When the coronavirus pandemic was first spreading, state health officials estimated that by July first as many as one hundred thirty thousand people in South Dakota could be infected and there would be a need for five thousand hospital beds. The total number of infections has fallen well below those projections.

State Epidemiologist Dr Josh Clayton says the initial prediction models used some broad estimates…

Clayton says infections are still spreading but at different rates across the state…

Clayton says they have changed their reporting to include more local information…

The state has recorded just over sixty eight hundred positive cases and ninety three deaths so far.