South Dakota surpasses 2,000 deaths from COVID-19

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s pandemic death toll has surpassed 2,000 as health officials reported seven new deaths from COVID-19. The state’s 2,001 total deaths are the 8th-lowest among U.S. states, but the eighth highest in terms of deaths per capita. However, the rate of deaths has slowed significantly since peaking late last year. Health officials say they expect both hospitalizations and deaths to continue to drop as the number of cases decreases with widespread vaccination against the virus. Health officials also report 55 people who had tested positive for the virus.