South Dakota is nation's top hot spot for COVID-19; 2,143 test positive in last week [View all]

South Dakota surpassed 3,000 active COVID-19 cases Thursday while becoming the state with the highest per capita surge in the nation, according to nationwide tracking by the New York Times. Iowa and North Dakota follow the state in hot spot rankings.

In the past seven days, 2,143 South Dakotans have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Department of Health.

State epidemiologist Joshua Clayton said he has expected the state’s active cases to have peaks and valleys since June, but he “certainly was not wanting to see this high level of cases.”

“This is definitely within the possibility of what I was thinking when we were talking about seeing increasing cases,” he said. “This is reminiscent of what we will see if we have individuals who are not taking proper precautions.”

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118 South Dakotans have COVID-19 as a result of attending the Sturgis motorcycle rally, the DOH reported Thursday.

Clayton said the state is basing its rally tally on South Dakota residents who in 14 days prior to their illness onset visited Sturgis or attended an event that would be considered part of the motorcycle rally prior to their illness.

Clayton said the state is not counting secondary infections in their tally. A secondary infection would be someone who went to the rally, contracted COVID-19 and then infected a friend or family member who was not at the rally.

Read more: http://www.brenhambanner.com/lifestyles/health/south-dakota-is-nations-top-hot-spot-for-covid-19-2-143-test-positive-in/article_4637a76f-139b-5f5c-baab-32f99564e9a1.html