RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota has seen a rise in COVID-19 – related hospitalizations over the past few weeks, and hospital officials across the state have called that ‘alarming.”
Across the Black Hills area, Monument Health has reported about 60 people hospitalized due to COVID-19, with 17 of those in the I.C.U. and 7 on ventilators.
The Vice President of Medical Affairs, Dr. Shankar Kurra, says they’re seeing a spike in cases 10 days after the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally ended, similar to last year, but with exceptions. He says the rate this year is more significant, given the transmission rate of the Delta Variant.
Dr. Kurra says of those hospitalized at Monument, 99% are unvaccinated and of those testing positive, 98% are unvaccinated.
