The number of newly reported infections of coronavirus in South Dakotans fell Monday, as did the number of new tests, the South Dakota Department of Health reported.

New positive test results were reported for 198 people. A total or 1,455 new tests were reported, and 840 new unique people were tested. A dip in reported test results is not unusual for Mondays.

The number of people hospitalized in the state with COVID-19 fell by seven to 209. There were no additional deaths reported. So far 1,488 total South Dakotans have been hospitalized with COVID-19.

Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon said Monday that 33 hospitals had COVID-19 patients, ranging from one to 40 patients. The state currently has more than 1,900 open beds.

Map: Where is coronavirus in South Dakota? View data on ages, counties and gender

“We have plenty of capacity for hospital beds,” she said.

The state reported that an additional 159 people recovered from the disease, meaning the number of active infections increased to 3,828. That’s the sixth consecutive day the state has set a new record for active cases.

New infections included 41 in Minnehaha County and eight in Lincoln County. Sixteen new infections were reported in Brown County and four were in Codington County.

Cases in the state’s K-12 school population stood at 1,371, with 971 of those recovered, state epidemiologist Joshua Clayton. They included 968 students and 406 staff.

Among state colleges, 1,329 people have tested positive, Clayton said. Of those, 1,179 have recovered. Of the total cases in colleges, 1,263 were among students and 66 in staff.

In the women’s prison in Pierre, 97 of the 181 inmates and staff have recovered, Clayton said. 

Read or Share this story: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2020/09/28/new-positive-covid-19-infections-down-south-dakota-amid-lower-tests/3562006001/