Department of Health Posts 7 New Cases
Seven new COVID-19 cases bring the state's total to 108. Of those, one patient has died and 44 have fully recovered.
There is one new case each in Kingsbury, Lincoln and Yankton counties. Minnehaha has four new cases, for a total of 31. That’s the highest county total so far. The Department of Health notes there is NOT a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Butte County as it reported yesterday. That individual actually resides in Lawrence County.
Brown and Marshall counties are now showing minimal to moderate community spread of the disease.
City Leaders Discuss Options After Bill Fails
City leaders around the state are discussing options to address the COVID-19 outbreak. The discussion comes after House lawmakers failed to pass a bill to give cities and counties emergency authority.
The bill had support from the mayors of Rapid City and Sioux Falls, as well as the municipal league. It would have let counties pass emergency and temporary ordinances to support public health.
Without that state guidance, Sioux Falls mayor Paul TenHaken says he doesn’t know what cities and counties can do. TenHaken says he’s talked with three different mayors. They’re crafting city ordinances and TenHaken says they’re looking to Sioux Falls for guidance.
“That’s not my job, man, I’ll be honest with you,” TenHaken says. “I’m the mayor of this city, okay. I’m not the mayoral alliance leader for the state. But I’m finding myself in that position because other mayors are hungry for direction. They’re hungry for some leadership on this issue.”
Mayors of some of the state’s largest cities will meet with the state municipal league to figure out how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
Governor Kristi Noem says her office drafted some of the legislation, but lawmakers rejected it. In the end, the governor opposed the effort saying it shortened the process that cities and counties use to create emergency ordinances to close businesses. The Governor insists she has broad emergency powers, but she has chosen not to order statewide business closures.
“I will use every authority that I have available to me and I clearly laid out what my intentions and directions are for the state of South Dakota in my executive order that I put out previously.”
A spokesperson for the governor says they’re encouraging business innovation and local control.
Two Residents at Sioux Falls Long-Term Care Facility Test Positive
Two residents at a long-term care facility in Sioux Falls have tested positive for COVID-19, despite a lockdown on visitors.
Avera confirms the cases and reports the residents at the Prince of Peace Retirement Community went into isolation as soon as they exhibited symptoms. Neither residents need hospitalization at this time.
In a statement, Avera representatives say they have not permitted visitors for more than two weeks, and believe an employee may have transmitted the disease. Avera has been screening employees and residents daily, but people can carry the virus without showing symptoms. With significant community spread in Minnehaha County, people may not know they’ve been exposed to the virus.
Avera says it will continue to follow all federal and state guidelines and work with state health officials to protect residents and staff.
Allender Comments on Lack of Unity in South Dakota Efforts
Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender says South Dakota is not unified in efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus. His comment comes the day after legislators defeated a last-minute bill granting additional emergency authorities to cities and counties.
Allender joined a meeting with other mayors and the South Dakota Municipal League to discuss further options, but left early in order to give his daily press briefing this afternoon. He didn’t yet know of a consensus, but he offered his opinion of the situation.
“I think the cities and counties have been absolutely left on their own, and so it’s [up to] us to realize that rather than complaining about it we should get to work and see how we can improve the situation.”
Like other mayors, Allender says he’s received an influx of complaints from citizens who feel their employers are putting them at risk by staying open. He says those people should consider quitting.
“Imagine if your boss decided to bring into the workplace a pet grizzly bear and you felt threatened by it. What should you do? Go home!”
A Rapid City ordinance closing certain businesses went into effect on Friday. The full ordinance is available on the city’s website under “COVID-19 Updates.”