• Answers to Tough Questions about Public Health (updated often)

• Social Distancing at Work Poster

• Use and Care of Masks (CDC)

• What You Need to Know About COVID-19 (picture-based messaging)

• What You Need to Know About Variants (CDC)

• Stay Up to Date with Your COVID-19 Vaccines (CDC)

• COVID-19 Community Levels - a tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data.

Pregnant Women and New Parents

• Pregnant and Recently Pregnant Women at Increased Risk for Severe Illness (CDC)

• Pregnant? Take These Steps to Protect Yourself and Baby from COVID (CDC)

• Keep your Baby Healthy and Safe (CDC)

Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations

• Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations (CDC)

• Cleaning and Disinfecting (CDC)

COVID-19 Community Level

Check your COVID-19 Community Level - If you or your family member are at high risk for severe illness, wear a mask or respirator with greater protection in public indoor spaces if you are in an area with a high COVID-19 Community Level. Talk with your healthcare provider about wearing a mask in a medium COVID-19 Community Level.

• COVID-19 Community Level and COVID-19 Prevention - Find recommended prevention measures based on COVID-19 Community Levels.

COVID-19 Preventive Medication

Evusheld is an investigational medicine that can help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may be eligible for Evusheld if you:

• Are moderately or severely immunocompromised and may not mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination OR have a history of severe allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines, and

• Do not currently have COVID-19 and have not recently had close contact with someone with COVID-19, and

• Are an adult or adolescent ages 12 years and older weighing at least 88 pounds (40 kg).

Evusheld contains two different antibodies that can help prevent COVID-19. It must be given by your healthcare provider before exposure to COVID-19.

Talk to your healthcare provider to find out if this option is right for you. Even if you receive Evusheld, taking multiple prevention steps, such as wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator and avoiding crowded places, can provide additional layers of protection from COVID-19.

Treatment Available

If you test positive and are an older adult or someone who is at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, treatment may be available. Contact a healthcare provider right away after a positive test to determine if you are eligible, even if your symptoms are mild right now. You can also visit a Test to Treat location and, if eligible, receive a prescription from a provider. Don't delay: Treatment must be started within the first few days to be effective.

COVID-19 Treatments and Medications

For people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 infection, medications are available that can reduce the chances of severe illness and death. Other medications can help reduce symptoms and help manage the illness.

People who are more likely to get very sick include older adults (ages 50 years or more, with risk increasing with older age), people who are unvaccinated, and people with certain medical conditions, such as a weakened immune system.

Being vaccinated makes you much less likely to get very sick. Still, some vaccinated people, especially those ages 65 years or older or who have other risk factors for severe disease, may benefit from treatment if they get COVID-19. A healthcare provider will help decide which treatment, if any, is right for each individual.

The FDA has issued emergency use authorizations (EUA) for certain antiviral medications and monoclonal antibodies to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people who are more likely to get very sick. Learn more.

• South Dakota Monoclonal Antibody Treatment flyer

 

CALCULATING ISOLATION - Day 0 is your first day of symptoms or a positive viral test. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed or your test specimen was collected.
IF YOU Tested positive for COVID-19 or havesymptoms, regardless of vaccination status	Stay home for at least 5 days If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after 5 days, you can leave your house Wear a mask around others for 5 additional days and avoid being around people at high risk If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves
CALCULATING QUARANTINE - The date of your exposure is considered day 0. Day 1 is the first full day after your last contact with a person who has had COVID-19.
IF YOU Were exposed to COVID-19 and are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations	Wear a mask around others for 10 days Avoid being around people who are at high risk Test on day 5, if possible If you develop symptoms, get a test & stay home
IF YOU Were exposed to COVID-19 and are NOT up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations	Stay home for at least 5 days Wear a mask around others for 5 additional days and avoid being around people who are at high risk Test on day 5, if possible If you develop symptoms, get a test & stay home
IF YOU were exposed to COVID-19 and had confirmed COVID-19 within the past 90 days (you tested positive using a viral test)	Wear a mask around others for 10 days Avoid being around people who are at high risk If you develop symptoms, get a test & stay home

DOWNLOAD THE PDF | QUARANTINE & ISOLATION CALCULATOR | CDC GUIDANCE

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• Request a Return to Work Letter - This is for individuals only – employers may not request a letter for their employee(s). (This service will be available through May 31, 2022)

• Quarantine and Isolation (CDC)

• Symptoms Guidance (CDC)

• If You Are Sick or Caring for Someone (CDC)

• 10 Ways to Manage Respiratory Symptoms at Home | Spanish | Karen | Somali | Nepali (CDC)

• What To Do If You Are Sick | Spanish (CDC)

• Testing Guidance (CDC)

• COVID-19 Testing Resources (CDC)

• COVID-19 Testing Flowchart (CDC)

• Got Symptoms? Get Tested. (flyer)

• Post-COVID Conditions

• Travel Health

• Travel During COVID-19 (CDC)

• Multi-Language Testing Resources - translated instructions for at-home tests, conversation guides, fact sheets and more. (NRC-RIM)

• 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.

• WeCanDoThis.HHS.gov - COVID-19 Public Education Materials

• COVID.gov - Find COVID-19 guidance and resources to protect you, your family, and your community

• Print Resources

Learn about COVID-19 Treatment options

• The COVID-19 Test To Treat Initiative quickly connects eligible individuals who are at high risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 to appropriate treatments.

  • Test To Treat Locator

• COVID-19 Treatments and Therapeutics (HHS)

• COVID-19 Treatments and Medications (CDC)

• Know Your Treatment Options for COVID-19 (FDA)

• Treatment Locator (HHS)

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Monoclonal Antibody Treatments

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization to allow the use of monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients.

