On Wednesday, the Kitsap Public Health District confirmed 41 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the countywide total of positive tests to 2,101 since March.

North Kitsap had 13 cases, South Kitsap had seven, and Bainbridge Island had two.

Over the past two weeks, Kitsap County’s positive case rate per 100,000 residents is 154.7, or 5.2 percent, meaning the county is now at a “high level” of COVID-19 activity, per state guidelines, which are a case rate above 75 over the previous 14 days.

A total of 151 cases were considered in “isolation” by the health district, while 800 “total close contacts in quarantine” were also confirmed in Kitsap.

A total of 23 COVID-19 related deaths have been confirmed since March, nine of which came in October. All of the fatalities have been from individuals with underlying health conditions.

The total number of negative tests is 61,295 since March.

Of the 2,101 total cases, 90 have been reported on Bainbridge Island, 562 in Bremerton, 541 in Central Kitsap, 348 in North Kitsap and 560 in South Kitsap.

Based on contact tracing work, the district believes the spread among families and households was a key driver of recent case 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.

Cases have increased across all age ranges, but during a four-week period ending Oct. 31, the rate of new cases reported among children 18 and younger jumped to its highest level to date.

Kitsap Public Health District Health Officer Dr. Gib Morrow said, “With COVID-19 spreading across our region, we need to take extra care of each other this season by keeping indoor gatherings to a minimum, wearing masks and staying at least six feet from others.”