PIERRE, S.D. – In their weekly report, the South Dakota Department of Health reported 1,514 new cases of COVID-19 – down 55 from last week.
Active cases, however, saw an increase, surpassing four thousand to 4,176.
The number of people hospitalized because of the virus dropped three from last week’s 89 to 86 this week.
There were two new COVID-19 related deaths reported, sending the state’s death toll to 2,947. Of the two new deaths, one was out of Pennington County where there have been 349 since the start of the pandemic. The other death was out of Fall River County.
New cases across the Black Hills region included 252 out of Pennington County. That is lower than last week, but the most new cases reported West River this week.
Lawrence County had 70 new cases reported and Meade County saw six fewer cases this week with 54.
Elsewhere, Oglala Lakota County reported 29 new cases, Fall River County had 28, Butte County listed 25 and there were 22 new cases in Custer County.
As of July 20, 63 of South Dakota’s 66 counties are listed as having “high” or “substantial” community spread. “High” community spread is 100 cases or greater per 100,000 or a 10% or greater PCR test positivity rate.