View South Dakota Monoclonal Antibody Treatment flyer

What are monoclonal antibodies? Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the antibodies created by your immune system to fight off harmful viruses. Bamlanivimab + etesevimab and casirivimab + imdevimab are monoclonal antibodies that are specifically designed to protect against severe COVID-19 infection. The antibodies bind to the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus to stop the virus from entering your cells and continuing the infection.

• Who can get this treatment? Antibody treatment can be used by people with mild to moderate COVID-19 who:
  • Test positive for SARS-CoV-2;
  • Are within 10 days of the start of their symptoms;
  • Are age 12 or older and weigh at least 88 pounds; and
  • Are at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19 infection or of needing to be admitted to a hospital because of COVID-19. Examples of chronic medical conditions include:
    • Chronic kidney disease
    • Diabetes
    • Immunosuppressive disease
    • Currently receiving immunosuppressive treatment
    • Having a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 (overweight or obese)
    • Pregnancy
    • Aged 65 years and older
    • Cardiovascular disease (including congenital heart disease) or hypertension
    • Chronic lung diseases (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], asthma [moderate-to-severe], interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension)
    • Sickle cell disease
    • Neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., cerebral palsy) or other complex conditions (e.g., genetic or metabolic syndromes and severe congenital abnormalities)
    • Having a medical-related technological dependence (e.g, tracheostomy, gastrostomy, or positive pressure ventilation [not related to COVID-19])
      

Individuals who meet high risk criteria and test positive should contact their primary care physician about a referral for antibody treatment within three days of a positive test result and no later than 10 days after symptom onset.

Treatment for COVID-19 available in many parts of the state. Check with your health care provider about the use of monoclonal antibodies or an antiviral.

These medications will be available at no cost to patients, although health care facilities may charge for administering the medicine.

Avera Health Avera St. Luke’s Hospital - Aberdeen Avera Dells Area Hospital - Dell Rapids Avera De Smet Memorial Hospital - De Smet Avera Flandreau Hospital - Flandreau Freeman Regional Hospital - Freeman Avera Gregory Hospital - Gregory Avera Milbank Area Hospital - Milbank Avera Hand Co. Memorial Hospital - Miller Avera Queen of Peace Hospital - Mitchell Avera St Benedict Hospital - Parkston Avera St. Mary’s Hospital - Pierre Avera Platte Health Center - Platte Community Memorial Hospital - Redfield Avera Landmann-Jungman Memorial Hospital - Scotland Avera St. Michael’s Hospital -Tyndall Avera Wagner Community Hospital - Wagner Avera Sacred Heart Hospital - Yankton Monument Health Monument Health Custer Hospital - Custer Monument Health Lead-Deadwood Hospital - Deadwood Philip Health Services - Philip Monument Health Rapid City Hospital - Rapid City Monument Health Spearfish Hospital - Spearfish Monument Health Sturgis Hospital - Sturgis

Sanford Health Sanford Aberdeen Medical Center - Aberdeen Douglas Co Memorial Hospital - Armour Community Memorial Hospital - Burke Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center - Canton Sanford Chamberlain Medical Center - Chamberlain Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center - Clear Lake Sanford USD Medical Center - Sioux Falls Sanford Vermillion Medical Center - Vermillion Pioneer Memorial Hospital - Viborg Sanford Webster Medical Center - Webster Winner Regional Hospital - Winner Independent Hospitals Bowdle Hospital - Bowdle Brookings Health System – Brookings Faulkton Area Medical Center - Faulkton Fall River Health Services - Hot Springs Huron Regional Healthcare Center - Huron Madison Community Hospital - Madison Bennett Co Hospital - Martin Mobridge Regional Hospital - Mobridge Oyate Health Center - Rapid City Prairie Lakes Healthcare System - Watertown

 

For Parents

• COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit (CDC)

• Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus) A Parent Resource (NASP)

• Coronavirus Explained! (for kids) - (CDC video)

• Helping Children Cope During and After a Disaster: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers (CDC)

• NEW! Tools for Supporting Emotional Wellbeing in Children and Youth (NASEM)

• Children's Mental Health (CDC)

For Adults

• Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health (SAMHSA)

• Stress and Coping (CDC)

• Strategies for Self-Care and Resilience (HHS)

• Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (SAMHSA)

• 605strong.com (SD Dept. of Social Services)

• How Right Now: Finding What Helps

• List of COVID-19 Resources for Organizations Working with Persons Who Use Drugs or Have Substance Use Disorder (CDC)

Everyone plays a part in getting through the COVID-19 pandemic. If you have fully recovered from COVID-19, you may be able to help patients currently fighting the infection by donating your plasma, also known as convalescent plasma. Because you fought the infection, your plasma now contains COVID-19 antibodies. These antibodies provided one way for your immune system to fight the virus when you were sick, so your plasma may be able to help others fight off the disease.

To become a convalescent plasma donor, individuals should contact their physician or visit the websites below for more information:

• U.S. Food & Drug Administration

• National COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Project

• Vitalant Blood Donation

Individuals or family members who are interested in acquiring a donation for a family member should contact their clinician for more information.

What is MIS-C?

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a condition where different body parts can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. Children with MIS-C may have a fever and various symptoms, including abdominal (gut) pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes, or feeling extra tired. We do not yet know what causes MIS-C. However, many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19, or had been around someone with COVID-19. More information is available on CDC’s website.

MIS-C in South Dakota

Total Cases: 6
Locations: 3 from East River; 3 from West River
Sex of Cases: 3 female; 3 male
Age of Cases: 6 in the 0-17 year age group
Outcomes: 6 (100%) hospitalized; Zero (0%) died