BROOKINGS – The state is reporting 793 new COVID-19 cases and three new deaths in South Dakota Friday.

Twenty-four of the new cases are in Brookings County.

Brookings County cases have risen to 1,109 total cases (24 new confirmed cases Friday): 846 of those people have recovered (12 new), with 261 active cases (up by 12) and two deaths. A total of 5,647 people (124 new) have tested negative in Brookings County as of Friday, and 26 people in the county (one new) have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported.

Hospital capacity data shows that as of midday Friday, there are four COVID-19 occupied hospital beds at the Brookings hospital.

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 31,805 (793 new – 720 confirmed plus 73 probable) as of midday Friday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Of the statewide cases, 7,312 are classified as active (up by 180 from Thursday). As of Friday, 24,186 people have recovered (610 new), 2,044 people have been hospitalized at some point (44 new), 299 people are currently hospitalized (down by five), and 307 people have died (three new).

The SDDOH website reports 195,185 people (1,958 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 and one man, are being reported in Douglas, Edmunds and Minnehaha counties. The deceased were all 80 years or older.

Increases in positive cases Friday included, but are not limited to, 15 in Beadle County, 24 in Brookings, 35 in Brown, 26 in Butte, 26 in Codington, 19 in Davison, 18 in Hughes, 19 in Lawrence, 72 in Lincoln, 21 in Meade, 181 in Minnehaha, 30 in Oglala Lakota, 90 in Pennington, 21 in Walworth and 12 in Yankton.

The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (8,712), Pennington (3,468), Lincoln (2,094), Brown (1,685) and Codington (1,206).

According to the South Dakota State University COVID-19 dashboard, as of noon Friday, 26 students and four faculty/staff were self-reporting current (active) positive tests. A total of 110 faculty, staff and students were quarantined and isolated as of Friday, with nine of those in campus facilities.

The Brookings School District COVID-19 dashboard reports that the district has eight active cases, as of Friday: two from Brookings High School, one from Mickelson Middle School, three from Dakota Prairie Elementary and two Medary Elementary.

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.