Coronavirus updates and information

COVID-19 in South Dakota | Community Impact Map

Precautions to Avoid Illness | If You Develop Symptoms
Community Guidance and Resources
Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
For Medical Providers | SD Healthcare Provider Guidance

CDC Healthcare Provider Guidance | CDC Website

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The South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) continues to respond to the emergence of the novel coronavirus. We are working with the CDC and our healthcare partners across the state to protect South Dakotans from COVID-19.

Updates include:

COVID-19 in South Dakota

On March 4, 2020, CDC updated the clinical criteria for testing a symptomatic individual after evaluation by their healthcare provider. As a result, the South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) expects the number of persons under investigation (PUI) being tested for COVID-19 to increase.

The number of PUI being tested does not reflect the level of risk to the public in the state. For more information about the outbreak, potential risks, and protective recommendations, visit the SD-DOH website or CDC website.

This table shows the total number of positive COVID-19 cases in South Dakota residents, the total number of persons that tested negative, and the total number of PUIs that are pending results.

Data is updated daily by about 12 noon and includes cases reported through 5 p.m. the previous day.

Last updated: 11:30 a.m.; April 10, 2020

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Community Impact Map

Everyone has a role to play to get ready, stay healthy, and protect yourself, your family, and your community from COVID-19. The goal is to slow the spread of COVID-19 to reduce illness and death, while minimizing disruptions to daily life.

What does “community mitigation” mean?

Any actions that individuals, schools, businesses, and health care facilities take to slow the spread of the infection.

CDC has developed steps that can be taken based on the level of COVID-19 spread in the community. As more COVID-19 is spread in a community, additional preventive steps can be taken. Community spread is defined as three levels:

• None: COVID-19 cases may occur in the community, but there is NO community transmission.
• Minimal to Moderate: There is a single case of community-acquired COVID-19 in a county.
• Substantial: There are five or more cases of community-acquired COVID-19 in a county or a distinct group of cases in a single area (e.g., city or county).

NOTE: this data is best viewed on a desktop or laptop computer.

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Precautions to avoid illness

What can you do?

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Refraining from touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects.
• Individuals at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness, such as older adults and people who have chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease, should take actions to reduce your risk of exposure.
• Create a family plan to prepare for COVID-19 and develop a stay at home kit with food, water, medication, and other necessary items.
• Recommendation Regarding the Use of Cloth Face Coverings (CDC)

Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations:

South Dakota Travelers Returning Home: What You Should Know?

South Dakota’s healthcare system is prepared to identify and treat cases of COVID-19.

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WHAT TO DO IF YOU DEVELOP SYMPTOMS

If you develop symptoms:

• Call your health care provider immediately and tell them about any recent travel or exposure.
• Individuals who are concerned that they have COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider via phone before going to a clinic or hospital to prevent spread in healthcare facilities.
• Avoid contact with other people.
• Follow the directions of your healthcare provider and public health officials.
• Symptoms and Testing Guidance (CDC)




• Symptom Checker Algorithm
• 10 Ways to Manage Respiratory Symptoms at Home (CDC)

Find Federally Qualified Health Centers in South Dakota – community-based primary care services in underserved areas providing care on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay.

Self-Quarantine, Self-Isolation, and Self-Monitoring:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Guidance:

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Visit the CDC website for more information.

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Community Guidance & Resources

Guidance from the CDC is available for:

What is Social Distancing? Infographic

Behavioral Health

Communities

Retirement and Independent Living Facilities

Schools

All Businesses and Employers

Food Service

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Are you a business impacted by COVID-19?

Governor Kristi Noem announced Friday, March 20, 2020 that small businesses and non-profit organizations in South Dakota that have been negatively impacted by the global COVID-19 virus are now eligible for economic assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

Visit GOED’s website at sdreadytowork.com or call 605-773-4633.

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information for Medical Providers

• Medical providers who are concerned a patient may be infected with COVID-19 should:
• Mask the patient
• Isolate the Patient in a private room or separate area, and
• Contact with SD-DOH (800-592-1861) immediately for consultation and guidance

• Clinicians are strongly encouraged to test for other infectious causes of respiratory illness, such as influenza and RSV. Note: Asymptomatic patients are not eligible for testing at the SD Public Health Laboratory.
  
  High-priority specimens for testing include:






















Clinical Features	Risk Exposure
Fever OR Cough OR Shortness of Breath	-Individuals who are hospitalized OR -Persons in institutional settings (long-term care facilities, assisted living centers, etc.)
Fever OR Cough OR Sore Throat OR Shortness of Breath	-Healthcare workers and first responders

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SD Guidance for Healthcare Providers

• Symptom Checker Algorithm




• SD-DOH would like to remind medical providers, hospitals, and laboratories that cases of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, are considered immediately reportable in South Dakota (under Coronavirus Respiratory syndromes).

Important LISTSERVs for Healthcare Providers

The Department of Health maintains a variety of LISTSERVs that provide useful information on COVID-19, including current guidance and scheduled calls.

ATTENTION RETIRED OR INACTIVE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS:

Governor Noem is reaching out to our state’s licensed medical professionals (physicians, nurses, EMTs, etc.) who are willing to volunteer their services during this COVID-19 pandemic through the Department of Health’s Statewide Emergency Registry of Volunteers in South Dakota (SERV SD). SERV SD coordinates the pre-registration of medical and health care professionals who may be willing to volunteer in the event of an emergency.

Whether you work in a health field or not, active or retired, if you have an interest in assisting your community or state during the COVID-19 pandemic, we invite you to join SERV SD. SERV SD will create a database of medical and health care volunteers who can be mobilized immediately in response to an emergency. Participation in a deployment opportunity is optional. You may decide at the time a call is made to volunteer if you are willing and able to respond.

Registering with SERV SD is easy. Go to https://volunteers.sd.gov/.

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CDC Guidance for Healthcare Providers

CDC issued guidance to healthcare facilities in the event that illness is identified.

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