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Local COVID-19 Headlines: March 18

Test Supply Shortage Leads to Test Disruption in SD

The South Dakota Public Health Lab is not able to process test results for COVID-19 due to a nationwide shortage of supplies. Governor Kristi Noem says other states are facing a similar situation.

In a press conference in Rapid City this afternoon, Governor Noem says she hopes the next shipment of enzymes and other necessary supplies arrives within the day—but she cautions that other expected shipments have been canceled. The governor says the state lab will work around the clock to process tests as soon as supplies arrive.

“Those that are being tested in South Dakota today are being put into isolation. That is normal operating procedure. That will continue going forward. They will be notified as to the results of those tests as soon as they are processed, and commercial lab capacity is coming online. This is something we’ve been working on for weeks, and our three major healthcare systems are in the process of standing commercial labs as well that will support the South Dakota Public Health Lab into the future.”

Because of the delayed test results, the state’s official count of positive and negative cases has not changed. However, the number of pending tests jumped from 35 to 350 over the past day. State health officials are recommending anyone suspected of having COVID-19 self-isolate at home until their tests are completed…OR if they are without a fever for three days and it’s been at least a week since symptoms began.

Common symptoms of COVID-19 are a fever of more than 100…cough…and shortness of breath. The state Department of Health says anyone with any of those symptoms should stay home and call their healthcare provider if symptoms become severe. From there, providers will decide if COVID-19 testing is necessary.

Once supplies arrive, Governor Noem says patients will get results as soon as possible. Before the shortage, the lab returned results within 24 hours.

Testing Sites Public West River, Secret East River

The big health systems on either side of South Dakota are taking opposite approaches to the public visibility of drive-through sampling for COVID-19.

Megan Ball is a medical laboratory scientist. She was standing alone in the parking lot Wednesday afternoon at a Monument Health Urgent Care Clinic in Rapid City. That’s where Monument Health is doing its drive-through sampling for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Patients have to call their physician first. If the physician determines testing for COVID-19 is warranted, the patient may be sent to the drive-through sampling area.

When patients drive up, they find Ball dressed in protective gear. She confirms their identity and inserts what amounts to an extra-long Q-tip up their nose to obtain a sample. To patients, she says it feels like the Q-tip is ...

“Kinda touching your brain. Their eyes water and they kind of cough. They don't like it. It’s very uncomfortable.’”

But it’s over in a moment. The whole visit only takes about 5 minutes.

It all happens in a parking lot alongside Jackson Boulevard. That’s one of the busiest streets in Rapid City. Several temporary signs clearly advertise the spot as the place for drive-through COVID-19 sampling. Monument Health announced the location to the public and is planning a similar operation in Spearfish.

On the eastern side of the state, the Avera and Sanford health systems are taking a different approach. They both have drive-through sampling. But they both refuse to say on the record where the sampling is, or even what cities they’re offering it in. Both say they’re afraid of being overwhelmed by people wanting sampling without a physician’s referral. Supplies for testing the samples are already scarce, so sampling everywhere is being limited to people whose physicians say they need it.

But the Rapid City sampling site has not been overwhelmed. So far, Ball says only a few people have shown up expecting to be sampled without a physician’s OK. She politely tells them they need to call a physician first.

Increase in Patient Visits to Healthcare Providers

There has been an increase in the amount of people who have reached out to healthcare professionals in South Dakota. As of lunch hour on Wednesday, more than 900 South Dakotans have been tested for COVID-19. The number of pending tests jumped from 35 on Tuesday to 350 on Wednesday as the state waits for supplies to continue processing results.

Dr. Jerome Freeman is a Neurology Specialist at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. He says it’s important for people to collaborate, share, and look out for one another. Dr. Freeman says this is especially true for people in healthcare. He says it’s important to give patients the care they demand, but at the same time, being cautious.

"Healthcare providers have always understood that there are risks with doing the job correctly, in order to care for our patients with any infectious diseases. There’s always some risk undertaken of contracting an infection. With the coronavirus, unfortunately, it appears to be very contagious and so precautions need to be heightened."

Dr Freeman believes all of the medical institutions in South Dakota are taking a proactive approach. He says Sanford alone is having continuous conversation with physicians, nurses and other medical staff regarding the process for treating patients.

Premier Center Postpones Events

Public venues across South Dakota have started cancelling and postponing events in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls has postponed many of its events through the end of March.

