PIERRE, S.D. – It was another triple-digit increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases in the state Thursday according to the South Dakota Health Department.
Health officials report 125 new positive COVID-19 tests today, with 29 of them in the Black Hills area.
Pennington County reported the most Black Hills cases today, as health officials report 13 new COVID-19 cases. That gives Pennington a cumulative total of 975 with 113 active cases. After a couple of down days, the active number of cases rose five Thursday to 113.
Meade County reported an additional 7 new cases Thursday. Meade County has 127 total cases with 36 of them remaining active. The active number of cases is up 6 for the second day in a row.
With the rising number of cases in Meade County, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and its aftermath was brought up at today’s presser with the health department.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Joshua Clayton.
“We have had two public notices that have occurred and that was for One Eyed Jacks Saloon in Sturgis and the Bumpin’ Buffalo Car and Casino. Those are the only two public notices we have had so far. We have had less than 25 total cases associated with attendance at the Rally, and that does include several cases reported to us from outside the state of South Dakota.”
The public notices were issued because the person infected was in a large gathering where contact tracing wasn’t possible – not to single out any particular business. Dr. Clayton says they were able to provide contact tracing for the other rally-related cases.
After reporting 10 new cases since Monday, Lawrence County only had one new case today, giving them a cumulative total of 83 and 22 of them remain active.
In the southern hills, Custer County reported 7 new cases today giving them 58 total with 22 active cases. The active caseload is up 7 today in Custer County.
The statewide active caseload is up another 47 today to 1,269. The number of people hospitalized, however, remained relatively stable as the statewide number dropped two to 53. There were 5 new hospitalizations reported today.
Two new COVID-19 related deaths were also reported today by the health department. The two new deaths were both men, listed in the 60-69 age range and 80+ age range. One was in Minnehaha County and one was in Davison County.
The death toll in South Dakota is now at 157.
RELATED: https://kbhbradio.com/Health-Department-says-potential-COVID-19-exposure-in-Sturgis
