State sees largest single-day percentage of positive tests

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PIERRE — South Dakota Department of Health (DOH) officials released new numbers for the state in COVID-19 testing on Tuesday, and while the testing done is the second-lowest total number of tests run since the private labs in the state opened up with 248 total tests, the 32 positive COVID-19 tests in the state reached a 12.9% positive rate, the highest single-day percentage rate of positive testing in that time.
The state reported 32 new positive tests, 216 new negative tests, seven new recovered persons, and two new deaths to the state’s numbers.

That brings the statewide totals to 320 positive cases, 5,948 negative tests, 98 recovered, six deaths, and 23 total hospitalized at any point while positive with COVID-19.
Locally, the numbers remain static, as no new cases nor recovered cases were indicated in Beadle County or surrounding counties. In questioning, DOH secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon did state that due to the diversity of reporting from various labs the state is currently using for testing, breaking out negative tests by county would not be feasible.
Secretary Malsam-Rysdon also was asked about the “rapid ID” testing machines. She mentioned that while the state is to get some machines this week, the state still has no supplies for processing tests through the machines at this time. She expects them to be a significant resource once all supplies are in hand, however.
State epidemiologist Dr. Joshua Clayton was able to give details on the six deaths in the state at this time, though he did state that in the future this level of detail would likely not be available, similar to early detail available on positive cases versus the depth of information available now. Of the six deaths in the state, two are between 50-59 years of age, with one death in each successive decade of age group. Four of the deaths have been male, while one has been female. Beadle and Minnehaha Counties have had two deaths each, and Pennington and McCook have had one death in their respective counties.