Mike Krewson is the General Manger of the Premier Center, the Sioux Falls Convention center and the Sioux Falls Arena. Krewson says the postponements are in line with the city mandated restriction on events hosting more than 250 people for the next two weeks.

“There’s some events that only happen once a year based on what there business is – different things like that – so, obviously we’ll take a hit. It’s something that’s a fluid situation, where it’s new information is coming out every day but we are doing our best to reschedule those events that are affected at this point, until we feel that there is a time that it won’t be affected.”

Krewson says while some events have been cancelled at the convention center, most events at the premier center have simply been postponed.

Local Artists Feeling Disruption from COVID-19

Many visual artists depend on markets and events to sell their work. Social distancing practices are already affecting sales for some in the area.

Lorri Ann Two Bulls paints colorful images of women, animals and geometric shapes with touches of gold metallics and gemstones. She uses canvas or creates wearables from organic materials. Two Bulls sets up booths year round at events and art markets, but now her income is at risk because of the efforts to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, which causes COVID 19.

And I do have businesses that I do sell to so it’s had a ripple effect on me because they’re not able to buy right because nobody’s going into their store. And the tourists aren’t out and about like they usually are about right now.”

Two Bulls is 59 and a cancer survivor, so even colds take a toll on her health. Social isolation is important for her to stay healthy right now.

“If I get this virus, COVID-19, I don’t think I could survive that. I don’t want to sound all grim and doom but let’s get real here. I’m not panicking but at the same time I’m educating myself about it.”

She’s able to order some supplies online, but is sticking to the necessities to save money. Two bulls decided this is a good time to create a website and build her online presence to try and keep her business running.

“Basically right now I’m just building up inventory and sort of living off of my savings. It’s not that big of a savings account but I’m kind of getting worried about that because I have bills to pay.”

Other South Dakota artists and organizers are in discussion, coming up with ways to help creators sustain themselves during the pandemic.

Social Distancing Cancelling Musician Events

Social distancing practices are causing events to be postponed or canceled. This is affecting musicians who rely on gigs to pay their bills. Mark Joseph is a Blues artist from the Twin Cities who’s postponed his South Dakota tour dates that accompany the release of his new album.

“We’ve never seen anything quite like it, obviously. It’s forced us to have to reschedule many, many dates and tours. Now, it’s hard to say at this point how far out it’s going to go. My Black Hills Dates that were supposed to be this week are currently scheduled to May five through nine in the spring, here. But again it’s hard to say when things are going to go back to any sort of normalcy. It’s been a major, major impact on us.”

Like many other performers, Joseph is planning to live stream concerts on social media during the pandemic.

John T. Meyer on Working from Home

Many South Dakota businesses are electing to have employees work from home with the spread of the novel coronavirus and emergency declarations at the state and national levels. John T. Meyer is the owner and CEO of Lemonly in Sioux Falls. Meyer says his company began the transition to working remotely early and managers and leaders in other companies need to embrace remote work.

Trust your people, trust them. If you think you hired the right people, you hired them for a reason, let them work. But also, everyone deserves a little bit of grace right now, right? Things are stressful, there’s a lot of uncertainty, and it feels like every decision you’re making as a leader right now has a 24 hour expiration date.”

Meyer says it is important for workers and managers to remember decisions and conditions may change from day to day.

Local Pro Hockey Leagues Cancel Remainder of Seasons

The East Coast Hockey League has officially suspended it’s remaining season.

The Rapid City Rush is a member of the ECHL is halting games until next season. Todd Mackin is the President of the Rapid City Rush Hockey Team. He says this decision is unprecedented in recent history.

“We’ve never seen this in most people’s lifetimes, in 70, 80 years for sure.”

Mackin says the league made the decision after several meetings with the Professional Hockey Players Association to see if playoffs could continue. He says the cancellation could present a hardship to the players, many of whom rely on the hockey league as their sole source of income.

“The tough situation for a lot fo these guys is most of these guys worked in the hockey world in the off season. You know, whether it’s running their own camp or working in camps or doing different things like that, with the closing of a lot of rinks and a lot of people meeting together, that obviously is kind of in jeopardy as well.”

Mackin says this time will resemble a regular off season with qualified players retaining their positions on the team and all players paid through the week. The United States Hockey League which houses the Sioux Falls Stampede also announced the cancellation of it's 20-19, 20-20 season.