BROOKINGS – The state is reporting 36 new COVID-19 deaths and 1,328 new cases in South Dakota Friday.

One new death and 39 of the new cases are in Brookings County.

Brookings County cases have risen to 2,204 total cases (39 new confirmed): 1,684 of those people have recovered (22 new), with 505 active cases (up by 14) and 15 deaths (one new). A total of 7,713 people (126 new) have tested negative in Brookings County as of Friday, and 71 people in the county (no change) have been hospitalized at some point, the state reported.

There are seven COVID-19 occupied hospital beds and one COVID-19 occupied ICU bed at the Brookings Hospital, the DOH website reported Friday.

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

The state Department of Health data includes confirmed COVID-19 cases via traditional RT-PCR testing, plus probable cases based on rapid antigen testing, which detects the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Probable cases are investigated and handled in the same way as confirmed cases, DOH officials said.

The number of COVID-19 cases in South Dakota rose to 71,070 (1,328 new – 1,205 confirmed plus 123 probable) as of midday Friday, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

Of the statewide cases, 18,407 are classified as active (up by 523 from Thursday). As of Friday, 51,922 people have recovered (769 new), 3,993 people have been hospitalized at some point (71 new), 574 people are currently hospitalized (down by four), and 741 people have died (36 new).

The SDDOH website reports 235,799people (2,272 new) have tested negative in South Dakota.

Current hospitalizations may include out-of-state cases, and total hospitalizations only include South Dakota residents.

The deaths reported on the SDDOH data dashboard are deaths for which COVID-19 is listed as a cause or contributing factor on the certified death record.

The new deaths, 21 women and 15 men, are being reported in Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme (3), Brookings, Buffalo, Butte (3), Codington (3), Davison (2), Hughes, Jackson, Kingsbury, Lawrence (5), McCook, Miner, Minnehaha (2), Moody (4), Roberts, Spink (3) and Union counties. The age ranges of the deceased are one 50-59 years, four 60-69 years, eight 70-79 years and 23 in the 80-plus years category.

Increases in positive cases Friday included, but are not limited to, 27 in Beadle County, 25 in Bon Homme, 37 in Brookings, 67 in Brown, 31 in Clay, 56 in Codington, 80 in Davison, 63 in Hughes, 59 in Lincoln, 25 in Meade, 234 in Minnehaha, 139 in Pennington, 27 in Todd and 35 in Yankton.

The counties with the highest total case counts are Minnehaha (18,247), Pennington (7,608), Lincoln (4,834), Brown (3,142) and Codington (2,403).

According to the South Dakota State University COVID-19 dashboard, as of noon Friday, 22 students and eight faculty/staff were self-reporting current (active) positive tests. A total of 103 faculty, staff and students were quarantined and isolated as of Friday, with 10 of those in campus facilities.

The Brookings School District COVID-19 dashboard reports that the district has 13 active cases, as of Friday: three from Brookings High School, four from Mickelson Middle School, two from Camelot Intermediate School, one from Dakota Prairie Elementary, two from Hillcrest Elementary and one Medary Elementary.

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 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.