Noem Issues Executive Order
Governor Kristi Noem has released an executive order with baseline recommendations for ways businesses, healthcare providers, and communities should react to the coronavirus pandemic.
These instructions include limiting elective healthcare procedures…restricting gatherings of ten or more people…and moving food service to take-out or curb-side services only.
When pressed for clarification, the governor maintains it’s up to local authorities to enforce or surpass these protective measures.
“And obviously if you want to use an example, we can talk about what Huron did yesterday. They went ahead and had a joint city council county commission meeting, they made a decision to put in place some resolutions and ordinances that would be enforceable and took action in their community. That’s something every community in the state of South Dakota will have the chance to do. My job as governor is to set a baseline of what that should look like from boarder to border in the state of South Dakota, and this is what I’m telling our counties and committees to do.”
The full text of the executive order is available here. The governor is expected to address further changes for k-12 education and state employees tomorrow.
7 New Positives, Noem Signing Executive Order Later Today
The latest numbers from the South Dakota Department of Health show seven new positive cases of COVID-19 in the state.
Of those, two are in Beadle County…there are single new cases in the following counties: Codington, Davison, Hughes, Lyman, and McCook.
Beadle County has the most identified cases in the state, with a total of 12 at this time. Governor Kristi Noem says health officials believe there is community spread in the county. That means positive cases arise in people with no known contact with the virus.
Governor Noem says the state’s current projections show up to 30% of South Dakota’s population will contract COVID-19 over the next few months. However, she says 80% of people infected will show only minor symptoms—or none at all.
The governor says common sense needs to prevail. She calls on every South Dakotan to be responsible by staying home if sick and taking other precautionary actions.
Noem is signing an executive order with further guidance to businesses, healthcare providers and communities. She plans to release that guidance later today.
Sioux Falls to Consider Closures
Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken recommends that the city board of health shut down some businesses to curb the spread of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The board of health’s actions may depend on an executive order expected from Governor Noem later today. Mayor TenHaken maintains anything less than statewide action to restrict business activity has limited effects.
“So for instance if we do something in the 80 square miles of Sioux Falls, I don’t govern Tea, I don’t govern Harrisburg, Hartford, Renner, Brandon.”
Over the weekend, the governor said enforcing business closures is up to local authorities. By Monday, she announced the upcoming executive order that will have guidance for businesses, healthcare providers, and communities. Barring a state mandate, TenHaken says data supports his recommendation to the city Board of Health.
“As of today, with confirmed community spread now in Beadle County, we’re at that point. I will be making a recommendation from the city to that Board of Health to recommend that they take that step.”
The city’s health board is scheduled to meet Tuesday afternoon. Sioux Falls Public Health Director Jill Franken says the board’s action is dependent on the governor’s executive order.
“The board may be asked to consider the mandatory closures of nightclubs and bars that do not serve food, video lottery casinos, movie theaters, live performance centers…(FADE OUT AS LIST CONTINUES).”
The possible closings on the table may create other issues. Mayor TenHaken says they include food insecurity, unemployment, and housing.
“So in some way there’s a little bit of a swap that we’re gonna have to deal with with public health crises. Either way, we’re gonna have challenges.”
The mayor says an update on business resources is scheduled for Tuesday as well.
Sanford and Avera Now Processing COVID-19 Tests
Avera and Sanford Health will now process COVID-19 test results from their labs in Sioux Falls. Up to this point, all tests have gone to the state lab in Pierre or Avera’s out-of-state contract lab for processing.
A release from Avera Health says their additional site can process up to 200 tests each day. A release from Sanford says its site will process up to 400 tests a day, with plans to double that capacity in coming weeks.
Both systems will report test results to state officials so they can continue monitoring COVID-19 cases in South Dakota.
The out-of-state commercial lab is still available for overflow and lower priority tests.
Staff Added to Process Unemployment Claims
Governor Kristi Noem says the state will add staff and phone lines to its unemployment call center. The center is seeing increased claims because of the coronavirus pandemic. Noem says the call center typically operates with 11 people. They’ll bring in 16 more workers. The center has about 90 phone lines and will add about 20 more.
“Many of the claimants that we’re seeing are first-time users of the system, they’re unfamiliar with the process, but know that we are working to get as many lines up and going and getting more staff online to respond to the unemployment requests that we are getting.”
Thursday the state will release its first set of unemployment claims since the pandemic hit South Dakota. People who’ve lost work as a result, may be eligible for benefits for 26 weeks.
To limit phone wait times, claimants are urged to file online at raclaims.sd.gov. Those without internet access may call (605) 626-3212.
Huron Enacts Emergency Shutdown
Huron is enforcing a city-wide emergency ordinance. Outside of essential businesses and carry-out services, buildings are closed. The decision was made Sunday to have the emergency ordinance go into effect at midnight Monday morning.
Huron Public Information Officer Mark Johnson says both Huron and Beadle County commissions met Sunday afternoon.
He says notification was received from the Department of Health and Governor Kristi Noem’s office on Sunday that Beadle County had six new confirmed cases of COVID-19. From there, both county and city officials have responded in an attempt to slow the overall spread of the virus in the area.
Public places that offer food and beverages for off-site consumption, including grocery stores, markets, convenience stores, pharmacies, drug stores, or other types of emergency facilities will remain open.
As of Monday afternoon, Beadle County has a total of twelve confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Catholic Diocese Closes Doors to Large Gatherings
South Dakota’s Places of worship have closed their doors to large gatherings of people in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19 and have opted for online congregations instead. Donald DeGrood is the Bishop-elect of the Catholic Dioceses in Sioux Falls.
DeGrood says they paid attention to data coming out about the coronavirus and watched reactions across the world.
“These are unprecedented times and it requires unprecedented decisions by leaders, not only in the government and healthcare and health departments, but even in the faith based congregants. How do we best care for those who are most vulnerable?”
DeGrood says the faith community is like a family and the needed restrictions have created hardship in many areas. He says he encourages his priests to develop creative ways to communicate with parishioners while still safeguarding their health.