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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The number of South Dakotans who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are still sick has now fallen for the third straight day, according to the South Dakota Department of Health on Thursday, Jan. 27, potentially indicating the current virus surge has peaked in the state.
Active COVID-19 cases in South Dakota fell 781 to 34,753 on Thursday, falling for the third straight day from a pandemic all-time high of 36,247 on Monday. The active case count measures new positive cases against new recoveries, but doesn't count anyone whose positive test wasn't reported to state health officials.
But while the surge may have peaked in case-count terms, hospitalizations remain high and more state residents continue to die from the virus. Five South Dakotans have died with COVID-19, the state Department of Health reported on Thursday, raising the state's death toll to 2,628.
The daily hospitalization tally rose eight to 404 on Thursday, down from a recent surge-high of 423 on Tuesday. Hospital officials regularly point out that those who remain unvaccinated make up the vast majority of serious COVID-19 cases that are hospitalized and in intensive care.
The following are the state Department of Health COVID-19 case rates, deaths, hospitalizations and vaccinations tracked by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as of Thursday. All data are the latest available but should be considered preliminary and could be updated at a later date by health officials.
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Vaccinations
- INITIAL DOSE ADMINISTERED (IF 2-DOSE VACCINE): 651,215 people, 73.6% of state's population*
- FULLY VACCINATED: 519,152 people, 58.7% of state's population
- BOOSTER DOSE RECEIVED: 198,909 people, 38.3% of state's vaccinated population
*Note: The percentage presented here via the CDC differs from the state Department of Health percentage posted on its online dashboard, because the department's data indicates percentage of state population age 5 and older, not the state's total population.
Statewide case rates
- NEW CASES: 1,358 (seven-day daily average: 2,102)
- CURRENT ACTIVE CASES: 34,753
- TOTAL CASES: 224,238
- TOTAL RECOVERED: 186,857
Hospitalizations, deaths
- NEW HOSPITALIZATIONS: 53 (seven-day daily average: 57)
- ACTIVE HOSPITALIZATIONS: 404
- TOTAL HOSPITALIZATIONS: 9,898
- DEATHS, NEWLY REPORTED AMONG CASES: 5
- TOTAL DEATHS AMONG CASES: 2,628
