The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Kitsap County now stands at 41, with positive cases escalating at their fastest pace yet this week. There have not been any reported deaths from the illness in Kitsap.

On Friday, Kitsap Public Health officials reported eight more positive tests, contributing to 23 cases confirmed since Monday. That means half of Kitsap’s total cases have been reported this week alone.

The first confirmed cases of COVID-19 — a Bainbridge Island couple in their 60s and 70s — landed in Kitsap at the beginning of March. Over the course of the month, the highly contagious virus has now spread to every part of the county and across the age spectrum.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on, the United State now leads the world in confirmed coronavirus cases, a grim milestone reached on Thursday. As of Friday, there are more than 97,000 confirmed cases in the U.S., including at least 1,475 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

While cases have been reported in all 50 states, New York has now emerged at the country’s epicenter with more than 44,000 coronavirus cases, accounting for about half of the country’s total known cases.

In Washington state, there are more than 3,200 confirmed cases as of Friday, including at least 151 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins database. The vast majority of cases, along with deaths, are in the Puget Sound region, though cases have been reported nearly every one of Washington’s 39 counties.

Coronavirus in Kitsap County:Public safety depends on everyone's cooperation

On Thursday, Washington state health officials reported more than 46,300 people have been tested for coronavirus, with about 7% resulting in positive cases. In Kitsap, the public health district reported 1,129 tests, with 3.6% coming back positive.

CHI Franciscan, the hospital system that includes Harrison Medical Center, has 35 confirmed COVID-19 patients along with 55 suspected cases as of Thursday. Hospital officials would not specify where those cases are located in the system; they did not comment on whether Harrison has any confirmed cases.

The hospital system says it has screened more than 16,500 people and tested more than 1,500 people at its 11 triage centers set up early this month.

Two people associated with Klahowya Secondary School have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Kitsap Public Health District informed Central Kitsap School District of the cases, according to school district spokesman David Beil. The two public agencies worked together to contact individuals who had close contact with infected individuals and to provide guidance, Beil said.

Austen Macalus is the Kitsap Sun's social services reporter — covering health care, homelessness and how programs are serving those in need. He can be reached at austen.macalus@kitsapsun.com or 360-536-6423.

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