PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – With positive COVID-19 cases soaring and hospital beds filling up, the South Dakota Department of Health trying to plan ahead.

Secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon says past forecasts haven’t been accurate.

Malsam-Rysdon says hospital use doesn’t directly follow higher positive case numbers.

Malsam-Rysdon says its critical that people get flu shots to help take pressure off health care providers.

The state reported eight hundred seventy-six positive cases on Wednesday, a one day record. There are now over three hundred people hospitalized for Covid treatment.