The second death from COVID-19 in Kitsap County was reported by local health officials Tuesday, bringing Kitsap County’s death toll up to two people.

The Kitsap Public Health District announced an adult aged 65 or older with underlying health conditions died from the disease. The health district did not release specifics about the person and would not comment about individual cases in accordance with federal privacy laws.

The person, however, does not appear to Bainbridge police officer Kurt Enget, who died April 10 after being hospitalized for respiratory symptoms; Enget was 49 years old.

Though Enget was treated for symptoms consistent with COVID-19, a diagnosis has not yet been confirmed. Kitsap County Coroner Jeff Wallis said last week that results from a COVID-19 test conducted at the hospital came back negative, which leaves Enget’s cause of death unclear for now.

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Kitsap reported its first known COVID-19 death earlier this month: 80-year-old Joanne Hunter, a longtime Bremerton resident known to family and friends as “Granni Jo.” The health district also did not disclose Hunter's name, citing privacy laws.

There are 141 cases of COVID-19 in Kitsap confirmed as of Monday, though health officials warn that’s likely only a portion of the total number who could have the virus but have not gotten tested. Essentially, there’s been no way to figure how many people actually have COVID-19 because testing has remained limited nationwide.

In recent weeks, there have been fewer new positive COVID-19 cases in Kitsap, though Kitsap Health Officer says it's too early to tell if that trend will continue. With more than 2,980 tests conducted in Kitsap, only about 5% have come back positive for COVID-19, according to the health district.

“What we can say is we definitely are seeing fewer cases. There seems to be a plateau and a decline in the number of cases reported,” Turner said in an interview Friday. However, she said, "We don’t know what the data will show tomorrow.”

The health district is encouraging Kitsap residents to continue to stay home as much as possible in order slow the spread of the virus illness and protect people who are most at risk.

“We just really urge people to stand fast and look for fresh ways they can continue to implement these measures and still thrive in their family and thrive at home while protecting themselves and others,” Turner 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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