NEW: COVID-19 infections back on the rise in South Dakota  (Audio)

July 22, 2021
Mike Tanner

PIERRE, S.D.–COVID-19 numbers are rising across the country again, and South Dakota is no exception.

The weekly update from the State Department of Health shows 290 active cases statewide. Last week, that number was 178.

Dr. Mikel Holland is the Chief Medical Officer at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. He says the rising numbers are due to the delta variant of the virus, and were not unexpected….

More than 704,000 doses of COVID vaccine have been administered in South Dakota.

Fifty-eight percent of the 12 and older population in the state has received at least one dose of the vaccine.