1 coronavirus death reported in SD, 123 new cases

One more person has died of the coronavirus in South Dakota, and the number of confirmed cases in the state increased by 123 on Wednesday.

South Dakota has had a total of 155 COVID-19 deaths, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

The Minnehaha County man who died was in his 70s, according to the health department. Minnehaha County’s COVID-19 deaths now total 69.

Ten of the new confirmations are in Codington County, five are in Brown County, five are in Walworth County and two are in Deuel County, according to the health department.

South Dakota had a total of 10,566 COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday. That doesn’t include people who show symptoms or are asymptomatic but are not tested. Test results were reported for 1,034 people, and the positive rate was 11.9%.

The state has 1,222 active COVID-19 cases, according to the state health department. Recoveries statewide increased to 9,189. Eight more people have been hospitalized and 55 people are currently hospitalized. The health department notes that 935 total people have been hospitalized during the pandemic, and 120,481 people have tested negative.

Cases in Minnehaha County increased by 45 to 4,727 Wednesday, and Lincoln County’s cases increased by 15 to 738, according to the department. Meade County cases ticked up eight Wednesday to 120.

Codington County now has 183 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 54 are active. One person has died, 12 people have ever been hospitalized and 3,025 people have tested negative.

In Brown County, there have been 496 confirmed cases with 58 active as of Wednesday. There have been three deaths with 22 people ever hospitalized, and 4,739 people have tested negative.

Walworth County now has 23 total cases with six active, according to the health department.

In Deuel County, there have been 26 confirmations with 12 active cases.

Brookings and Lawrence counties also saw an increase of five cases each to 162 in Brookings and 82 in Lawrence. Pennington County’s cases increased by four to 962 total, according to the health department.

Statewide, 2% of the staffed hospital beds are being used for COVID-19 patients, according to the health department, with 3% of intensive care unit beds taken by virus patients. Five percent of South Dakota’s ventilator capacity is being used by COVID-19 patients.

Two more South Dakota high schools have reported that students involved with sports recently tested positive for COVID-19 as teams begin practices. The Washington High School football team in Sioux Falls has reported a case, and the Stevens High School volleyball team in Rapid City reported that an athlete trying out for the team has tested positive.