SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - South Dakota reported a drop in virus cases on Tuesday as hospital systems in the state readied to administer a COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna.
Monument Health, the largest hospital system in the western part of South Dakota, began administering the vaccine to hospital workers and staff at long-term care facilities in several locations. Meanwhile, the largest hospital systems in the eastern part of the state planned to distribute the Moderna vaccine in the coming days.
The state’s distribution plan calls for medical workers in hospitals and long-term care facilities to receive the vaccine first, followed by residents of long-term care facilities. The Department of Health reported that 7,844 people have received the first dose of the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer and expects to receive enough doses of the Moderna vaccine for 14,600 people.
Health officials reported 436 people had tested positive for the virus as the count of people with active infections dropped to the lowest level since October. However, the positivity rate of testing was over 10%, which is an indicator there may be significantly more infections than tests are showing.
Health officials reported no new deaths from COVID-19, but the state’s death toll stands at 1,381.
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