On Thursday, the Kitsap Public Health District confirmed two new deaths and 15 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the previous 24 hours, bringing the countywide total to 74 deaths and 5,425 cases since the pandemic began in March.

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

Last week, 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 116.8, meaning the county is still over a “high level” of coronavirus activity, per state guidelines, with a case rate above 75 over the previous 14 days.

There have been 74 virus-related fatalities in Kitsap and 29 such deaths since the start of 2021. Of the 74 deaths, 38 were community members 80 and older, 21 ages 70-79, eight 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.

On Jan. 14, the health district stated about half of the deaths have been linked to outbreaks in long-term care settings. The health district noted that the Madrona House — a long-term care facility on Bainbridge — has an active COVID outbreak of 17 cases so far. In North Kitsap, other active outbreaks at such facilities include Harbor House (15 cases), Liberty Shores (13 cases), and Brookdale Montclair (14 cases).

A total of 102 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.) 502 “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 5,425 total cases, 254 have been reported on Bainbridge Island, 1,444 in Bremerton, 1,282 in Central Kitsap, 931 in North Kitsap and 1,514 in South Kitsap.

To date, the number of vaccine doses given by Kitsap facilities is 36,652.