School Closures Extended in South Dakota
Governor Kristi Noem has announced South Dakota schools will remain closed for another week. The additional week is meant to allow more time to develop COVID-19 testing and lab capabilities.
The governor met with leadership from Sanford and Avera Health systems this afternoon in Sioux Falls. Both healthcare systems are working to process COVID-19 tests in their own labs in order to decrease wait times for results.
The governor declared all k-12 schools closed this week so facilities could conduct a deep cleaning. Barring another extension, schools will now remain closed until March 30th.
New COVID-19 Positive in Minnehaha County
The state has identified another positive case of COVID-19 in Minnehaha County, bringing the state total to 11.
The newly identified patient is a woman in her 50s. She’s Minnehaha County’s fifth case of COVID-19. The Department of Health website says all cases in South Dakota are still travel related, and there is no community spread of coronavirus at this time.
The state now has 35 tests still pending, and 551 tests have come back negative.
Commercial Vehicle Relief
Federal transportation officials are waiving regulatory hours for drivers transporting goods in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is declaring a national emergency to provide relief for freight-carrying commercial vehicles. The order applies to drivers transporting food supplies and equipment needed to restock stores. It also includes medical supplies for testing and treatment of COVID-19.
The declaration is the first time the FMCSA has issued nationwide relief.
Tenhaken Announces New Fund for Pandemic Relief
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken announces a new fund to help those who come under financial hardship because of the coronavirus pandemic. The One Sioux Falls fund received 700-thousand dollars from local businesses in its first 18 hours. The mayor is also asking city council to allot another 250-thousand in general funds.
Mayor TenHaken says the fund is offered through the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation.
“So the goal of this fund is to help Sioux Falls residents avoid evictions and financial hardships if they’re unable to work due to COVID-19, and also if they’re unable to qualify for state or federal assistance.”
He adds the fund is open to the entire Sioux Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSA. That includes Minnehaha…McCook…Lincoln…and Turner counties.
“So it’s not just Sioux Falls city limits, but if you live and work within Sioux Falls or live and work within the MSA, you’ll be able to take advantage of the funds there.”
Mayor TenHaken says housing has been a focus of his administration, so he doesn’t want to see the pandemic cause evictions. During a press conference this morning, he also asked city landlords to give tenants grace during this time.
COVID-19 Testing Continues in South Dakota
State health officials continue to test South Dakotans who may exhibit symptoms of COVID-19. The South Dakota Department of Health has tested more than 500 individuals in the past week. So far, 11* are confirmed to have the disease.
Dr. Elizabeth Racz is an epidemiologist at the School of Mines and Technology. She expects the number of confirmed cases will increase.
“We’re not seeing all the numbers. When we have a person who is infected with this novel COVID-19 virus, that they can spread it to two to three people. That multiplies very quickly out into the public. I think that leads into our issue with testing. As we increase our testing, we are going to find more cases and we will see spikes.”
Racz says more test kits are necessary to help prevent spread of the coronavirus. During a press conference on Monday, Governor Kristi Noem said the state has enough tests, but needs more supplies to process them. Until then, it could take longer to process tests.
Feeding South Dakota Continues Their Mission
Feeding South Dakota is continuing to fight the hunger needs in the Mt. Rushmore State, despite eleven reported cases to this point of the COVID-19 virus. Organization CEO Matt Gassen says Feeding South Dakota will continue to deliver food to those in need, however, they’re changing the way in which people receive the food.
Gassen: We’re going to do be doing a little bit more of drive by or drive thru distribution where we then limit the social interaction between multiple people so that it’s just a box being either handed to an individual or put in an individual’s car, or only an individual comes by to pick a box off a pallet to take home with them, so we can maintain those distances.
Gassen says internally they’re faced with a challenge of having a high number of volunteers. Typically, that’s a good thing – but with group sizes being recommended to NOT eclipse even ten people, Feeding South Dakota is trying to revamp how they box up the food. Gassen says this may mean having two serving lines, instead of one, on two different ends of the warehouse, as to ensure there’s substantial distance between the small working groups.
Covid Mental Health
The recent COVID-19 outbreak is having an impact worldwide in a variety of ways. One of the aspects being affected by this viral spread is the mental health of every day citizens.
Malia Holbeck is the Outpatient Services Manager for Avera Behavior Health. She says the recent events can definitely make people more anxious or scared.
Holbeck: I think when we’re not able to really expect what the next phase is going to bring, what the next week is going to bring, what additional changes might come out as far as our day to day activities? I think it is cause for some worry and some anxiety, because oftentimes there’s planning that needs to get involved for different people. What does that look like for work? What does that look like for childcare? And a variety of other things as well.
As of right now, Avera Behavioral Health’s Outpatient Care is open and they’re still offering services to individuals needing mental health or addiction assistance. However, they are asking people who feel sick to stay home and call a health professional.
