STURGIS, S.D. – Active cases of COVID-19 tumbled for a second day, as did the number of people hospitalized due to the virus.
State health officials reported 105 new COVID-19 cases today – the lowest 24 hour total since August 26th.
Active cases statewide dropped 213 Tuesday to 2,679 while the number of people hospitalized dropped ten to 68.
The Black Hills area also saw a decrease in active cases, and for the first time since August 15th, Meade County reported no new cases today.
In fact, Meade County’s numbers were adjusted today after a duplication was found according to state health officials. The county’s cumulative total is 346 and active cases are down 19 to 98.
Pennington County reported 7 new cases Tuesday, sending their total to 1,642. Of those, 370 remain active. Active cases in Pennington County are down 45 today.
Lawrence County reported one new case, giving them 264 total cases with 23 of them remaining active. Active cases are down 10 today in Lawrence.
Other new cases today include one each in Butte and Fall River County. Butte’s active cases are down 4 today. Active cases in Fall River County are down one.
There were no new deaths reported today, keeping the state’s death total at 173.
Meanwhile, health officials also updated the COVID-19 numbers within the state’s school and higher ed institutions.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Joshua Clayton says there are 452 total cases being reported within the state’s K-12 school system. Of those, 297 are students and 155 are staff.
Within the state’s public university system, there are 842 total cases with 806 of them among students. An additional 36 are reported among faculty or staff.
Black Hills State University is reporting 12 active cases among students and staff and 47 in quarantine or isolation. Of those 12 cases, 11 are among students.
At the South Dakota Mines, there are 14 active cases among students and 2 among faculty or staff. As a result, there are 79 currently in quarantine or isolation.
At the School of Mines, there are 17 active quarantined and isolated in campus residences. At Black Hills State, there are 9.
