On Monday, the Kitsap Public Health District confirmed another COVID-19 related death, bringing the countywide total of virus-related fatalities to 26 since March.

According to the health district, the community member was an older adult (65 or older) with underlying health conditions. All of the fatalities have been from individuals with underlying health conditions, the large majority over age 65.

Additionally, the health district confirmed 17 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the countywide total of positive tests to 2,258 since March.

North Kitsap and Bainbridge Island each reported one new case.

Over the past two weeks, Kitsap County’s positive case rate per 100,000 residents is 169.7, or 6.1 percent, meaning the county is 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 141 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.) 731 “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 negative tests is 63,079.

Of the 2,258 total cases, 99 have been reported on Bainbridge Island, 600 in Bremerton, 572 in Central Kitsap, 374 in North Kitsap and 613 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.