March

On Sunday, the Kitsap Public Health District confirmed 55 new positive COVID-19 cases in the previous 24 hours, bringing the total since the pandemic began in March to 4,679.

Twelve of the cases were in North Kitsap and one on Bainbridge Island.

Three new COVID deaths were reported Friday, bringing the total number since March to 53 in Kitsap County.

No more information was available on the most-recent deaths. But of the previous 50, 25 were community members 80 and older, 14 ages 70-79, seven ages 60-69, two ages 50-59, and one each for ages 40-49 and 30-39. The health district didn’t list how many had underlying health conditions. But earlier it reported the first 43 people who died all had underlying health conditions, and all but five were over 65.

Over the past two weeks, the county’s positive case rate per 100,000 residents is 233.3, meaning the county is over a “high level” of coronavirus activity, per state guidelines, with a case rate above 75 over the previous 14 days.

A total of 238 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.) 764 “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).

Of the 4,679 total cases, 213 have been reported on Bainbridge Island, 1,216 in Bremerton, 1,103 in Central Kitsap, 802 in North Kitsap and 1,345 in South Kitsap.

Due to a high volume of testing at the state Department of Health, the total number of negative tests along with the percentage of positive tests over the last 14 days are not available. Based on contact tracing work, the district believes the spread among families and households was a key driver of recent increases. To prevent spreading it is important for all members of a household to stay home and avoid contact with others if any member of their household has symptoms.