Communities across South Dakota are considering mask policies in light of increased spread of COVID-19. The City of Vermillion passed a resolution in August. It required all public spaces to post signs stating masks are expected.
Kelsey Collier-Wise is the mayor of Vermillion.
She says there wasn’t much push back and the city works with businesses to make compliance easier.
Mayor Collier-Wise says masking is just one part of preventing the spread of the coronavirus.
“Masking is only one piece and I think – especially because it’s become politicized – it's become, maybe, overly focused on. Masking is very important when you go out in public, but we know if you are masking everywhere in public but still having 20 people over to your house, that it’s not necessarily going to make a big impact in stemming the spread. So, some of it has been trying to get that message out, not just about masking, but about distancing, about keeping your bubble small.”
Collier-Wise says no city in the state has stopped the spread, but the masking ordinance has helped in Vermillion.
She says state and local governments should listen to their medical professionals.