South Dakota has reported its first cases of coronavirus, and one person has died, state officials said Tuesday.

Gov. Kristi Noem said in a press conference in Pierre that there have been five cases in the state, and one person has died. Noem said the person who died, a man in his 60's who had the virus, had underlying health conditions and it's unclear whether COVID-19 directly caused the death.

The person who died was from Pennington County, health officials said. The other four cases were reported across four other counties. All patients had recently traveled outside of South Dakota, but not necessarily internationally. The state's Public Health Laboratory in Pierre confirmed the cases at about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday.

Officials said the cases do not appear to be interrelated. The other cases are as follows:

A man in his 40's from Beadle County

A man in his 50's from Charles Mix County

A woman in her 30's from Davison County

A man in his 40's from Minnehaha County

The four individuals are at their homes, working with health providers to make sure proper action is being taken, officials said.

Coronavirus in South Dakota:Confirmed cases, latest news and updates

West Central schools closed Wednesday

West Central schools in Hartford will be closed Wednesday because a parent of a child who attends school has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, school officials said in an email to parents and faculty.

""An adult male in Hartford who has students @ West Central has been diagnosed with the Coronavirus," the email read. "West Central Schools will be closed Wednesday, March 11. All schools will undergo a deep cleaning. Families will be updated (Wednesday) as to when schools will reopen."

No state of emergency declared

Noem has not declared a state of emergency at this time, like other states have done across the U.S., but the state is partially activating it's emergency operation center.

"While we wait for the CDC to conduct their confirmatory testing, the Department of Health staff is working to identify additional people who came in close contact with these individuals to decrease the spread of illness," Noem said in the press conference.

More Coronavirus coverage:What do Sioux Falls' store shelves look like as COVID-19 fears pick up?

Asked whether any schools would be closed, Noem said how school districts will react is an ongoing, constant conversation.

“Our team has been preparing for weeks, and I am confident we have the right people in place to address this fluid situation. Without panicking, I encourage all South Dakotans to take this seriously – now is the time to prepare and to stay informed.”

The department had previously tested 11 people for the new coronavirus, all of whom had tested negative. The Department of Health website said 13 people have tested negative.

The state initially had about 1,900 tests, but each person needs to be tested twice, meaning the state only has enough to test about 800 more people, state officials said. South Dakota has requested more, but it's unclear how long it could take to get them.

Anyone who believes they may have been infected should contact their healthcare provider by phone before going to a clinic or hospital.

Department of Health spokesman Derrick Haskins said the state is requesting additional testing supplies.

"We will continue to request additional testing supplies from CDC and other sources as needed," Haskins said. "The South Dakota Public Health Laboratory will not charge patients for coronavirus testing. The partial activation of the EOC gives DOH access to additional state agency resources to help us respond."

Other than symptoms, factors that determine whether someone will be tested for the new coronavirus include the patient's travel history, whether they've been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 and their risk for a severe infection.

Sioux Falls officials: Social distancing recommended, St. Patrick's Day parade in flux

City of Sioux Falls officials are urging residents to remain calm and use "common sense" health practices now that one presumptive case of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus spreading across the U.S. and globally, has been confirmed in Minnehaha County.

Here are five notes from the city's press conference Tuesday night.

Coronavirus map: These counties have reported cases of coronavirus

Coronavirus map: These states have reported cases of COVID-19

How do you get coronavirus?

Like the common cold and the flu, coronavirus spreads between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) and through respiratory droplets, according to the CDC.

Coronavirus is spreading rapidly from person to person, and scientists are still learning more about how coronavirus spreads.

There's no evidence that the virus can be transmitted through food, according to the CDC.

It is, however, possible that a person can get the virus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own face. There is likely a very low risk of spread from food products or packaging that are shipped over a period of days or weeks, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of coronavirus

The most common symptoms resemble the flu and include fever, tiredness and dry cough. Some people also develop aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and some people don't have any symptoms at all.

About 1 in 6 people become seriously ill and develop difficulty breathing, according to the World Health Organization. If you experience fever, cough and shortness of breath, call your doctor.

Coronavirus testing:South Dakota can currently test nearly 1,000 cases, officials say

No, you don't need a facemask to prepare for coronavirus

But do take typical flu-season precautions:

Avoid close contact with people who are sick

Don't touch your eyes, nose and mouth

Cover your cough

Stay home when sick

Clean household objects and surfaces

Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds

You don't need a face mask unless you have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. Buying up masks takes away from the health workers who need them most.

Contributing: Grace Pateras, USA TODAY Network; John Bacon, USA TODAY, Jorge Ortiz, USA TODAY; The Associated Press

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