PIERRE, S.D. – The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Pennington County increased by 16 in the latest report from the South Dakota Department of Health.
Pennington County now has 74 total cumulative cases and 57 active cases. The health department also reported a death related to COVID-19 in Pennington County – believed to be an employee of the Super 8 Motel on Tower Road who tested positive for the virus. Family members have said the individual died. There was also a death reported in Minnehaha County, raising the state’s death toll to 46.
Of the new cases, Rapid City Police announced today that one of its officers has tested positive for COVID-19. Police officials learned of the positive test result late Monday afternoon. The officer informed his supervisor when he first began developing symptoms. He remains in self-quarantine. Supervisors are in the process of determining a timeline of contacts the officer may have made within the last two weeks. The department is monitoring the health of employees who may have had contact with the officer.
Walgreens Corporate also reported that an employee at their store on Mount Rushmore Road tested positive for the virus resulting in a temporary shutdown for cleaning and disinfecting. The store has since reopened.
The total number of new cases today was 58. Other cases reported today include a new case in Fall River County, 6 in Beadle, 5 in Brown, 4 in Lincoln, 15 in Minnehaha, 2 each in Buffalo, Lyman, Marshal and Turner and one each in Charles Mix, Hughes and Roberts counties.
The number of active cases is down 74 to 1,125. There are 77 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 – the same as Monday.
Recoveries increased by 130 – including two people who have recovered from the virus in Meade County, leaving just 2 active cases. Pennington County has 15 recoveries.
