South Dakota US Representative Dusty Johnson urges state residents to help get COVID 19 under control.
Johnson says he wants to keep the state’s schools open and the economy growing.
But he adds that colder weather, increasing cases and overwhelmed hospitals make it more important than ever to implement best practices to control the spread.
“South Dakotans have always believed in personal responsibility,” Johnson says. “That means the three W’s. Wash your hands. Watch your distance. And wear a mask. If we all step up we’ll be able to keep our state healthy, our schools open and our economy growing.”
The governors of North Dakota and Iowa recently implemented mask mandates in their states.
Governor Kristi Noem’s senior policy advisor Maggie Seidel says “mask mandates, harsh lockdowns, massive testing and contact tracing haven’t worked” in other Midwestern states.
South Dakota has the second highest death rate in the country for the month of November, according to data compiled by SDPB.
-Contact SDPB reporter Lee Strubinger by email.
