PIERRE, S.D. – Health officials reported 472 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, with 41 of those considered as probable cases.
Active cases continued to steadily increase – up another 239 today to 3,655.
There were 11 new hospitalizations added to today’s total, sending the statewide number to 156. Statewide, there are 40 people in the I.C.U. and 16 on ventilators.
Monument Health says they are feeling the strain on their staff. Vice President of Medical Affairs Dr. Shankar Kurra says of those hospitalized, 99% are unvaccinated and of those testing positive, 98% are unvaccinated. Coupled with patients in the I.C.U. not suffering from COVID-19, Monument Health reports their adult available I.C.U. beds at just 6.8%.
One new COVID-19 related death was reported today, sending the total since the pandemic began to 2,060.
Across the Black Hills area, there were 221 total cases, of which, 4 were probable.
Pennington County had 123 confirmed cases and 3 of those probable cases. Lawrence County had the other probable case as well as 22 confirmed new cases.
Meade County reported 43 new cases and Butte and Custer Counties each reported 11.
There were 4 new cases in Oglala Lakota and 3 in Fall River County.
