COVID-19 Numbers Reach New Highs in South Dakota

More South Dakotans are now dealing with COVID-19 than at any other time during this pandemic.

Thursday (October 22), the state Department of Health reported a record-high 948 new positive tests, with another 25 listed as 'probable', pushing the number of active coronavirus cases to 9,273, an increase of 585 from the previous day.

An additional 14 people have now died from the virus, matching the previous single-day high set October 8. The pandemic has now claimed the lives of 347 South Dakotans, 124 in October alone, the deadliest month on record.

The number of people currently hospitalized in the state from COVID-19 is at 355, after an additional 23 patients were admitted.

Overall, South Dakota has seen 36,017 cases of coronavirus since March. There have been 26,397 recoveries.