Governor Kristi Noem has been bragging since spring about flattening the coronavirus curve.
Oh, and add an even taller bar to that graph, which DOH hasn’t updated since Thursday. We set a new record Saturday for daily positive cases, 579:
There have now been 51 deaths reported in September, the deadliest month of the pandemic. Of the two new deaths reported, both victims were men. One was listed in the 70-79 age range and the other man was 80+. The victims were from Codington and Pennington counties.
On Saturday, there were 579 new coronavirus cases announced, bringing the state’s total positive case count to 21,133, up from Friday (20,554). There have now been 17,173 recovered cases, up from Friday (16,831).
Active cases increased to 3,742 from Friday (3,507). That’s the highest number of active cases the state has ever seen.
Current hospitalizations rose to 213, up from Friday (194). Total hospitalizations, which include only South Dakota residents, are now at 1,434 up from Friday (1,400) [Marissa Lute, “Covid-19 in SD: 579 New Positive Cases; Death Toll Rises to 218; Active Cases at 3,742,” KELO-TV, 2020.09.26].
Since Noem’s Freedom™ and Shotguns Plan appears to have quit working over a month ago, should we try something else?
Governor Noem was never reading all the science, and she’s too busy shootin‘ and ridin‘ and runnin’ for 2024 to read any science nowadays, but I’ll keep offering her scientists say we could reduce the strain coronavirus is placing on our people and schools and hospitals by following the example of New Zealand:
Adopting a “zero-COVID” strategy like in New Zealand should be considered by governments around the world as the most effective method of fighting the coronavirus, scientists have said.
In a review published in the journal Lancet, a team of international experts outlined the key lessons learned from experiences of other countries in tackling the disease.
The authors wrote: “The argument is strong for countries adopting a so-called zero-COVID strategy, which aims to eliminate domestic transmission.
“The New Zealand experience shows that this strategy is challenging but is an important aspiration, not least as the growing burden of so-called long COVID becomes apparent in people who have survived COVID-19 but continue to have symptoms for longer than expected.”
…In the Lancet paper, the scientists also laid out four key factors they think should be considered in any lockdown exit strategies:
- An effective test, trace, isolate and support system;
- A clear plan with a transparent decision-making process from the government;
- Robust systems to closely monitor the infection situation before easing restrictions;
- Prolonged control measures to reduce coronavirus transmission – including face masks and social distancing [Jason Goodyer, “Argument for New Zealand-Style Zero-Covid Strategy Strong, Experts Say,” BBC Science Focus, 2020.09.25].
New Zealand, population 5.1 million, reports two new cases of coronavirus today, both arrivals from overseas. New Zealand reports 59 active cases nationwide; that’s one case per 100,000 population, compared to South Dakota’s rate of 420 per 100,000.
Super Spreader.
Kristi Noem is still avoiding steps to stop the spread. Governors took action in Florida, Georgia and Texas when things got bad like this. Those three states have now beaten back the virus to a fraction of what it was, with masks and distancing. But not here. We’re going for broke. If our numbers get any worse, we may even be banned from travel to many areas. And we’ll be rightfully blamed for spread beyond our border.
South Dakota may soon be seen as Kristi’s… Super Spreader State.
But…. just yesterday, Florida’s Republican governor decided to go the other way again. To open up quickly and lessen mask requirements. I guess he knows that their numbers won’t get out of control again until after most Floridians have voted. He just won’t learn.
I am not a Democrat but I realize the Republican Party can’t be saved with Trump at the helm. Vote em all out.
Sunday the 23rd Aug, my husband got a call from his best friend – his friend was positive. I took my husband to the ER in Deadwood and because he’s had prior heart attacks and he’s a diabetic they took x-rays of his lungs, while we waited. He had it. So, I made an appointment for my daughter to get tested, negative. Eight days later, I was calling an ambulance for her…tested positive. She was stabilized and got to come home. I tested the 25th but within 3 days I actually had it. We spent the next 3 weeks in hell. I had 103-104 fevers with full rigors, he couldn’t stay awake; the exhaustion was debilitating. If we didn’t have two of our adult children with us, I don’t know what we would’ve done. We’re still recouping. We did everything right and continue to do so. I believe the Rally is what did us in. Hardly any visitor wore masks and seemingly no one cared. I pray you Cory remain healthy and anyone reading this, remains healthy. I have Fibromyalgia, liver issues, thyroid autoimmune and how we avoided the hospital, only G-d knows.
This is SD where that graph is “flat,” Kristi is “smart,” Thune and Rounds are “principled,” tax cuts pay for everything, China pays the tariffs, Mexico pays for walls and “herd mentality” will be the cure. When I retired, I thought I was “coming home” to the state I had left, but I sure wish I would have paid closer attention. WAKE UP, PEOPLE! !@#%^&*
Thank you Hadassah Miller for that personal account of what this “flu” can mean to a family. A few days ago Cory shared the enlightening remarks Sen Jensen made regarding COVID in the Women’s Prison. Jensen observed that COVID is not a death sentence and the chances that any of those infected might die of the disease is “extremely minimal”.
The point is that reasonable precautions have been shown to be effective in preventing the spread of COVID and that death is not the only negative consequence of failing to prevent it. Ms. Miller, I am terribly sorry for you and your family having to endure that month of “hell” as you described it. South Dakota was in the fortunate position of being able to watch the effects of the virus as it spread through other parts of the US and the world. We should have known better than to allow our people to suffer – even if they manage to survive – but our leaders let us down.
Good health to you and yours, Ms Miller. Been quite the nastiest hoax ever, imho.
Well, to be fair, Kristi’s planning to leave South Dakota as soon as she can, so why should she take care of a bunch of losers who don’t deserve her enlightened leadership style?
if you look at the larger counties in eastern SD, Brookings seems to be the only county doing OK. With all those college students in Brookings, that is amazing. I would have to say Brookings mask mandate has made an impact. Brookings County 7 day average has been very consistent (and low) for the last 2 weeks.
The “long haul” survivors were an unexpected Covid-19 cohort. They’ve been suffering with the virus for months. They’re home and they’re very weak, bad headaches, pain, feverish, vision problems, can’t work, dizziness. It’s not going away.
No one knows how long they will be sick. How are we going to help them make ends meet?