BROOKINGS – The state is reporting 127 new positive COVID-19 cases and two new deaths in South Dakota Friday.

Two of the new cases are in Brookings County.

Brookings County cases have risen to 145 total positive cases (two new Friday): 131 of those people have recovered, with 13 active cases and one death. A total of 2,796 people have tested negative in Brookings County as of Friday, and five people in the county have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported.

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 10,024 as of midday Friday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Of the 10,024 statewide cases, 1,101 are classified as active (up by 43 from Thursday). As of Friday, 8,773 people have recovered (82 new), 903 people have been hospitalized at some point (seven new), 65 people are currently hospitalized (up by nine), and 150 people have died.

Officials say 115,990 people (1,117 new) have tested negative in South Dakota.

The new deaths, one woman and one man, are being reported in Lake and Pennington counties. Both are in the 80-plus years age category,

Increases in positive cases Friday included, but are not limited to, seven in Brown County, six in Charles Mix, four in Codington, four in Corson, eight in Dewey, three in Grant, four in Hughes, 15 in Lincoln, 40 in Minnehaha, nine in Pennington, three in Roberts and eight in Yankton.

The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (4,561), Pennington (924), Lincoln (687), Beadle (596) and Brown (463).

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.