South Dakota reports second death from COVID-19 virus

April 1, 2020
Mike Tanner

PIERRE, S.D.–The South Dakota Department of Health reported Wednesday that a second person in the state has died from the COVID-19 virus.

Fifty one year-old Mari Hofer of Huron was a third grade teacher at James Valley Christian. She had no underlying medical conditions, but died Saturday in a Sioux Falls hospital. 

Wednesday’s report indicates the state’s total number of positive cases of the coronavirus has risen to 129.

New cases were reported in the past 24 hours in the counties of Beadle (one), Brookings (one), Brown (one), Hughes (one), Lincoln (six), Minnehaha (nine), Roberts (one) and Yankton (two).

Minnehaha County now reports forty cases of COVID-19. Beadle County has reported 21 cases.

The Health Department says 3,903 South Dakotans have tested negative for the virus.

Fifty-one of the 129 people stricken have recovered. Twelve remain hospitalized.