Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in South Dakota

Written by:
November 17, 2022
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Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in South Dakota

The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.

Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely.

The United States as of Nov. 16 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 98.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 68.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 10.1% of vaccinated people have received the most recently available bivalent booster doses.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in South Dakota using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to Nov. 10, 2022. Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker.

Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.

#50. Buffalo County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 51 (1 new cases, -86% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,894 (665 total cases)
--- 12.8% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 917 (18 total deaths)
--- 163.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.2% (1,260 fully vaccinated)

#49. Edmunds County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 52 (2 new cases, -60% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,769 (1,025 total cases)
--- 10.9% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 444 (17 total deaths)
--- 27.6% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.0% (1,837 fully vaccinated)

#48. Custer County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 56 (5 new cases, -29% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,806 (2,405 total cases)
--- 10.8% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 312 (28 total deaths)
--- 10.3% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.8% (4,737 fully vaccinated)

#47. Jackson County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 60 (2 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,471 (718 total cases)
--- 28.6% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 628 (21 total deaths)
--- 80.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.2% (1,945 fully vaccinated)

#46. Hand County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 63 (2 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,806 (632 total cases)
--- 34.1% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 407 (13 total deaths)
--- 17.0% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (1,603 fully vaccinated)

#45. Meade County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 64 (18 new cases, +12% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,523 (8,081 total cases)
--- 5.1% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 240 (68 total deaths)
--- 31.0% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.8% (16,102 fully vaccinated)

#44. Hamlin County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 65 (4 new cases, -20% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,677 (1,706 total cases)
--- 7.9% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 665 (41 total deaths)
--- 91.1% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.6% (2,997 fully vaccinated)

#43. Pennington County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 67 (76 new cases, -23% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,837 (37,360 total cases)
--- 9.3% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 323 (367 total deaths)
--- 7.2% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.4% (71,006 fully vaccinated)

#42. Deuel County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 69 (3 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,132 (1,137 total cases)
--- 13.1% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 276 (12 total deaths)
--- 20.7% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.5% (2,112 fully vaccinated)

#41. Lincoln County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 69 (42 new cases, +5% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,487 (16,802 total cases)
--- 8.5% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 175 (107 total deaths)
--- 49.7% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.6% (38,886 fully vaccinated)

#40. Oglala Lakota County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 71 (10 new cases, -33% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,061 (4,687 total cases)
--- 10.0% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 430 (61 total deaths)
--- 23.6% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 88.2% (12,499 fully vaccinated)

#39. Sully County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 72 (1 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,763 (261 total cases)
--- 37.6% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 216 (3 total deaths)
--- 37.9% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.4% (646 fully vaccinated)

#38. Turner County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 72 (6 new cases, -25% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,477 (2,136 total cases)
--- 15.2% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 751 (63 total deaths)
--- 115.8% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.7% (4,672 fully vaccinated)

#37. Ziebach County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 73 (2 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,435 (701 total cases)
--- 15.4% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 399 (11 total deaths)
--- 14.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 38.1% (1,049 fully vaccinated)

#36. Walworth County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 74 (4 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,716 (1,452 total cases)
--- 11.1% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 515 (28 total deaths)
--- 48.0% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.8% (2,815 fully vaccinated)

#35. Harding County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 77 (1 new cases, -67% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,718 (217 total cases)
--- 44.4% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 231 (3 total deaths)
--- 33.6% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 19.6% (255 fully vaccinated)

#34. Butte County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 77 (8 new cases, -11% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,089 (3,138 total cases)
--- 0.1% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 451 (47 total deaths)
--- 29.6% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.0% (4,380 fully vaccinated)

#33. Minnehaha County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 77 (149 new cases, +21% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,306 (62,393 total cases)
--- 7.5% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 280 (540 total deaths)
--- 19.5% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 71.5% (138,165 fully vaccinated)

#32. Spink County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 78 (5 new cases, -29% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,298 (1,613 total cases)
--- 15.8% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 565 (36 total deaths)
--- 62.4% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.2% (3,457 fully vaccinated)

#31. McPherson County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 84 (2 new cases, -60% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,564 (513 total cases)
--- 28.3% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 546 (13 total deaths)
--- 56.9% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.2% (981 fully vaccinated)

#30. Grant County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 85 (6 new cases, +50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,204 (2,271 total cases)
--- 7.1% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 723 (51 total deaths)
--- 107.8% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (3,701 fully vaccinated)

#29. McCook County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 90 (5 new cases, +67% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,244 (1,466 total cases)
--- 12.7% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 573 (32 total deaths)
--- 64.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.0% (3,351 fully vaccinated)

#28. Day County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 92 (5 new cases, +67% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,940 (1,407 total cases)
--- 13.7% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 737 (40 total deaths)
--- 111.8% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.1% (3,800 fully vaccinated)

#27. Brookings County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 97 (34 new cases, +143% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,780 (9,043 total cases)
--- 14.2% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 174 (61 total deaths)
--- 50.0% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.2% (19,008 fully vaccinated)

#26. Marshall County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 101 (5 new cases, +67% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,116 (894 total cases)
--- 39.7% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 304 (15 total deaths)
--- 12.6% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.8% (2,703 fully vaccinated)

