BROOKINGS – The state is reporting 582 new COVID-19 cases and three new deaths in South Dakota Wednesday.

Eleven of the new cases are in Brookings County.

Brookings County cases have risen to 1,242 total cases (11 new confirmed): 926 of those people have recovered (six new), with 314 active cases (up by five) and two deaths. A total of 6,002 people (no change) have tested negative in Brookings County as of Wednesday, and 35 people in the county (four new) have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported.

There are six COVID-19 occupied hospital beds at the Brookings hospital as of Wednesday.

Brookings County remains in the “substantial” community spread category.

The state Department of Health data includes confirmed COVID-19 cases via traditional RT-PCR testing, plus probable cases based on rapid antigen testing, which detects the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Probable cases are investigated and handled in the same way as confirmed cases, DOH officials said.

The number of COVID-19 cases in South Dakota rose to 35,044 (582 new – 558 confirmed plus 24 probable) as of midday Wednesday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Of the statewide cases, 8,688 are classified as active (up by 247 from Tuesday). As of Wednesday, 26,023 people have recovered (337 new), 2,239 people have been hospitalized at some point (46 new), 332 people are currently hospitalized (up by three), and 333 people have died (three new).

The SDDOH website reports 201,206 people (937 new) have tested negative in South Dakota.

Current hospitalizations may include out-of-state cases, and total hospitalizations only include South Dakota residents.

The deaths reported on the SDDOH data dashboard are deaths for which COVID-19 is listed as a cause or contributing factor on the certified death record.

The new deaths, one woman and two men, are being reported in Buffalo, Marshall and Miner counties. The age ranges of the deceased are one 60-69 years, one 70-79 years and one in the 80-plus years category.

Increases in positive cases Wednesday included, but are not limited to, 16 in Beadle County, 11 in Brookings, 16 in Brown, 11 in Codington, 13 in Davison, 16 in Faulk, 17 in Lawrence, 40 in Lincoln, 16 in Meade, 146 in Minnehaha, 38 in Oglala Lakota, 55 in Pennington and 16 in Todd.

The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (9,437), Pennington (3,742), Lincoln (2,313), Brown (1,823) and Codington (1,296).

According to the South Dakota State University COVID-19 dashboard, as of noon Wednesday, 30 students and two faculty/staff were self-reporting current (active) positive tests. A total of 130 faculty, staff and students were quarantined and isolated as of Wednesday, with 13 of those in campus facilities.

The Brookings School District COVID-19 dashboard reports that the district has five active cases, as of Wednesday: one from Brookings High School, two from Mickelson Middle School, one Medary Elementary and one listed as “Other.”

The state Department of Health generally does not identify the specific communities within a county where cases are located, or a business, event or setting that may be the source of a surge to protect patient confidentiality.

Only a few exceptions are made, such as clusters when there are 40 or more cases identified in a single workplace/setting.

The figures released by the state Department of Health do not include individuals who are asymptomatic or have symptoms of the coronavirus but are not being tested.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.

Learn more at www.covid.sd.gov.