BROOKINGS – The state is reporting two new deaths and 73 new positive coronavirus cases Thursday. Active cases continue to drop, with recoveries outpacing new cases.
The number of South Dakotans who have tested positive for COVID-19 rose to 4,250 as of midday Thursday, up 73 from Wednesday’s data, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.
Brookings County cases remain at 14 positive tests, and all 14 of those people have recovered. There have been 530 negative tests in Brookings County as of Thursday, the state reported.
Of the 4,250 statewide cases, 1,057 are classified as active (down by 51 from Wednesday). So far, 3,145 people have recovered (122 new), 342 people have been hospitalized at some point (nine new), 91 people are currently hospitalized (up by 10), and 48 people have died.
The two new deaths are being reported in Minnehaha and Pennington counties, one man and one woman. The age ranges with new deaths are 30-39 years old and 80-plus years old.
There have been 27,051 total negative tests (839 new) in South Dakota. Of those, laboratories have reported 1,256 negative tests to the SDDOH that are not assigned to specific counties.
The county with the most positive tests in South Dakota is Minnehaha, with 3,195 as of midday Thursday, up by 13 since Wednesday. Increases in positive cases Thursday also include, but are not limited to, 12 in Aurora County, 11 in Beadle, 10 in Brown, 3 in Codington, and 15 in Pennington.
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.
Learn more at www.covid.sd.gov.
