South Dakota reports 13 deaths, record number of active COVID-19 cases
Thirteen more people with COVID-19 have died in South Dakota, according to data released Wednesday morning by the South Dakota Department of Health.
The state added 6,483 new and probable cases of COVID-19 in Wednesday's data, with 32,671 active cases currently in the state — an increase of more than 4,000 from Tuesday and the second straight day of record cases for the week, sixth day of reported increases in active cases since last week as omicron surges through the nation.
Wednesday's data represents case numbers from 1 p.m. Friday through 1 p.m. Tuesday, a total of four days of reporting, with Monday a holiday that closed state offices, the department confirmed.
The deaths were among five women and eight men. One was between the age of 30-39, three were between the ages of 50-59, one was between the age of 60-69, three were between the ages of 70-79 and five were aged 80 years or older. The thirteen new deaths bring the state's total to 2,573.
More: Child deaths tied to COVID-19 in South Dakota now 2. The second is from Minnehaha County.
The state health department also reported Tuesday its second child death tied to the pandemic. The individual was younger than age 10 and from Minnehaha County. COVID-19 was the underlying factor, health department spokesman Daniel Bucheli stated via email Tuesday.
Hospitalizations rose to 392, with data showing 31.1% of the state's hospital beds available and 34.6% of the state's adult ICU beds available.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 62.3% of the state's vaccine-eligible population is fully vaccinated, and that 77.9% have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota reports active COVID cases reach new record Wednesday
