June 30, 2021

South Dakota is officially the last state in the nation to detect the Delta variant of COVID-19, the South Dakota Department of Health confirmed Wednesday.

The single case was confirmed in Edmunds County, and while there have been no other official cases, it is “safe to assume other cases across the state may exist,” the Health Department said in a statement.

“We are closely following this development and would like to reiterate, to all South Dakotans, the importance of getting tested and vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus,” Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon said. “With easier access to the vaccine and testing, it has never been easier to protect yourself, your family and our communities.” 

In the Sioux Falls metro area, no new cases of coronavirus were reported today, and there are 23 active cases. Across the state, there are 148 active cases.

Twelve patients with COVID-19 are hospitalized at Avera McKennan and Sanford USD Medical Center. Of those, two are in intensive care.