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Local COVID-19 Headlines: March 25

41 Positive Cases Now Identified in South Dakota

South Dakota now has 41 positively identified cases of COVID-19, up from 30 on Tuesday. That includes one new case in Brown county, and the first reported cases in Meade and Lincoln Counties.

Minnehaha County saw the biggest jump, with a new total of 13 cases. Minnehaha County is now listed to have significant community spread, meaning people who test positive for COVID-19 can’t trace their exposure to a definite source.

Governor Kristi Noem encourages South Dakotans to focus on the good things. She says the country can rally around it’s common enemy, the coronavirus.

“It is okay to be uncertain at times,” Noem says. “But at the same time, we must pour ourselves into our families, into our neighbors, and into our communities. People are afraid—they are worried and some may be losing hope. My message to you is to hang in there. We will get through this and we will persevere. So, even if it’s just for a little bit today, would you please consider taking a step back. Press a pause. Go for a walk. Just be quiet for today and really reflect on the good things that we do have.”

The numbers updated shortly after Noem gave her statement to the press. She also praised the ongoing hard work of state employees and cabinet members. She did not take questions.

Lawmakers to Hold a Virtual Veto Day

In response to the coronavirus, state lawmakers will convene electronically for the last legislative day of the session. Lawmakers will also consider overriding any gubernatorial vetoes.

Next Monday, only a handful of leaders from both parties and both chambers will meet in person at the state capitol. That group will include the Speaker of the House, president of the Senate—and the lieutenant governor. The other 99 legislators are asked to stay home and participate electronically. Lawmakers will have to suspend the rules to vote remotely. The Legislative Research Council is setting up phone lines for lawmakers… One for each party in each chamber.

Senate President Pro Tempore Brock Greenfield is a Republican from Clark. He says the decision to handle the last day remotely, was partly prompted by the number of federal lawmakers who’ve been exposed to the coronavirus.

“We don’t want that to happen in our state, by doing something that’s less than wise,” Greenfield says. “I’m hopeful that in short order we will be beyond this. Until we get beyond it, it’s a very serious matter that needs to be given the respect that it deserves.”

Greenfield says it would be irresponsible for the legislature to convene in person and ignore CDC guidelines that recommend limited contact and social distancing. Already, one state lawmaker has tested positive for coronavirus. Representative Bob Glanzer of Huron is recovering in the hospital.

Governor Kristi Noem has issued two vetoes on bills to resolve technical problems. Noem says the bills violate the constitution by taking on more than one subject. In her veto letter, Noem says sone of the affected agencies affected were consulted in the legislation.

Volunteers Create Care Packages for Elders

With recommendations to stay at home because of the pandemic, it’s tough for elderly people to keep stocked up on household supplies. To help, volunteers in Rapid City are putting care packages together.

Sunny Red Bear and her partner are delivering supplies to seniors in predominantly Native communities.

“We’re starting in Lakota Homes and after today we’ll reach about 55 homes so far.”

Their project started about a week ago. Packages include canned goods, grooming and cleaning supplies.

“Our goal is just to continue to take in donations and at least to have our elder have a start up package of things that they are are going to need during this time in quarantine because a lot of the supplies out there is very limited and then also they don’t necessarily have the transportation or the capability of going out there themselves and getting these things.”

Red Bear says this can be a lonely time for elders and they want this effort to remind them they matter. Nikkole Bostnar is Sunny’s partner. She says only they handle all packages and deliveries. They wear gloves and take precautions to keep recipients safe.

“Everybody has been super grateful with what we’ve been giving them. Sunny and I have just tried to focus on essentials for a household. We visited a few elders who hadn’t left their house in about seven days. So we just want to make sure that they have things that we would personally use in our homes.”

Bostnar says people nominate elders to receive a care package on Facebook, then send in the names and addresses for deliveries.

“We just want to make sure that our elders are taken care of. A lot of elders, especially in the Native American community are normally raising their grandkids and their great grand kids. So a lot of them are in need of more supplies.”

The women are working with a non-profit that will cover any taxes on monetary donations. If possible, they may also consider recurring deliveries for elders.

Congressional Rescue Package

Congress has agreed on a 2-trillion-dollar aid package to rescue the economy from the coronavirus pandemic. Business owners want to know how to access the money. The answer is through local banks.

The Congressional deal includes a reported 350 billion dollars for loans to small businesses. South Dakota Republican Congressman Dusty Johnson says the loans will provide up to eight weeks of operating cash for payroll, utilities, and rent or mortgage payments. Loans spent on those items will be forgiven. Johnson says the US Small Business Administration will use banks to distribute the money.

“The good news is this is really designed to work with their local lenders. There’s just no way SBA or the Department of the Treasury would be able to move 350 billion dollars out onto the street as quickly as we need it out there.”

There is some fear the money may come too late for local businesses. Experts at Georgetown Law are predicting it could take two months for small business owners to get the loans. Johnson thinks it’ll happen more quickly. And he thinks local banks will fill the void.

“I do think there will be a lot of lenders that will provide bridge financing knowing that help is on the way, that these federal loan guarantees are coming in a matter of days.”

Bankers are weighing that option. Curt Everson is with the South Dakota Bankers Association.

“I think the best advice is if they’ve got questions, communications between businesses and their lenders sooner than later is a good idea.”

Among other items in the rescue package, aid will go to farmers and ranchers through the U-S Department of Ag. Laid-off workers will receive their money through state unemployment offices.

More than 100 Potentially Exposed in Rapid City Cancer Unit

Roughly 100 high-risk cancer patients and 12 healthcare providers may have been exposed to COVID-19 in Rapid City. A Monument Health caregiver tested positive for the disease after recently traveling outside of the state. The Meade County resident’s test result came back positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

Monument Health President and CEO Paulette Davidson says the health system immediately enacted protocol to protect their employees and patients.

We are being very careful to identify anyone who may have possibly been exposed. We think it’s around 10 caregivers, two physicians, and potentially 100 patients.”

Davidson says Monument provided that list to the state Department of Health, which is reaching out to those individuals. Davidson briefly addressed Monument’s travel policy at this time:

“There isn’t a policy for leaving the Black Hills. However, there are policies for leaving the country.”

The caregiver who tested positive did travel recently, but only within the United States.

Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender says this level of possible exposure is likely to continue if people don’t take the virus seriously.

“That’s an unfortunate but a very predictable scenario. It’s not time to go on vacation. It’s not time to even go across the state line. it’s time to get in your bubble, take care of you and yours. And just write these things on your door to stay 6 feet away from human beings and wash your hands. The same thing you tell your two-year olds when you’re trying to teach them good habits: wash your hands. Often.”

The Rapid City Council is voting on Friday whether to enact an ordinance closing many non-essential businesses.

Monument Health closed its hospitals and clinics to visitors starting Wednesday morning, with limited exceptions.

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