BROOKINGS – The state is reporting eight new COVID-19 deaths and 164 new cases in South Dakota Thursday.

One new death and four of the new cases are in Brookings County.

Brookings County cases have risen to 3,575 total cases (two new confirmed and two new probable): 3,480 of those people have recovered (four new), with 58 active cases (down by one) and 37 deaths (one new). A total of 11,727 people (38 new) have tested negative in Brookings County, and 125 people (one new) in the county have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported.

There is one COVID-19 occupied hospital bed at the Brookings Hospital, the DOH website reported Thursday.

Brookings County remains in the “substantial” community spread category.

The number of COVID-19 cases in South Dakota rose to 111,964 (164 new – 145 confirmed plus 19 probable) as of midday Thursday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Of the statewide cases, 1,948 are classified as active (up by 57 from Wednesday). As of Thursday, 108,144 people have recovered (91 new), 6,589 South Dakotans have been hospitalized at some point (19 new), 100 people are currently hospitalized (down by two) for transmission-based precautions, and 1,872 people have died (eight new).

The SDDOH website reports 308,601 people (582 new) have tested negative in South Dakota.

The new deaths, three women and five men, are being reported in Brookings, Brown (3), Charles Mix, Lawrence, Potter and Roberts counties. The age ranges of the deceased are two 60-69 years, three 70-79 years and three in the 80-plus years category.

Increases in positive cases Thursday include, but are not limited to, eight in Beadle County, three in Brown, five in Codington, 14 in Lincoln, 47 in Minnehaha and 33 in Pennington.

The SDDOH website reported midday Thursday that 197,050 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to 130,148 people in South Dakota.

In Brookings County, 4,910 vaccine doses have been administered to 3,290 people.

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.