BROOKINGS – The state is reporting 1,185 new COVID-19 cases and nine new deaths in South Dakota Friday.

Forty-nine of the new cases are in Brookings County.

Brookings County cases have risen to 1,307 total cases (49 new confirmed): 960 of those people have recovered (23 new), with 343 active cases (up by 26) and four deaths (no change). A total of 6,109 people (69 new) have tested negative in Brookings County as of Friday, and 39 people in the county (three new) have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported.

There are six COVID-19 occupied hospital beds and one COVID-19 occupied ICU bed at the Brookings hospital as of Friday.

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 37,202 (1,185 new – 1,132 confirmed plus 53 probable) as of midday Friday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Of the statewide cases, 9,862 are classified as active (up by 589 from Thursday). As of Friday, 26,984 people have recovered (587 new), 2,336 people have been hospitalized at some point (59 new), 349 people are currently hospitalized (down by six), and 356 people have died (nine new).

The SDDOH website reports 203,800 people (1,371 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 four men, are being reported in Gregory, Jerauld, Lincoln, Minnehaha (2), Pennington (2), Turner and Union counties. The age ranges of the deceased are one 50-59 years, five 70-79 years and three in the 80-plus years category.

Increases in positive cases Friday included, but are not limited to, 29 in Beadle County, 131 in Bon Homme, 49 in Brookings, 34 in Brown, 37 in Codington, 42 in Davison, 27 in Hughes, 26 in Lawrence, 54 in Lincoln, 268 in Minnehaha, 60 in Oglala Lakota, 74 in Pennington and 25 in Yankton.

The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (9,969), Pennington (3,909), Lincoln (2,437), Brown (1,888) and Codington (1,362).

According to the South Dakota State University COVID-19 dashboard, as of noon Friday, 34 students and two faculty/staff were self-reporting current (active) positive tests. A total of 144 faculty, staff and students were quarantined and isolated as of Friday, with 10 of those in campus facilities.

The Brookings School District COVID-19 dashboard reports that the district has 10 active cases, as of Friday: four from Brookings High School, one from Mickelson Middle School, one from Hillcrest Elementary, one Medary Elementary and three 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.