RAPID CITY, S.D. -The Great Plains Tribal Health Board reports 31 patients of the Oyate Health Center have now tested positive for COVID-19.
That is nearly double last week’s 16 cases.
Brandon Ecoffey, chairman of the board, says their first positive test was confirmed on May 3rd.
He says they have enough testing supplies for the short term and are working to acquire more tests to accomodate a potential rapid increase in testing in the coming weeks.
The state on Tuesday announced mass testing was coming this week to an assisted living center where a COVID-19 case has been confirmed.
On Monday, the Clarkson Health Care Facilitiy on Mountain View Drive said an employee had tested positive.
Westhills Village owns Clarkson. From both Westhills and Clarkson, 450 employees and residents will be tested this week as part of the state’s initiative to test everyone in assisted living and nursing homes.
The test supplies are scheduled to arrive no later than Thursday and the testing itself will be conducted over a two-day period. Results will be processed over a two to four day period through LabCorp in Rapid City.
