March 1, 2023: COVID Weekly Data Update

Predominant Variant

XBB.1.5 is the predominant variant in the U.S., as well as in HHS Region 8, which includes South Dakota (link). 

Last week, the CDC released a report comparing reinfection rates and severity of disease between the BQ.1 and XBB.1.5 variants (link).  Data in that report indicates that there is currently no indication that the reinfection rate, nor the severity of COVID resulting from XBB.1.5, is different than what was observed with the BQ.1 variant.  It is important to monitor these variants to determine whether a new variant might lead to more severe outcomes.

Updates

2023_3_1Download

Just a reminder of the differences between community levels and community transmission levels:

Brookings County (low community level; high community transmission [% test positivity = 40% vs. 34% last week])

• Only 18% of people 18 years of age and older in Brookings County have received the updated bivalent booster (link to data here). 
• 9,495 total cases:  46 new cases this week vs. 24 in the previous week.  Of the new cases this past week:
  • 9% were under 20 years of age (vs. 21% in previous week)
  • 22% were 20-39 years (vs. 17% in previous week)
  • 15% were 40-59 years (vs. 12% in previous week)
  • 54% were 60 years or older (vs. 50% in previous week)
• 255 Brookings County residents have been hospitalized with COVID: 0 hospitalizations posted this past week compared to 1 in the previous week. 
• Currently, the percentage of staffed beds that are COVID-occupied in the Sioux Empire region is 4.9% (compared to 4.0% last week), and 21.9% of the total hospital beds are available (compared to 22.2% last week).
• 65 Brookings County residents have died of COVID:  no new deaths were reported this past week compared to 1 death in the previous week.

South Dakota (low community level; high community transmission [% test positivity = 25%+ vs. 25%+ last week])

• Only 21% of people 18 years of age and older in South Dakota have received the updated bivalent booster (link to data here). 
• 278,489 cases: 839 new cases this week vs. 996 in the previous week. Of the new cases this past week:
  • 13% were under 20 years of age (vs. 16% in previous week)
  • 24% were 20-39 years (vs. 23% in previous week)
  • 23% were 40-59 years (vs. 24% in previous week)
  • 40% were 60 years or older (vs. 37% in previous week)
• 12,539 South Dakota residents have been admitted to in-state hospitals with COVID: 41 were admitted this week vs. 40 last week. Of the new hospital admissions this past week:
  • 7% were under 20 years of age (vs. 3% in previous week)
  • 7% were 20-39 years (vs. 7% in previous week)
  • 12% were 40-59 years (vs. 5% in previous week)
  • 74% were 60 years or older (vs. 85% in previous week)
• 78 people are currently hospitalized vs. 75 last Wednesday (11 currently in the ICU vs. 12 last week).
• Currently, the percentage of staffed beds statewide that are COVID-occupied is 3.7% (compared to 3.5% last week), and 35.1% of the total hospital beds are available (compared to 35.2% last week).
• 3,181 South Dakotans have died from COVID:  6 new deaths reported this week vs. 8 in the previous week.  Of the deaths reported this past week:
  • 1 was 40-59 years of age
  • 5 were 60 years of age and older

USA

• 105.2 million cases:  264,886 new cases this week vs. 217,310 in the previous week
• 1.14 million total deaths:  2,680 deaths this week vs. 2,580 in the previous week

Worldwide

• 679.9 million cases: 1.04 million cases this week vs. 1.05 million in the previous week
• 6.80 million deaths: 7,649 deaths this week vs. 8,326 in the previous week 

Take care of yourself and each other.