PIERRE, S.D. (KBHB) – The Wednesday COVID-19 report indicated 34 new deaths, sending the state’s death toll since the pandemic began to 1,739. In all, there were 24 men and 10 women included in the death toll.

Active cases fell by 190 to 3,238 but the number of people hospitalized due to the virus was up 9 Wednesday to 161.

State epidemiologist Dr. Joshua Clayton says the state continues to see an overall decrease in the daily number of cases.

Despite the downward trend, Dr. Clayton says the virus is still out there.