PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) can confirm that the P.1 variant (the ‘Brazil variant”) of COVID-19 has been detected in South Dakota. The findings were verified by an out-of-state commercial laboratory, and while only one case of the variant has been identified in Pennington County, it is safe to assume other cases may exist.
According to Daniel Bucheli, SD-DOH Communications Director, the development is being closely monitored. She went on to say that state residents are encouraged to get vaccinated as it’s the best way to be protected against hospitalization or death.
