WATERTOWN, S.D. (KELO.com) — COVID-19 activity has slowed way down in South Dakota this summer.
The latest numbers from the State Health Department show 178 active cases across South Dakota and 27 hospitalizations due to the virus.
Last summer, active cases approached 20,000.
K.C. DeBoer is the CEO of Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown. He says despite the slowdown in vaccines being given, infections have slowed way down, with even fewer hospitalizations.
Statewide, 57.1 percent of the 12 and older population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 53 percent are fully vaccinated.
DeBoer is still encouraging unvaccinated people to get the shot, especially with variants of the virus showing up in the state.
(Mike Tanner, KWAT, contributed this report.)


