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WEBSITE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Kim Malsam-Rysdon, Secretary of Health

South Dakota Department of Health Logo and covid.sd.gov button.

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates and information

COVID-19 in South Dakota | Community Impact Map | News
Precautions to Avoid Illness | If You Develop Symptoms
Community Guidance and Resources
Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
For Medical Providers | SD Healthcare Provider Guidance
CDC Healthcare Provider Guidance | CDC Website

The South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) continues to respond to the emergence of the novel coronavirus. We are working with the CDC and our healthcare partners across the state to protect South Dakotans from COVID-19.South Dakota COVID-19 Information Line. Questions about COVID-19? We're here to help. Please Call: 1-800-997-2880

 

Updates include:

  • FAQs: How it spreads, protecting yourself, symptoms/testing, pregnant women, & more.
  • Cases have been identified in South Dakota.
  • The number of cases and countries with infections worldwide is increasing and can be found on the WHO website.
  • Case counts and other information about the novel coronavirus can be found on the CDC website.
  • Travelers returning from High Risk Countries (See CDC Travel Advisories) should self-monitor for 14 days for novel coronavirus symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, or shortness of breath) and call their medical provider to discuss their symptoms.

COVID-19 in South Dakota

On March 4, 2020, CDC updated the clinical criteria for testing a symptomatic individual after evaluation by their healthcare provider. As a result, the South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) expects the number of persons under investigation (PUI) being tested for COVID-19 to increase.

The number of PUI being tested does not reflect the level of risk to the public in the state. For more information about the outbreak, potential risks, and protective recommendations, visit the SD-DOH website or CDC website.
This table shows the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in South Dakota residents, the total number of persons that tested negative, and the total number of PUIs that are pending results.

As of March 18, 2020

Positive*

11

Negative

551

Pending

350

*Positive test results are no longer required to be sent to the CDC for confirmation

COVID-19 in South Dakota

Number of Cases

11

Deaths

1


South Dakota Counties with COVID-19 Cases

Beadle

1

Bon Homme

1

Charles Mix

1

Davison

1

McCook

1

Minnehaha

5

Pennington

1
Note: All cases had travel history outside South Dakota prior to illness onset. There is no community transmission at this time.

Age Group of South Dakota COVID-19 Cases

0 to 19 years

0

20 to 29 years

1

30 to 39 years

2

40 to 49 years

3

50 to 59 years

3

60 to 69 years

2

70 to 79 years

0

80+ years

0


Sex of South Dakota COVID-19 Cases

Male

9

Female

2
These tables will be updated every day

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Community Impact Map

Everyone has a role to play to get ready, stay healthy, and protect yourself, your family, and your community from COVID-19. The goal is to slow the spread of COVID-19 to reduce illness and death, while minimizing disruptions to daily life.

What does “community mitigation” mean?

Any actions that individuals, schools, businesses, and health care facilities take to slow the spread of the infection.

CDC has developed steps that can be taken based on the level of COVID-19 spread in the community. As more COVID-19 is spread in a community, additional preventive steps can be taken. Community spread is defined as three levels:

  • None: COVID-19 cases may occur in the community, but there is NO community transmission.
  • Minimal to Moderate: There is a single case of community-acquired COVID-19 in a county.
  • Substantial: There are five or more cases of community-acquired COVID-19 in a county.

NOTE: this data is best viewed on a desktop or laptop computer.

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News

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Precautions to avoid illness

What can you do?

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Refraining from touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
  • Individuals at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness, such as older adults and people who have chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease, should take actions to reduce your risk of exposure.
  • Create a family plan to prepare for COVID-19 and develop a stay at home kit with food, water, medication, and other necessary items.

Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations (CDC)

South Dakota’s healthcare system is prepared to identify and treat cases of COVID-19.

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What To Do If You develop symptoms

If you develop symptoms:

  • Call your health care provider immediately and tell them about any recent travel or exposure.
  • Individuals who are concerned that they have COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider via phone before going to a clinic or hospital to prevent spread in healthcare facilities.
  • Avoid contact with other people.
  • Follow the directions of your provider and public health officials.

Find Federally Qualified Health Centers in South Dakota

CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a healthcare professional recommends it. A facemask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of facemasks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

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Community Guidance & Resources

Local COVID-19 transmission in your community? CLICK HERE for Mitigation Strategies. CDCCommunity mitigation guidance from the CDC is available for:

Communities

Schools

Businesses

Behavioral Health

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Are you a business impacted by COVID-19?

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is working diligently to find funding sources for businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Governor Noem has submitted for a declaration to make South Dakota small businesses eligible for the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance Program. We will continue to reach out to businesses impacted once we hear back from the SBA.

The GOED is also looking at its funding programs to see how they can be flexible during this difficult time.

Visit GOED’s website at sdreadytowork.com or call 605-773-4633.

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information for Medical Providers

  • Medical providers who are concerned a patient may be infected with COVID-19 should:
    • Mask the patient
    • Isolate the Patient in a private room or separate area, and

    • Contact with SD-DOH (800-592-1861) immediately for consultation and guidance

  • There is a nationwide shortage of supplies needed to run tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The South Dakota Public Health Laboratory (SDPHL) was able to run tests for medium and high-risk patients on Monday, March 16. However, the SDPHL did not receive additional supplies as expected to run tests beyond March 16, and there is no timeframe of when these supplies will be available from the CDC and our commercial suppliers.
  • Clinicians are strongly encouraged to test for other infectious causes of respiratory illness, such as influenza and RSV. Note: Asymptomatic patients are not eligible for testing at the SD Public Health Laboratory.
  • Priority Level Clinical Features Risk Exposure*
    Low Fever OR Cough OR Shortness of Breath None identified
    Medium Fever OR Cough OR Shortness of breath AND Elevated risk for severe infection** None identified
    Medium Fever OR Cough OR Shortness of Breath Identified risk
    High Fever OR Cough OR Sore Throat OR Shortness of Breath Identified healthcare risk***
    High Fever AND Cough OR Shortness of Breath Identified risk
    *Individual meets the risk exposure criterion if they have one of the following: **Elevated Risk for Severe COVID-19 Infection:
    • Hospitalized patients
    • Older adults (65 years of age and older)
    • Individuals with certain pre-existing conditions (e.g., heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and immunosuppressed)

    ***Any healthcare worker who was caring for or who had unprotected direct contact with infectious secretions or excretions of a suspected COVID-19 patient or laboratory-confirmed case within 14 days of symptoms onset.

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SD Guidance for Healthcare Providers

Important LISTSERVs for Healthcare Providers

The Department of Health maintains a variety of LISTSERVs that provide useful information on COVID-19, including current guidance and scheduled calls.

ATTENTION RETIRED OR INACTIVE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:

Governor Noem is reaching out to our state’s licensed medical professionals (physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) who are willing to volunteer their services during this COVID-19 pandemic through the Department of Health’s Statewide Emergency Registry of Volunteers in South Dakota (SERV SD). SERV SD coordinates the pre-registration of medical and health care professionals who may be willing to volunteer in the event of an emergency.

Whether you work in a health field or not, active or retired, if you have an interest in assisting your community or state during the COVID-19 pandemic, we invite you to join SERV SD. SERV SD will create a database of medical and health care volunteers who can be mobilized immediately in response to an emergency. Participation in a deployment opportunity is optional. You may decide at the time a call is made to volunteer if you are willing and able to respond.

Registering with SERV SD is easy. Go to https://volunteers.sd.gov/.

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CDC Guidance for Healthcare Providers

CDC issued guidance to healthcare facilities in the event that illness is identified.

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