PIERRE, S.D. – Another day of no changes in coronavirus numbers in South Dakota. That’s due to a delay in testing because of a lack of necessary supplies. The COVID-19 count remains at eleven.
Noem says they will resume testing today.
“Now that we have reagents and enzymes back into our public health lab today, we will begin testing again and processing samples that have come in from across the state. W do anticipate that we will have more positive cases from those tests.”
Due to the temporary delay in testing, the number of pending cases continued to rise Wednesday. In the latest report from the State Department of Health, the number is 385.
Five hundred fifty tests have come back negative.
Noem visited today with those at the front lines of fighting the COVID-19 virus – the staff heading up the State’s Emergency Operations Center.
She says they have been instrumental in helping to keep this virus from spreading at a rapid pace.
“These are the folks that are up all night, responding to the calls we get from providers to businesses trying to make decisions, from setting up opportunities to keep people isolated when necessary but also getting test results back. Couriers that taking test results back and forth to the health lab. I applaud you all. You are going above and beyond to serve South Dakota.”
And, Noem says the work is not done. This could go on well into the late latter half of spring and even into summer. However, she is confident the state is in great hands right now when it comes to fighting the virus.
Noem says there is still no reported community spread of COVID-19, and that has allowed the state to strengthen its response.
