SD COVID-19 Cases Rises to 8
South Dakota is now identifying eight presumptive positive cases of COVID 19 in the state. Two males in Minnehaha county now test positive, as well as another male in Bon Homme county.
Governor Kristi Noem says those who are elderly or have compromised immune systems should make wise decisions.
“They should stay home. They should wash their hands. If they aren’t feeling well they should call their healthcare provider—please do not go into the clinic or the hospital—call your healthcare provider and they’ll walk through the steps for you on what the best decisions are. Communicating is continuing to go on with nursing homes, with tribes, IHS facilities and with our schools. We’re working very closely with the CDC about our resource needs and providing guidance to those that are making decisions about where to go and events to be held.”
According to a press release from the Indian Health Service, one of their patients in Charles Mix county is testing positive. That patient was one of the first positive cases announced by the state.
In addition to the 8 positive cases, the state has 11 pending tests. Noem cautions the state can expect to see more positive cases of COVID 19 going into the future.
COVID-19 Rolling Cases
Health experts say COVID 19 is here to stay. Dr. Wendell Hoffman is an Infectious Disease Specialist with Sanford Health. He days that it will become one of several viruses’ physicians will test for. He says there are short term and long-term preparations that need to be in place for the corona virus as well as the flu and common cold. He says the public can be confident the health care systems are prepared.
Hoffman: “It’s not like you’re going to have a hundred thousand cases of COVID present at one time. This is a rolling process of cases that are beginning to appear, and our healthcare systems are extraordinarily sophisticated. We have detailed triage planning to be able to handle a lot of patients if they were to present at once. But it’s not like a big mass casualty where you have a hundred people presenting to your ER with the same thing that demands the same approach."
Hoffman says to stop the rapid spread of the virus people should wash their hands, have regular cleaning habits and consider social distancing. He says any therapeutics and vaccines are months away from the trial stages.
Therapeutics in Works
A South Dakota company is working on a therapeutic to treat COVID-19 – the disease caused by the coronavirus. S-A-B Biotherapeutics has been working on other coronavirus strains and has had safety trials already conducted. C-E-O Eddie Sullivan says they are using what they have learned to quickly advance therapeutics for COVID 19.
Sullivan: "The difference with what SAB Biotherapeutics is doing is that we’re actually producing the natural proteins that our bodies use to fight diseases. We call them antibodies. And in our case, we are creating the same kinds of antibodies that our bodies would naturally produce in response to this infection. When we get sick it’s because our bodies are overwhelmed with that infection."
Sullivan says they will have a product for trails in a few months. SAB Biotherapeutics uses bovines created with human antibodies to create their products.
West Central School District Closed for Cleaning
Schools in Hartford and Humboldt are closed after an adult male with school-age children in the district was diagnosed with COVID-19. The West Central School District has canceled all classes and activities to clean facilities and vehicles. District administration met with Minnehaha County officials earlier this morning (Wednesday) to create a plan to mitigate spread of the disease. Superintendent Brad Berens says the identified man has not been on district property within the last week.
Basketball Tournaments to Play As Scheduled
The South Dakota High School Activities Association is continuing to hold post-season events despite confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. This comes just before the World Health Organization has categorized the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic.
In a statement, the association says they will continue to work with state departments to monitor the situation.
One basketball tournament starts this week and five others are scheduled for next week.
Statement from the SDHSSA:
"The SDHSAA is aware of the COVID-19 cases reported in South Dakota this afternoon. All of our post-season events remain on as scheduled. We will continue to work with state departments to monitor the situation, and encourage people to follow CDC recommendations regarding hygiene, personal space, and staying home if you are sick."
Dan Swartos, SDHSAA Executive Director