On Wednesday, the Kitsap Public Health District confirmed 19 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours, bringing the countywide total to 5,659 since the pandemic began in March.

Of the new cases, Bainbridge Island had one and North Kitsap none. South Kitsap had the most with seven cases.

A few weeks back, the health district stated “while a significant number of new cases are still reported each day, our team has noted an overall decline in cases since early January.” Over the past two weeks, the county’s positive case rate per 100,000 residents has dropped to 74.6, meaning the county is now under a “high level” of coronavirus activity, per state guidelines. Any positive case rate 75 and above is considered a “high level” of coronavirus activity.

A total of 83 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.) 295 “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).

The total number of virus-associated deaths in Kitsap is 82 since the pandemic began, 37 of which have been confirmed since the start of the new year. Of the 82 deaths, 46 were community members 80 and older, 23 ages 70-79, nine 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 other health conditions, but earlier reported the first 43 people who died all had underlying health conditions.

Of the 5,659 total cases, 260 have been reported on Bainbridge Island, 1,530 in Bremerton, 1,332 in Central Kitsap, 952 in North Kitsap and 1,585 in South Kitsap.

To date, the number of vaccine doses given by Kitsap facilities is 50,052. The total number of negative tests is 118,717, and the rate of positive tests over the last seven days is 4.5 percent.