BROOKINGS – The state is reporting 621 new COVID-19 cases and seven new deaths in South Dakota Tuesday.
Eight of the new cases are in Brookings County.
Brookings County cases have risen to 1,231 total cases (seven new confirmed and one new probable): 920 of those people have recovered (32 new), with 309 active cases (down by 24) and two deaths. A total of 6,002 people (161 new)have tested negative in Brookings County as of Tuesday, and 31 people in the county (one new) have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported.
There are four COVID-19 occupied hospital beds at the Brookings hospital as of Tuesday, with one COVID-19 occupied ICU bed.
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 34,457 (621 new – 562 confirmed plus 59 probable) as of midday Tuesday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.
Of the statewide cases, 8,441 are classified as active (up by 53 from Monday). As of Tuesday, 25,686 people have recovered (561 new), 2,193 people have been hospitalized at some point (47 new), 329 people are currently hospitalized (up by 25), and 330 people have died (seven new).
The SDDOH website reports 200,269 people (1,655 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 five men, are being reported in Beadle, Kingsbury, Lincoln (2), Mellette, Minnehaha and Pennington counties. The age ranges of the deceased are one 50-59 years, two 70-79 years and four in the 80-plus years category.
Increases in positive cases Tuesday included, but are not limited to, 23 in Brown County, 11 in Clay, 18 in Codington, 17 in Lawrence, 44 in Lincoln, 15 in Meade, 128 in Minnehaha, 30 in Oglala Lakota, 96 in Pennington, 11 in Roberts, 27 in Todd and 12 in Yankton.
The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (9,291), Pennington (3,687), Lincoln (2,273), Brown (1,807) and Codington (1,285).
According to the South Dakota State University COVID-19 dashboard, as of noon Tuesday, 19 students and three faculty/staff were self-reporting current (active) positive tests. A total of 118 faculty, staff and students were quarantined and isolated as of Tuesday, with 13 of those in campus facilities.
The Brookings School District COVID-19 dashboard reports that the district has four active cases, as of Tuesday: one from Brookings High School, two from Mickelson Middle School and one Medary 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 actual number of infections in the state is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick.
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.
