SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Health officials have reported two additional deaths from COVID-19 and the largest number of infected people on ventilators at South Dakota hospitals since last year.
The Department of Health says there are 453 new infections. Tuesday’s report doesn’t include Labor Day or results from weekend testing which will be reported on Wednesday.
Fifty-eight of 213 people hospitalized were in intensive care, and 45 were on ventilators.
Meanwhile, Sioux Falls-based Avera Health announced Tuesday that it will require full vaccination for its physicians, employees and volunteers by Dec. 1. The policy also includes students with rotations at Avera, contracted workers and vendors.
On the western side of the state, Monument Health reports their hospitals are treating 79 patients for COVID-19.
The total amount of unvaccinated patients diagnosed with COVID-19 is 64 compared to the total of 79 patients overall with the virus. There are 24 patients in the ICU and Monument Health says 23 of them are not vaccinated.Of the 14 patients on ventilators, 13 of them are unvaccinated.
The 15 COVID-19 patients that are hospitalized and vaccinated are a part of the breakthrough infection cases that typically are of the older demographic, 75 years or older, or they already have underlying conditions.