#25. Hughes County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 103 (18 new cases, +100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,725 (4,859 total cases)
--- 7.8% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 354 (62 total deaths)
--- 1.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 75.8% (13,278 fully vaccinated)

#24. Perkins County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 105 (3 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,911 (771 total cases)
--- 10.5% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 663 (19 total deaths)
--- 90.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 32.3% (925 fully vaccinated)

#23. Hanson County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 116 (4 new cases, +33% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,591 (711 total cases)
--- 31.5% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 174 (6 total deaths)
--- 50.0% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.4% (1,602 fully vaccinated)

#22. Bon Homme County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 116 (8 new cases, +100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,169 (2,427 total cases)
--- 17.0% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 594 (41 total deaths)
--- 70.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.4% (4,169 fully vaccinated)

#21. Bennett County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 119 (4 new cases, -56% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,478 (891 total cases)
--- 11.9% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 446 (15 total deaths)
--- 28.2% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.4% (2,235 fully vaccinated)

#20. Lawrence County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 124 (32 new cases, +52% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,129 (7,528 total cases)
--- 3.1% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 341 (88 total deaths)
--- 2.0% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.5% (15,904 fully vaccinated)

#19. Beadle County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 125 (23 new cases, -36% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,597 (5,277 total cases)
--- 4.9% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 347 (64 total deaths)
--- 0.3% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.1% (9,622 fully vaccinated)

#18. Sanborn County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 128 (3 new cases, +50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,346 (641 total cases)
--- 9.0% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 341 (8 total deaths)
--- 2.0% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.6% (1,351 fully vaccinated)

#17. Tripp County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 129 (7 new cases, -56% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,443 (1,602 total cases)
--- 2.0% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 496 (27 total deaths)
--- 42.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.7% (2,540 fully vaccinated)

#16. Roberts County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 135 (14 new cases, +133% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,015 (2,704 total cases)
--- 13.4% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 539 (56 total deaths)
--- 54.9% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 80.3% (8,351 fully vaccinated)

#15. Brown County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 139 (54 new cases, +38% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,635 (11,510 total cases)
--- 1.4% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 330 (128 total deaths)
--- 5.2% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.9% (23,271 fully vaccinated)

#14. Stanley County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 161 (5 new cases, +150% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,757 (705 total cases)
--- 24.3% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 258 (8 total deaths)
--- 25.9% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.5% (1,937 fully vaccinated)

#13. Gregory County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 167 (7 new cases, +133% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,861 (1,166 total cases)
--- 7.3% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 812 (34 total deaths)
--- 133.3% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.9% (2,213 fully vaccinated)

#12. Fall River County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 179 (12 new cases, -69% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,560 (2,320 total cases)
--- 15.0% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 626 (42 total deaths)
--- 79.9% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.2% (4,307 fully vaccinated)

#11. Corson County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 196 (8 new cases, +14% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,585 (1,168 total cases)
--- 4.9% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 441 (18 total deaths)
--- 26.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.8% (2,442 fully vaccinated)

#10. Brule County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 208 (11 new cases, +450% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,678 (1,625 total cases)
--- 2.1% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 510 (27 total deaths)
--- 46.6% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.0% (3,229 fully vaccinated)

#9. Davison County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 212 (42 new cases, -14% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,871 (6,698 total cases)
--- 12.7% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 425 (84 total deaths)
--- 22.1% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.3% (13,119 fully vaccinated)

#8. Lyman County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 212 (8 new cases, -27% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,916 (1,358 total cases)
--- 19.5% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 344 (13 total deaths)
--- 1.1% less deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.4% (2,625 fully vaccinated)

#7. Dewey County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 238 (14 new cases, +250% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 56,483 (3,328 total cases)
--- 87.9% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 747 (44 total deaths)
--- 114.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 82.6% (4,866 fully vaccinated)

#6. Codington County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 257 (72 new cases, +11% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,203 (9,860 total cases)
--- 17.1% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 378 (106 total deaths)
--- 8.6% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.1% (16,265 fully vaccinated)

#5. Faulk County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 304 (7 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,186 (648 total cases)
--- 6.2% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 739 (17 total deaths)
--- 112.4% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.9% (1,307 fully vaccinated)

#4. Potter County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 325 (7 new cases, +75% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,625 (767 total cases)
--- 18.5% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 418 (9 total deaths)
--- 20.1% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.4% (1,343 fully vaccinated)

#3. Hyde County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 384 (5 new cases, +400% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,211 (341 total cases)
--- 12.8% less cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 615 (8 total deaths)
--- 76.7% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.4% (734 fully vaccinated)

#2. Mellette County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 388 (8 new cases, +300% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,131 (621 total cases)
--- 0.2% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 388 (8 total deaths)
--- 11.5% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.7% (839 fully vaccinated)

#1. Todd County, SD

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 639 (65 new cases, +86% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,757 (3,639 total cases)
--- 19.0% more cases per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 511 (52 total deaths)
--- 46.8% more deaths per 100k residents than South Dakota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 78.1% (7,944 fully vaccinated)

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