SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (By Lisa Kaczke, Sioux Falls Argus Leader) – The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Dakota increased by 67 on Tuesday and no new deaths were reported.
South Dakota has a total of 4,653 COVID-19 cases, according to the South Dakota Department of Health. That doesn’t include people who show symptoms or are asymptomatic but are not tested. The total number of coronavirus deaths in South Dakota remained at 50.
A total of 1,755 test results were reported on Tuesday and the positive rate was 3.8%.
The increase in negative test results is due to the mass testing events that began last week at nursing homes in communities where there is substantial community spread of the coronavirus, State Epidemiologist Josh Clayton said. A total of 1,157 nursing home residents and 1,812 staff have been tested so far, and tests are scheduled this week for 1,159 residents and 1,965 staff, according to Health Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon. Following that, the state is planning to begin mass testing of all nursing home residents and staff in communities where there isn’t substantial community spread.
The state has some cases in which people have tested positive, recovered and then tested positive again either in a mass testing event or because they’ve shown symptoms again, Clayton said. He said there isn’t a specific number of people who have tested positive twice, but they are treated as a new coronavirus case if they’ve already completed the 14-day isolation period because there isn’t enough information yet on whether someone can become reinfected with the coronavirus.