BROOKINGS – The state is reporting 80 new positive COVID-19 cases and one new death in South Dakota Friday.
One of the new cases is in Brookings County.
Brookings County cases have risen to 113 positive tests (one new Friday), and 107 of those people have recovered, with six active cases. A total of 2,471 people have tested negative in Brookings County as of Friday, 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 8,764 as of midday Friday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.
Of the 8,764 statewide cases, 873 are classified as active (up by seven from Thursday). As of Friday, 7,761 people have recovered (71 new), 824 people have been hospitalized at some point (nine new), 31 people are currently hospitalized (down by 13), and 130 people have died.
Officials say 102,871 people (1,211 new) have tested negative in South Dakota.
The new death is a woman from Pennington County in the 80-plus years age category.
Increases in positive cases Friday included, but are not limited to, five in Custer County, three in Edmunds, 19 in Lincoln, 17 in Minnehaha, seven in Pennington and four in Union.
The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (4,150), Pennington (811), Beadle (586), Lincoln (542) and Brown (397).
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.
