PIERRE — The state continues to make notable progress through the Phase 1 priority categories in vaccination, allowing the state to announce progress beginning Monday.

“It is exciting that given our orderly and well planned vaccination strategy, coupled with the dedication of our medical professionals across our state, we are in such a strong position when it comes to vaccination efforts,” said Kim Malsam-Rysdon, Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH). “These factors, in addition to increased vaccine allocations, has allowed us to progress through Group D efficiently and open up vaccination statewide to those over 65 starting Monday.”

Through Thursday, 164,399 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to 110,759 people in the state. The state has now seen 53,640 residents receive a full two-shot series of either the Pfizer of Moderna vaccine.

Beadle County has now administered 3,122 doses of vaccine to 2,263 people. Of those, 859 have completed the two-shot series of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.

The state added 278 new positive cases over Wednesday and Thursday along with 411 new recovered cases and three new deaths. The active virus cases in the state dropped to 2,068.

Beadle County saw active cases rise to 69 after adding 10 new positive cases over the two-day period while adding six new recovered cases.

Active cases also rose across the seven-county Heartland Region, which reported 138 active cases after Thursday’s DOH numbers.