SUNDAY UPDATE: COVID-19 cases in South Dakota reach 730; three counties report their first cases

April 12, 2020

Mike Tanner

 

PIERRE, S.D.–The South Dakota Department of Health announced on Easter Sunday that the cumulative number of infections of the COVID-19 virus in the state reached 730. That’s an increase of 104 cases from Saturday’s report.

Eighty-nine of the new cases were in Minnehaha County, where 527 infections have occurred. That’s 72-percent of the statewide total.

The Health Department says 293 infections in Minnehaha County are in people who work at the Smithfield Foods pork plant.

On Saturday, Governor Kristi Noem and Sioux Falls Mayor Paul Ten Haken sent a letter to Smithfield CEO Ken Sullivan recommending the plant be closed for a minimum of 14 days.  

Other new cases were being reported Sunday in the counties of Bon Homme (one), Brookings (two), Charles Mix (one), Hughes (one), and Lincoln (seven). 

Additionally, Brule, Sully and Walworth counties each reported their first cases Sunday, with one apiece.

The Health Department reports 7,823 South Dakotans have tested negative for the virus, 197 have recovered, and 43 people have required hospitalization.

There are active cases in 26 of the state’s 66 counties. 

The state’s death toll from the coronavirus remains at six.