BROOKINGS – The state is reporting two new COVID-19 deaths and 448 new cases in South Dakota Tuesday.
Fourteen of the new cases are in Brookings County.
Brookings County cases have risen to 2,461 total cases (14 new confirmed): 2,064 of those people have recovered (103 new), with 381 active cases (down by 90) and 16 deaths (no change). A total of 8,761 people (22 new) have tested negative in Brookings County as of Tuesday, and 83 people in the county (two new) have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported.
There are five COVID-19 occupied hospital beds at the Brookings Hospital, the DOH website reported Tuesday.
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 80,912 (448 new – 416 confirmed plus 32 probable) as of midday Tuesday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.
Of the statewide cases, 14,088 are classified as active (down by 3,096 from Monday). As of Tuesday, 65,876 people have recovered (3,542 new), 4,572 people have been hospitalized at some point (70 new), 547 people are currently hospitalized (up by one), and 948 people have died (two new).
The SDDOH website reports 249,621 people (1,233 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, two women, are being reported in Minnehaha and Pennington counties. The age ranges that saw the number of deaths increase were one 70-79 years and two in the 80-plus years category, while the 50-59 years category decreased by one.
Increases in positive cases Tuesday included, but are not limited to, 29 in Lincoln County, 132 in Minnehaha and 63 in Pennington.
The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (20,652), Pennington (8,733), Lincoln (5,453), Brown (3,657) and Codington (2,700).
According to the South Dakota State University COVID-19 dashboard, as of noon Tuesday, seven students and six faculty/staff were self-reporting current (active) positive tests. A total of 40 faculty, staff and students were quarantined and isolated as of Tuesday, with one of those in campus facilities.
The Brookings School District COVID-19 dashboard reports that the district has 15 active cases, as of Tuesday: eight from Brookings High School, five from Mickelson Middle School and two from Hillcrest Elementary.
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.
