Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

20,475 active COVID cases, most since the pandemic began

NPR

South Dakota has more active cases of COVID-19 than any previous time during the pandemic.

The state Department of Health says there are 20,475 current infections. That’s the first time the number has surpassed 20,000.

Hospitalizations are also rising, but not as sharply as case counts. 315 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. That number has been above 300 for several days after hovering around 250 much of last month.

The state reports no new deaths from COVID-19. South Dakota’s pandemic toll remains at 2,528.

The vaccination rate is also unchanged at 56 percent of eligible South Dakotans.

Health officials say most people hospitalized with COVID-19 are not vaccinated. Vaccines are free and widely available.

Information on free vaccines is available at vaccines.gov.

Note: The data presented is from the previous day — Tuesday updates include data from over the weekend (Saturday 1 pm CT - Monday 1 pm CT)

  • State’s death toll: 2,528 (+0 from the previous report)
    • Note: 'Death toll' indicates the number of deaths among people with COVID, but COVID may not have been the sole cause of death.
    • Deaths verifiably caused by COVID: 2,209 (updated weekly)
  • Active cases: 20,475 (+3,256)
  • Eligible South Dakotans fully vaccinated: 56.19%
  • Currently hospitalized: 315 (+8)
    • Note: Currently Hospitalized numbers include COVID-19 cases and people that are in the hospital under transmission-based precautions. The number may include out-of-state cases and people.
  • Advice from the CDC is to get vaccinated, and mask-up indoors if you live in a place with high or substantial coronavirus transmission. That’s everywhere in South Dakota.