BROOKINGS – The state is reporting three new COVID-19 deaths and 564 new cases in South Dakota Monday.

Nineteen of the new cases are in Brookings County.

Brookings County cases have risen to 2,448 total cases (16 new confirmed and three new probable): 1,961 of those people have recovered (three new), with 471 active cases (up by 16) and 16 deaths (no change). A total of 8,739 people (12 new) have tested negative in Brookings County as of Monday, and 81 people in the county (two new) have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported.

There are nine COVID-19 occupied hospital beds at the Brookings Hospital, the DOH website reported Monday.

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 80,464 (564 new – 455 confirmed plus 109 probable) as of midday Monday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Of the statewide cases, 17,184 are classified as active (up by 254 from Sunday). As of Monday, 62,334 people have recovered (307 new), 4,502 people have been hospitalized at some point (34 new), 546 people are currently hospitalized (up by two), and 946 people have died (three new).

The SDDOH website reports 248,388 people (544 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 Day, Fall River and Hutchinson counties. The age ranges of the deceased are one 60-69 years and two 70-79 years.

Increases in positive cases Monday included, but are not limited to, 32 in Brown County, 41 in Codington, 51 in Dewey, 26 in Lawrence, 66 in Minnehaha, 66 in Pennington and 27 in Ziebach.

The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (20,520), Pennington (8,670), Lincoln (5,424), Brown (3,641) and Codington (2,686).

According to the South Dakota State University COVID-19 dashboard, as of noon Monday, seven students and five faculty/staff were self-reporting current (active) positive tests. A total of 44 faculty, staff and students were quarantined and isolated as of Monday, with four of those in campus facilities.

The Brookings School District COVID-19 dashboard reports that the district has 12 active cases, as of Monday: six from Brookings High School, four 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.