SD Schools to Remain Closed Through Early May
Governor Noem recommends that all k-12 school districts remain closed until early May. She says that course of action offers consistency in the approach to educating South Dakota students during the pandemic.
The governor says she’s open to reevaluate school closings in May. But until then—schools are closed.
“With a virus that we’re still learning about and still getting information on, we’re going to make sure we’re making good decisions by keeping kids out of the schools and doing distance learning until May first, and then we’ll reevaluate and keep everyone updated as to what the decision will be towards the end of the year.”
Noem says keeping schools closed will help limit the spread of coronavirus. Extending the timeframe gives districts more time to develop remote learning systems.
“Those school administrators have been communicating with us, and school board members, on how to do that and the flexibility that they need to be able to do that district by district.”
The governor adds federal standardized testing requirements have been waived for the current school year.
“So there will be no reporting requirements to the federal government on testing and what those scores would be at that level, but at the state I’m sure the school districts will still continue their assessments as best they can in this unique situation.”
The governor says she’s amazed at the creative ways teachers are tailoring materials to meet individual students’ needs. She encourages districts to use innovative ways to help their communities as the pandemic continues.
SDHSSA Cancels Spring Sports and Practices Through May 3
Governor Kristi Noem has recommended that all South Dakota K-12 schools close until early May. As a result, the South Dakota High School Activities Association announced the cancelation of all spring sports and activities through May 3rd.
Dan Swartos is the association’s executive director. He says the board will meet soon to decide how to handle the canceled and postponed events from winter and spring. Swartos says the two seasons had a very different experience.
Swartos: The basketball, visual arts, and all-state band that weren’t able to complete their season. With basketball they got 99% of the way through their season, and now they’re at the event to provide a resolution to that season. Where spring sports haven’t started yet, there hasn’t been any regular season to be able to determine who is in the post-season, so to me, they’re two different conversations.
Swartos expects the board to meet via teleconference either late this week or early next week.
High school baseball is technically a club sport, but under contact with the state and school districts. So it will have to follow the same rules and regulations as other sanctioned sports.
Department of Corrections Searching for 8 Escaped Inmates
State department of corrections officials are looking for eight female inmates who escaped a women's unit in Pierre yesterday evening. Nine inmates left the Pierre Community Work Center without authorization from prison staff.
Governor Kristi Noem says the nine inmates who escaped shared a unit with another inmate that has tested positive for the coronavirus.
“We don’t know if they were in close proximity to each other yet. We’ll continue to investigate that and contact all those individuals, but they were from the same unit.”
Noem says there are concerns about potential COVID-19 cases in the women’s prison.
State secretary of health Kim Malsam-Rysdon says one inmate is now in Pennington County.
“There were nine escapees—one has been located. We do not know if that person is infected.”
Malsam-Rysdon says the inmate has been tested but the results are still being processed. Both cases are under investigation.
Two New COVID-19 Cases in South Dakota, Total 30
The state Department of Health has announced two more cases of COVID-19 in South Dakota, bringing the total to 30. That number includes one death, and 8 people who have fully recovered from the disease.
Beadle County reports one new case, bringing the county total to 13. The other new case is the first diagnosed in Brookings county. Governor Noem confirms it is related to recent travel. Those two new cases are both young men - one in his 20s the other in his 30s.
State Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon says two of the state’s cases are hospitalized at this time.
Businesses Across State Adjust to Coronavirus Realities
Businesses across the state have been closing down or adjusting their everyday operations in response to the coronavirus. Mellissa Johnson is the owner of Oh My Cupcakes in Sioux Falls. Johnson says the ongoing pandemic has led to many difficult decisions in the business community about whether or not to stay open.
“Is it best to close our doors completely – to shut everything down – and then to risk people, you know, staff having financial hardship? Is it best to keep our doors open and do – you know, we’re disinfecting, we’re sanitizing, we’re socially distancing, I mean we’re doing all the things that we know we need to do – so that we can still provide joy for people? I mean, it is so hard to weigh those factors.”
Johnson says it’s important for business owners to remember why they are working and to take care of their staff first. She says high community support has helped her personally and financially.
Kimberly Tilsen-Brave Heart is Executive Chef and co-owner of Et-I-Quette Catering Company in Rapid City. Tilsen-Brave Heart says the current business environment has been very challenging. She says all of their planned events, including their cooking classes have been cancelled and many questions remain.
“It’s been really challenging navigating these new waters and – what does it mean? Like is there an end time to any of this and are we gonna continue to gather in the future and what does that mean for all of us?”
Tilsen-Brave Heart says there is a sense of loss for the presentation in their craft and their relationship with local producers.
She says this reaches beyond her business and she feels for those that had to cancel large events such as weddings and business retreats but points out that doing so benefits the community in the long term.
Avera Facilities Closing to Visitors
Avera is closing its hospitals to visitors on Wednesday to protect patients and staff from coronavirus.
In a statement, Avera Chief Medical and Innovation Officer David Erickson says, “We ask for the cooperation and understanding of the public—we as a health system must act responsibly and do everything we can to minimize the spread of this virus.”
Limited visitors are allowed for end-of-life cases, the neonatal intensive care unit, and births. For example, a birthing partner is allowed as long as they pass a temperature screening and have no outward symptoms.
Avera Medical Group clinics are also asking patients not to bring guests to appointments, with some exceptions.
New Urgency for Senate to Pass Third Stimulus Package
South Dakota’s US Senators say there’s increased urgency to pass a third stimulus package after Kentucky US Senator Rand Paul tested positive for COVID 19 on Sunday.
According to Senator Mike Rounds’ spokesperson, Rounds did not sit at Senator Rand Paul’s table during lunch last week.
They say the attending physician of the senate is not recommending every senator get tested at this time. They say if that recommendation changes, Rounds will get tested.
Upon returning to South Dakota, Rounds intends to isolate himself out of an abundance of caution. Senator Rounds’ wife jean recently completed cancer treatment, which can compromise one’s immune system. Rounds says he doesn’t want to disrupt her recovery.
Senator John Thune says he’s talked with his physician in South Dakota about interactions in the senate and are taking full precautions
Both Rounds and Thune underscore the need to pass a third relief package with Senator Paul testing positive for COVID-19. That package is expected to total $2 trillion dollars.
They’re expressing urgency so members of congress can return home and distance themselves as recommended by the CDC.
Deadwood Mayor Asks Casinos to Voluntarily Shutdown
More than a thousand people who work in Deadwood’s gaming industry could soon be out of work.
Deadwood’s mayor has asked casinos to shut down temporarily to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Mike Rodman of the Deadwood Gaming Association says he’s working to coordinate a voluntary shutdown this week.
“It’s certainly going to be devastating, and so we’re of course praying this is of short duration and we can get those employees back to work.”
The Deadwood City Commission is also considering an ordinance that would formally require casinos to close. It would also restrict other kinds of businesses where people gather.