State officials are investigating whether community spread of COVID-19 is taking place in Beadle County. Authorities are announcing three new cases there, bringing the county’s total up to four.
That brings the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota to 14.
Officials say the infectious disease team will investigate those new cases.
Kim Malsam-Rysdon is the Secretary for the Department of Health. She describes how the team conducts investigations after a positive test result.
“Once the patient is notified by their provider, Department of Heath staff contact the positive person,” Malsam-Rysdon says. “Then we start an interview process where we learn more about their situation, understand what kind of symptoms they might be experiencing at that time. Make sure they’re following their provider’s recommendation. We do extensive interviewing to get to any people they would have come into close contact with.”
Two of the new cases in Beadle County are males, one is female. They’re in their 30’s, 40’s and 60’s. Two have reported travelling outside of the state.
Governor Kristi Noem says she’s encouraged that of the 94 high priority tests conducted Thursday, only three came back positive.
“We knew we could possibly see a bigger increase. We were thankful to see that many of the actions we are taking are obviously working,” Noem says. “We’re looking forward to continuing those processes. When we learn new information, we obviously could make adjustments. Today, we will stay on course and be faithful to what we’ve already laid out as the path to protect our people’s health.”
Noem indicated that her office and legislative leadership are in conversations about legislative options to address the COVID-19 outbreak. Veto day is March 30th.