Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

First flu death of the season, 11 more COVID deaths

CDC

The South Dakota Department of Health reports the first influenza death of the 2021-22 season.

The department reports an average of 39 South Dakotans die with influenza every year, and that to protect against complications, flu vaccination is recommended for everyone age 6 months and older.

The department says influenza, much like COVID-19, is a viral infection spread by respiratory droplets released when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes.

“Our sympathy is with the family. Their loss serves as a reminder to us all that influenza can be a very serious illness,” said Dr. Joshua Clayton, state epidemiologist for the department. “It is not too late to get vaccinated for this flu season, and if you haven’t yet received your annual flu vaccination, the time to do so is now.”

To find participating locations offering flu vaccines in your community, click here.

COVID Numbers Update

Note: The data presented is from the previous day — Tuesday updates include data from over the weekend (Saturday 1 pm CT - Monday 1 pm CT)

    • State’s death toll: 2,430 (+11 from the previous report)
      • Note: 'Death toll' indicates the number of deaths among people with COVID, but COVID may not have been the sole cause of death.
      • Deaths verifiably caused by COVID: 2,135 (updated weekly)
    • Active cases: 7,080 (+15)
    • Eligable South Dakotans fully vaccinated: 54.81% (+0.06)
    • Vaccine boosters administered: 148,054

    Hospital capacity

    • Currently hospitalized: 268 (-3)
      • Note: Currently Hospitalized numbers include COVID-19 cases and people that are in the hospital under transmission-based precautions. The number may include out-of-state cases and people.

    The vaccination of children ages 5 to 11 against COVID-19 is well underway.
    The FDA and CDC have given the OK for fully vaccinated Americans who are age 18 and older to receive a COVID-19 booster shot.

    Click here to find a vaccine

    The current advice from the CDC is to mask up indoors if you live in a place with "substantial" or "high" coronavirus transmission. That's everywhere in South Dakota.

    Click here to learn more