On Sunday, the Kitsap Public Health District confirmed a record 52 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the countywide total of positive tests to 1,999 since March.

The broke the previous record of 51 set the day before.

Central Kitsap had 18, South Kitsap 14 North Kitsap 9 and Bainbridge Island 3.

Over the past two weeks, Kitsap County’s positive case rate per 100,000 residents is 148., or 5.1 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 124 cases are considered “active” by the district, meaning they are “confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases … participating in daily monitoring.” Another 313 were categorized as “active contacts” or individuals determined to be close contacts of a lab-confirmed case and are participating in daily monitoring.

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, including the most-recent one this week.

The total number of negative tests is 59,644 since March.

Of the 1,999 total cases, 85 have been reported on Bainbridge Island, 540 in Bremerton, 519 in Central Kitsap, 329 in North Kitsap and 526 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. Public health officials are urging all residents to take steps to fight the spread of COVID as case rates continue to spike ahead of the holiday season.

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.”