Noem Declares a State of Emergency
Governor Kristi Noem has declared a state of emergency, which allows state agencies to accept funding or other resources to treat and stop the spread of COVID-19.
In a press conference earlier on Friday, the governor announced several other precautions—including statewide school closures.
Governor Noem is calling for all public k-12 schools to close next week. She’s encouraging private schools to do the same.
“I’m recommending the schools use this time to clean their facilities and to prepare for the following week.”
In addition, the governor is postponing all state basketball tournaments and all other extracurriculars. And in an executive order, she is calling on all non-essential state employees to work remotely.
Friday morning, South Dakota Chief Justice David Gilbertson issued a judicial emergency, allowing circuit courts to take their own precautionary actions. Despite these measures, Governor Noem says the trends are encouraging. So far, none of the 9 cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota are a result of community transmission.
“The things we’re implementing today and for the next week are proactive. we’re going to make sure that we’re keeping people safe, that we’re making good decisions. our schools will use this opportunity to clean their facilities and make sure that we continue the encouraging news and good trends, and that we also will make sure that we’re doing due diligence when it comes to our court system, to our state employees, and then how we’re bringing large events together.”
New guidelines form the C-D-C also allow for single-specimen testing for COVID-19 instead of two-specimen testing, which the governor says effectively double’s the state’s testing capacity. State Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon adds another shipment of test kits are set to arrive in the coming days.
“But again, providers have the testing equipment that they need, and supplies, and the state health lab does as well.”
The Department of Health will continue updating COVID-19 test results by noon each day through the weekend.
South Dakota COVID-19 Cases Rise to 9
The latest update from the South Dakota Department of Health shows one new case of COVID-19 in the state. This brings the state’s total positive tests to nine.
Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon says the new patient is a male in his 30’s in McCook County. She adds all nine patients have a history of travel outside of South Dakota within recent weeks, and there is no evidence of community spread of the disease so far.
To prevent spreading the disease, healthcare professionals encourage frequent hand washing, staying home if sick, and social distancing—especially for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
Role of Social Distancing in COVID Spread
Healthcare professionals are continuing to urge “social distancing” as a preventative measure against the spread of COVID-19. It doesn’t mean you have to stay home, but specialists say avoiding crowds can make a big difference in slowing the spread of the virus.
Dr. Jennifer Hsu is an infectious disease physician with Sanford Health. She says COVID-19—like all other respiratory illnesses—is typically spread through large droplets.
“If I cough, if I sneeze and I release droplets from my mouth or nose, the virus is attached to those droplets, and typically those can spread to other people within about six feet of contact.”
Dr. Hsu says the idea behind social distancing is just that: spreading people out.
“Avoiding mass gatherings, tight spaces where people are more likely to be within that six-feet distance and potentially transmitting respiratory viruses.”
As more and more events cancel and facilities close, Dr. Hsu says we don’t have to wait for someone else to tell us to take precautions. She says everyone has the personal responsibility to protect their loved ones and the more vulnerable people in communities—like the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.
“I think it’s really a personal decision and it’s an opportunity for all of us to pitch in and help our community to try to decrease this, even if we’re not told directly that we have to stay home.”
Dr. Hsu says it’s still unclear how much of a role touching an infected surface has on transmitting COVID-19, but she says average household cleaners and soaps are strong enough to remove it.
Rapid City Schools Response
Rapid City Area Schools Superintendent Lori Simon is clarifying the district’s response to COVID-19 in light of the governor’s decision to close schools next week.
Superintendent Simon says all staff will report to schools Monday and Tuesday to continue developing plans for instruction in case the closure is extended. Assistant Superintendent Matthew Seabaum (See-Bomb) says the district is not equipped for distance learning, but alternative plans are in development.
Food service will NOT provide meals during next week’s closure. However, if the closure extends longer than a week, Dr. Simon says staff will provide bagged lunches for pick up at multiple sites in the district.
Beyond next week’s closure, the Rapid City Area district is suspending athletic and fine arts activities until April 13th.
All school-sponsored travel and community access to the buildings are also suspended, and face-to-face parent-teacher conferences are being moved to electronic and phone options.
Catholic Diocese Changes in Response to COVID-19
With healthcare professionals encourage social distancing as a precaution against coronavirus spread, faith communities are considering adjustments to their practices. As for the Catholic Church, both the Diocese of Rapid City and the Diocese of Sioux Falls have released differing changes to mass. The Diocese of Rapid City announced precautionary adjustments to mass on March 6th, before South Dakota had confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Father Michel Malloy is the Diocesan Administrator. He explains one such precaution is suspending use of the cup during communion until further notice.
“Because people would be receiving the Blood of Christ through a common cup, so we’re suspending that temporarily. We’re also going to encourage people not to engage in shaking hands during the Sign of Peace, another part of the Catholic service, but rather to exchange that peace verbally. And then not to hold hands during the Our Father if they are accustomed to doing that.”
The Diocese of Rapid City is also suggesting parishioners take communion by hand rather than receiving it directly on the tongue, but this step is not required. The Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls released a statement from Bishop Donald DeGrood on Wednesday. The statement leaves modifications to the discretion of local pastors.
In the statement, Bishop DeGrood says, “The coronavirus has already directly impacted one of our Catholic schools and parishes and is likely to affect others in the near future.” He closes the statement noting the Diocese will offer further direction as advised by health officials. Both statements encourage those feeling ill to stay home and emphasize that missing mass because of illness is not a sin.