South Dakota Positives Reach 101
South Dakota now has more than one hundred confirmed cases of COVID-19. The latest update from the state Department of Health shows 101 cases—an increase of 11 since Sunday.
The state total includes 34 people who have fully recovered and one death.
Butte and Marshall Counties are reporting their first cases of COVID-19. Clark, Turner and Yankton Counties are now determined to have minimal to moderate community spread. That means at least one of the positive cases in that county cannot be traced to known exposure.
New Pennington County COVID-19 Case Not at Related to Monument Health
State Department of Health Officials say a new case of COVID-19 in Pennington County is NOT linked to a Monument Health caregiver who tested positive last week.
Monument Health estimates more than 100 employees and patients may have had contact with the caregiver in its Rapid City facility. State epidemiologist Josh Clayton refused to say how many of those individuals have yet been contacted or tested.
“That’s all part of the ongoing investigation and not something we’d release on a call.”
Clayton says the patients and workers identified so far are advised to quarantine for 14 days and watch for symptoms. Those individuals will only receive testing if symptoms arise.
“Individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 cases are not recommended for testing unless those individuals themselves develop symptoms. Just because a person may have been exposed does not mean that they will go on to develop illness.”
The CDC says COVID-19 symptoms can appear anywhere from two to 14 days after exposure. Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If symptoms arise, individuals can call their healthcare provider to determine if they should be tested. Regardless of test results, officials encourage anyone who’s ill to stay home.
Judicial State of Emergency Operations
The South Dakota Supreme Court has declared a judicial emergency for the state. The declaration lets judges relax some deadlines and filing rules.
Neil Fulton is Dean of the School of Law at the University of South Dakota. He says the supreme court has also delegated the ability to direct local operations in their courts.
“What the state courts are trying to do is keep everything moving forward as best they can, realizing that you have to prioritize. So the supreme court and most of the circuits have prioritized, first and foremost, criminal cases where defendants are in custody. If you are charged with a criminal case you have a statutory and constitutional right to be tried in a speedy fashion.”
Fulton says civil cases are important but don’t have the same pressures as criminal matters. He says many judges are using phone and video conferences to handle civil matters.
Fulton says anyone affected by COVID-19 can file for a continuance.
South Dakota Special Olympics Games Cancelled
The Special Olympics State Summer Games are cancelled for the year because of the coronavirus pandemic. A statement from the Vermillion Area Chamber of Commerce says they expected nearly a thousand people for the games in late May.
Special Olympics South Dakota President Darryl Nordquist says they are sad about canceling this summer’s event, but will look forward to next year.
Vermillion will host the games next year, rather than moving next year’s games to Spearfish as originally planned. Special Olympics International decided the future is still too uncertain to reschedule the event later this year.
State Parks Remain Open
There are restrictions on business activity around the state to reduce transmission of the coronavirus. However, state officials say South Dakota’s parks and outdoor recreation areas are open.
South Dakota Game Fish and Parks secretary Kelly Hepler says they’ve modified some of the park operations.
"We don’t have people manning the stations, so we’re letting people go in, don’t need a park pass. Once we are back up and running again, come back in a buy a park pass, so this is a grace period. We don’t have our comfort stations open, but we do have all our potties are open for people to use. Certainly all the trails are open. Around here in Pierre we have the shooting range and archery range, and that’s true in a lot of the places around the state. We don’t have some of the popular places like the outdoor campuses. Those are closed, just for the benefit of the public."
Hepler says it’s also a great time for fishing in South Dakota. He says anglers are catching walleye and pike. He reminds people to abide by the CDC guidelines - to minimize numbers and avoid groups.
The agency is actively cleaning the amenities at parks, like picnic tables and bathrooms. However, people are encouraged to regularly wash their hands and use good hygiene if they are spending time in the outdoors.