SD Unemployment Claims Rise
The number of people filing unemployment claims fell last week across the country but grew in South Dakota. Within the state, about 5,300 people sought benefits. That’s up about a hundred from the prior week. And it ends a two-week run of lower claim numbers.
South Dakota officials expected the increase. The new numbers include the first full week of eligibility for self-employed people, independent contractors and freelancers.
Not all states have implemented the new federal eligibility rules yet. That could be a factor in national unemployment claim numbers. They’ve declined four weeks in a row but still totaled more than 3 million last week.
Since the pandemic began, about 34,000 South Dakotans have filed for unemployment benefits. Nationally, the number is about 30 million.
76 New COVID-19 Cases, 4 Deaths in South Dakota
South Dakota Department of Health officials are reporting 76 newly identified cases of COVID-19 and four additional deaths. That brings the statewide total to 2,449 COVID-19 cases, 173 hospitalizations and 17 deaths. 859 of those are active cases. 1,573 people have fully recovered.
Most of the 76 new cases and all four of the recent deaths are in Minnehaha County. Other counties with smaller increases are Brookings, Brown, Hughes, Lincoln, Stanley, Turner and Minnehaha.
DOH Downgrading Community Spread in Two Counties
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. And that will occur after there are no new cases in a county for 28 days.”
28 days is 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.