STURGIS, S.D. – South Dakota health officials say active cases of COVID-19 have soared to 26,835 as the virus continues to hit health centers and schools hard across the state.
The state reported 2,641 new cases Friday with 651 of those listed as probable.
Hospitalizations climbed to 349 and the number COVID-19 related deaths rose by 15 to 2,559. Of the new deaths, two were out of Pennington County, two were out of Fall River County and there was one death reported out of Butte County.
A second COVID-19 testing site opened in Rapid City yesterday as the Black Hills region sees its highest testing demand and positivity rate – nearly 40% – since the pandemic began.
Monument Health says its hospitalizations are expected to surpass the record of 103 patients from November 2021 as the Omicron variant infection is predicted to peak in two weeks. Today, Monument Health reported 64 COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Across the Black Hills area, Pennington County reported 397 new cases with 78 of those listed as probable.
The second highest number of new cases was out of Meade County with 61 confirmed and 10 probable for a total of 71.
Lawrence County reported 68 total new cases with 3 of those listed as probable and Custer County had 21 total new cases with 7 probable.
Elsewhere, Butte County tallied 17 new cases, Fall River County had 15, Oglala Lakota County reported 13 and Harding County added four.
