On Wednesday, the Kitsap Public Health District confirmed 50 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the countywide total of cases to 4,493 since March.

Of the new cases, 11 were in North Kitsap and one on Bainbridge Island.

There have been 50 COVID-related deaths in the county since March. The first 43 deaths were from community members who all had underlying health conditions with all but five over the age of 65. Details on the seven most recent deaths will be provided by the district Thursday.

Over the past two weeks, the county’s positive case rate per 100,000 residents is 234, 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 244 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.) 599 “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 4,493 total cases, 204 have been reported on Bainbridge Island, 1,152 in Bremerton, 1,057 in Central Kitsap, 779 in North Kitsap and 1,301 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.