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TenHaken Gently Urges Sioux Falls to Get a Grip on Coronavirus Surge

Kristi Noem’s Freedom™ isn’t keeping coronavirus down in Sioux Falls. On Saturday, the city reported 61 new cases, the highest tally since May 11.

Mayor Paul TenHaken had to roll out happy talk to gently coax his subjects not to behave recklessly:

Mayor Paul TenHaken, tweets on coronavirus surge in Sioux Falls, 2020.07.25
Mayor Paul TenHaken, tweets on coronavirus surge in Sioux Falls, 2020.07.25

I’m surprised to see hygiene has turned into a verb. I’m also surprised to see that “be nice to people” has joined the list of CDC recommendations for containing a pandemic.

But I’m mostly surprised at the disjoint between the pandering praise and the grim reality in TenHaken’s statement. If coronavirus is surging, then Sioux Falls residents apparently have not done a “great job managing spread.” Saturday’s counts aren’t just a reminder of just how quickly “things” can change; those unnamed “things” are personal behavior, residents choosing to behave recklessly, make unnecessary contact, not wear masks, and thus spread the disease. “Things” here is like the passive voice of admin-speak, avoiding naming the responsible parties.

Coronavirus doesn’t just happen; people spread it… or they choose not to spread it by taking the mayor’s and the CDC’s advice seriously and staying home or, when they can’t, staying apart and wearing masks.

Related Counterproductive Messaging: Meanwhile, Governor Kristi Noem is undermining Mayor TenHaken’s messaging by not social distancing and not wearing a mask.

13 Comments

  1. mike from iowa

    Let’s get this straight, this is the guy who attended an indoor rodeo where people weren’t required to wear masks or social distance?

    This is the guy who was so attentive to Covid Calamity Kristie Noem Nothing where neither wore masks or social distanced because masks and cautionary behavior is for Sissies?

    That guy?

  2. Eve Fisher

    TenHaken handed over all responsibility the day that he tried to get a stay-at-home order and Gov. Noem told him he didn’t have the authority, only the city council did, and the city council said we can’t do that, we have to keep businesses open, and TenHaken folded like a wet tent. He’s mayor, but he doesn’t believe he has any power, and so won’t try to get any. Shame, isn’t it.

  3. mike from iowa

    Coronavirus Cases:
    4,418,377
    Deaths:
    150,232

    Two more milestones today. Like to see the stable genius (cleverly made up as a freaking moron with orange skin) count to 150k by original 15 covid cases.

  4. Amazing when something comes up the ten folds like a cheap suit. Can we do better than this guy.

  5. Jim Moreno

    Would bet big money he doesn’t know or care about the recent COVID19 incident at Josiah’s Cafe. An employee there tested positive for coronavirus and worked for a week exposing co-workers and guests. The owners purposely didn’t inform the employees until almost another week later. They still haven’t made it public, nor have they closed for cleaning. Despicable.

  6. mike from iowa

    Today’s body count is way worser than yesterday’s…..

    Coronavirus Cases:
    4,456,878
    Deaths:
    151,584

    China had three more covid hotspots reported today, as well.

  7. Jim Moreno

    I have something better than documentation: an actual person who was involved with the incident.

  8. mike from iowa

    We have eclipsed 152k bodies for drumpf’s body count and, likely to sail past 4.5 Million cases this day.
    \

    Coronavirus Cases:
    4,484,690
    Deaths:
    152,030

  9. denature

    Haven’t heard about Josiah’s, but I do know of three bars in Sioux Falls that temporarily closed this week.

  10. Ellen

    Looks like only going to get worse with Universities opening and the school system if they continue to follow Noem instead of science.

  11. Sherri

    2 stylists at our salon tested positive. We did not close either. But we called the health dept and they just said to step up the sanitation and take our temp daily. They did not recommend closing and we trust them to know more than the average person.

  12. Sherri, would you care to let us know which salon that is so we can stay clear for a couple weeks?

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