BROOKINGS – The state is reporting two new deaths and 55 new positive coronavirus cases in South Dakota Saturday.

Four of the new cases are in Brookings County.

Brookings County cases have risen to 94 positive tests (four new Saturday), and 75 of those people have recovered, with 19 active cases. There have been 1,963 negative tests in Brookings County as of Saturday, and four people in the county have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported. There have been no deaths here.

Brookings County remains in the “substantial” community spread category. Substantial community spread means there are five-plus cases of community-acquired COVID-19 in a county or a distinct group of cases in a single area.

The number of South Dakotans who have tested positive for COVID-19 rose to 7,454 as of midday Saturday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Of the 7,454 statewide cases, 875 are classified as active (down by 11 from Friday). As of Saturday, 6,470 people have recovered (62 new), 738 people have been hospitalized at some point (12 new), 65 people are currently hospitalized (no change), and 109 people have died.

There have been 82,152 total negative tests (1,011 new) in South Dakota.

The new deaths, two men, are being reported in Hughes and Yankton counties. The age ranges of the deceased are 60-69 years old and 70-79 years old.

Increases in positive cases Saturday included, but are not limited to, four in Brookings County, three in Lake, six in Lincoln, three in Mellette, 13 in Minnehaha, six in Pennington, three in Roberts, .

The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (3,751), Pennington (630), Beadle (551), Lincoln (390) and Brown (356).

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 DOH will also issue a public health notice when an employee or patron of a business/event is unable to identify persons they were in close contact with (15 or more minutes within 6 feet or less) while able to transmit the virus.

No public health notices regarding specific businesses or events have been issued in Brookings County so far.

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.