Mayors of sixteen South Dakota cities are urging people to wear a mask, limit gatherings and take other precautions against spreading the coronavirus. The South Dakotas Municipal League released a letter signed by mayors of the state’s largest cities including Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Aberdeen and Pierre.
In it, leaders call on every individual to do their part to protect public health. The letter also calls on businesses to consider asking employees and customers to wear masks along with other CDC recommendations.
The mayors who signed on to the letter represent nearly half of the state’s population.
The full letter reads:
As Mayors of South Dakota’s largest cities and representing nearly half of our state’s population, we have come together to bring you a united message concerning the COVID pandemic in our state. While our municipalities have taken different approaches to flattening the curve of this virus, one common thread we all have is that we are non-partisan office holders seeking to create unity, dispel fear, and protect public health, the economy, and personal freedoms.
We are writing to you with a simple ask, but one that we need everyone to take seriously. We need you to do your part. It is crucial that we are all aware of our behaviors. Wear a mask when physical distancing cannot be maintained, keep your social interactions to small groups, wash your hands frequently, clean frequently touched surfaces often, and stay home if you feel sick. These may seem like small actions, but can make a big difference during this current surge we are experiencing in our state.
We are also asking for diligence from our business communities. Consider asking your employees and customers to wear masks, promote physical distancing within your organizations, provide hand sanitizer, follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards of cleaning, conduct daily health checks and allow your employees to stay home if they feel sick.
The concept of community is more important than ever, and the actions of every community are critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19. Each of us has the opportunity every single day to make the right choices that help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and help save lives.
To our many healthcare workers, educators and essential workers who are doing your part to help turn the tide of this pandemic – thank you.
We must all remain vigilant and continue taking steps to mitigate the spread of the virus to protect each other and our loved ones. There is only one way we will get through this – together.
Stay strong, stay safe, and do your part.
Mayor Steve Allender, Rapid City
Mayor Dana Boke, Spearfish
Mayor Sarah Caron, Watertown
Mayor Kelsey Collier-Wise, Vermillion
Mayor Keith Corbett, Brookings
Mayor Marshall Dennert, Madison
Mayor Bob Everson, Mitchell
Mayor Steve Harding, Pierre
Mayor Gary Harrington, Huron
Mayor Nathan Johnson, Yankton
Mayor Gloria Landphere, Belle Fourche
Mayor Larry Larson, Box Elder
Mayor Paul Lundberg, Brandon
Mayor Travis Schaunaman, Aberdeen
Mayor Paul Ten Haken, Sioux Falls
Mayor Derick Wenck, Harrisburg