School Districts Look at Meal Options
Across South Dakota, school districts and nonprofits are feeding kids who are stuck at home because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Boxes and bags of food were piled high Tuesday morning in the parking lot of the Open Heart United Methodist Church in Rapid City, next to South Middle School. The church handed out sack lunches while Feeding South Dakota gave out packages totaling 15 to 20 pounds each – including pasta, canned fruits and veggies, cereal and frozen meat. Within the first half-hour, about 50 vehicles came through as workers and volunteers passed the food through a window or put it in trunks and pickup boxes.
Coya Smashed Ice stopped to pick up food for her family, including four kids who are out of school this week.
“Actually I am glad to see this happening for people because there’s a lot of people who need it and who could put it to good use.”
Feeding South Dakota is doing distributions this week in Rapid City and nearby communities and in Sioux Falls. The organization is partnering with schools to get the word out to families who need the service. Lesa Jarding is a Feeding South Dakota operations director.
“It’s our responsibility as the organization we are to make sure that we are distributing food to people in need, and so we’re doing this because we believe in making sure people consistently have access to food.”
In Rapid City, no school lunches are available this week, but families are encouraged to use Feeding South Dakota’s services. If the school closure continues next week, the district is planning to make food pick-up available at school sites. The Sioux Falls School District has already offered food pick-up at several schools this week.
On the state Department of Education’s website, there is a daily updated list of schools that are providing some kind of food service during the coronavirus school closure. Dozens of schools were on the growing list as of Tuesday.
DWU Moving All Courses Online
Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell is moving all courses online for the rest of the spring semester…and postponing graduation activities until the fall. The university is also canceling all university sponsored events and activities for the rest of the semester—including all athletic practices and all theatre and musical performances.
In a statement, Dakota Wesleyan President Amy Novak says, “Our faculty and staff have demonstrated a high level of responsiveness to students as we make this transition to an online format.” Novak says faculty are well-equipped for the transition thanks to the Digital D-W-U initiative launched two years ago.
The press release goes on to say the university is “committed to providing all graduates an opportunity to celebrate their tremendous accomplishments at a time when the safety of students and family members can be more fully assured.”
The most recent federal guidelines urge avoiding gatherings of ten or more people to reduce the spread of coronavirus, which causes COVID-19.
WAVI Taking COVID-19 Precautions
The nonprofit Working Against Violence Inc., or WAVI offers a safe place for women and children in dangerous…abusive…and unsafe situations. The staff is taking precautions to help ensure that COVID-19 doesn’t put their residents in harm's way.
People seeking shelter at the WAVI facility live in close proximity with each other and staff have to move in and out of the building. Kristina Simmons is WAVI’s Development Director. She says they’re following CDC recommendations and practicing social distancing so they can continue to help people who are in crisis, regardless of the pandemic.
“Internally we have limited foot traffic in and out as far as the types of donations we’re taking. We have a limited list that we post on our Facebook and our Instagram weekly. We’re asking people to come to the back door and then a staff member will greet you to graciously accept that donation. We’re also wiping down the shelter, sanitizing three times a day, all the doors, highly used areas. So our advocates have been extremely busy just making sure that everything is clean and sanitized and then also educating our clients.”
Simmons says the nonprofit is changing it’s guidelines to keep up with new CDC recommendations. They’re discussing long term plans for the facility to handle the virus.
“People are in the same home and you have people, they may be laid off or furloughed. That stress, it’s not an excuse for abuse but it does fuel that anger and tension rises in the home where you feel isolated, we can see an increase in violence and need for services. So it’s almost like a domino effect. Again, it’s just something we’re preparing for. I’m not saying it will happen, but it’s a potential.”
Simmons says the WAVI is discussing how to ensure placement for current and incoming victims as the pandemic continues.
Utility Companies Suspending Disconnections
A host of utility providers in South Dakota are discontinuing shutoffs in the event of unpaid bills. The cities of Rapid City and Sioux Falls say they are discontinuing water shutoffs for the time being.
Wednesdays are generally reserved for scheduled water shutoffs in Rapid City. The city considers about 100 each week in order to encourage those to pay tardy bills. Those Wednesday shutoffs will cease as city of Rapid City says it will discontinue utility shutoffs of water, sewer and solid waste collection until further notice. That’s to allow proper sanitation during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Steve Allender is the Rapid City mayor.
“We have businesses down in some areas, it seems business is down,” Allender says. “We just want to make sure we’re not going to help this disease spread by depriving families of water to use for personal hygiene.”
City officials are reminding customers to pay their utility bills on time to avoid late fees and not impact the city’s ability to provide these critical services.
East on I-90, City of Sioux Falls says they will discontinue shutoffs as well. Mark Cotter is the director of Public Works for Sioux Falls. He says the city will work with customers who many need extended payment options.
“There’s no end date on it at this time, since we’re all learning more each week,” Cotter says. “But, to reassure them that they will have good, reliable water service as we go through this. If they have a challenge in paying their water bill we’re going to be willing to work with them on payments going forward and grant them that additional time.”
Some major utility providers like Excel energy, Black Hills Energy and Montana-Dakota Utilities have also announced they’ll discontinue shut offs for the time being.