Department of Health officials are downgrading the community spread status of COVID-19 in two counties. Community spread refers to cases that can’t be traced to a known exposure. This is the first time officials have downgraded the severity of community spread.
Beadle and Lyman counties have gone from significant community spread to minimal-to-moderate spread. State Epidemiologist Josh Clayton says there are no active COVID-19 cases in those counties now.
Dr. Clayton says the state’s COVID-19 website will reflect these changes.
“We will also be updating the website to denote when those counties move from minimal-to-moderate to no current spread of COVID-19," he explains. "And that will occur after there are no new cases in a county for 28 days.”
That's twice the amount of time it takes for most people to exhibit COVID-19 symptoms. Most COVID-19 testing in the state is limited to people with symptoms whose doctors tell them to get tested.
