BROOKINGS – The state is reporting 67 new positive coronavirus cases and four new deaths in South Dakota Thursday.

Three of the new cases are in Brookings County.

Brookings County cases have risen to 68 positive tests (three new Thursday), and 53 of those people have recovered, with 15 active cases. There have been 1,708 negative tests in Brookings County as of Thursday, and three 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 6,893 as of midday Thursday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Of the 6,893 statewide cases, 814 are classified as active (up by 14 from Wednesday). As of Thursday, 5,982 people have recovered (49 new), 683 people have been hospitalized at some point (nine new), 64 people are currently hospitalized (down by one), and 97 people have died.

The four new deaths, one woman and three men, are being reported in Beadle, Buffalo, Lyman and Pennington counties. The age ranges of the deceased are two 60-69 years old and two 80-plus years old.

There have been 75,048 total negative tests (931 new) in South Dakota.

Increases in positive cases Thursday included, but are not limited to, five in Beadle County, three in Brookings, five in Lincoln, three in Lyman, 11 in Minnehaha and 13 in Pennington.

The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (3,638), Pennington (536), Beadle (532), Lincoln (352) and Brown (344).

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 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 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.