Health officials: Sioux Falls 3 to 4 weeks from peak cases, hospitalizations

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - Sioux Falls health officials gave an update Wednesday on COVID-19 in the city as cases and hospitalization continue to rise statewide.

Dr. Mike Wilde with Sanford Health says health officials are predicting the city is about three to four weeks away from peaking cases and hospitalizations.

Sioux Falls Public Health Director Dr. Charles Chima, Avera Health’s Dr. David Basel, and Dr. Wilde all encouraged those unvaccinated to get a vaccine. All three say getting vaccinated is the easiest way to protect yourself from COVID-19.

The city’s health partners say a majority of hospital admissions are of unvaccinated people. Dr. Basel says most of the unvaccinated admissions are from younger patients than in 2020. Currently, the average age of unvaccinated people being admitted is around 50, compared to last year’s average age of around 70. Dr. Wilde says at Sanford hospitals, 129 of 136 COVID-19 patients and 35 of 37 ICU patients are unvaccinated, as of Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the city reported 89 new cases and 1,094 active cases.

The South Dakota Department of Health reported 579 new cases statewide.

The new cases bring the state’s total case count to 132,837. 125,398 of those cases are considered recovered by the department of health.

Active cases in the state increased by 335 from Friday to 5,370.

The number of South Dakotans currently hospitalized increased by 13 to 229. Overall, 6,835 South Dakotans have been hospitalized throughout the pandemic.

According to the South Dakota Department of Health, 404,988 South Dakotans have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot. 373,704 South Dakotans are considered fully vaccinated.

The state death toll remains at 2,069.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.