34 new COVID-19 cases in Brookings Co. Thursday, Oct. 15

13 new COVID-19 deaths, 797 new cases in South Dakota Thursday

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BROOKINGS – The state is reporting 13 new COVID-19 deaths and 797 new cases in South Dakota Thursday.

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

Brookings County cases have risen to 1,085 total cases (33 new confirmed cases and one new probable case Thursday): 834 of those people have recovered (11 new), with 249 active cases (up by 23) and two deaths. A total of 5,523 people (50 new) have tested negative in Brookings County as of Thursday, and 25 people in the county (four new) have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported.

Hospital capacity data shows that as of midday Thursday, there are seven 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 31,012 (797 new – 700 confirmed plus 97 probable) as of midday Thursday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Of the statewide cases, 7,132 are classified as active (up by 528 from Wednesday). As of Thursday, 23,576 people have recovered (256 new), 2,000 people have been hospitalized at some point (37 new), 304 people are currently hospitalized (up by one), and 304 people have died (13 new).

The SDDOH website reports 193,227 people (1,121 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, five women and eight men, are being reported in Beadle, Brule, Gregory, Jerauld (2), Lincoln, Meade (2), Minnehaha (3), Oglala Lakota and Pennington counties. The age ranges of the deceased are one 40-49 years, one 60-69 years, three 70-79 years, and eight in the 80-plus years category.

Increases in positive cases Thursday included, but are not limited to, 22 in Beadle County, 34 in Brookings, 24 in Brown, 12 in Charles Mix, 10 in Clay, 29 in Codington, 20 in Davison, 22 in Dewey, 17 in Hughes, 11 in Kingsbury, 15 in Lawrence, 46 in Lincoln, 15 in Meade, 11 in Miner, 134 in Minnehaha, 32 in Oglala Lakota, 86 in Pennington, 23 in Todd, 20 in Turner, 21 in Union, 16 in Walworth and 13 in Yankton.

The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (8,531), Pennington (3,378), Lincoln (2,022), Brown (1,650) and Codington (1,180).

According to the South Dakota State University COVID-19 dashboard, as of noon Thursday, 24 students and five faculty/staff were self-reporting current (active) positive tests. A total of 108 faculty, staff and students were quarantined and isolated as of Thursday, with nine of those in campus facilities.

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