KELO-TV notes that, two weeks after lifting its mask mandate, and after two consecutive weekends of hosting high school basketball tournaments, Sioux Falls is surging back toward September levels of coronavirus:
After two months of declining case counts, February stopped the decline at a 7-day average low of 41 cases. That was the lowest 7-day average of new cases since the middle of August 2020.
Since that low mark, new coronavirus cases are rising again in Sioux Falls. The 7-day average has more than doubled in the last month up to 88.3 cases per day. In that same span, the positivity rate of COVID-19 tests has remained above 20% in Sioux Falls.
The numbers in March 2021 match closely with the case counts in September 2020 [Eric Mayer, “Sioux Falls Experiencing an Increase in Covid-19 Cases,” KELO-TV, 2021.03.25].
Mayor Paul TenHaken tells KELO-TV the uptick is “slight” and hospitalizations are “well under control,” but the CDC says Sioux Falls is still a South Dakota hotspot. The White House Covid-19 Team’s March 25 Covid-19 Community Profile Report shows Minnehaha and Lincoln counties as “sustained hotspots,” suggesting Sioux Falls had no business taking its masks off this month:
Coronavirus cases in Sioux Falls jumped 53%, notably higher than most of the “select high burden core-based statistical areas” highlighted in the March 25 report:
Mayor TenHaken can express relief that Sioux doesn’t rank among the top ten in its population category for coronavirus hospitalizations and deaths. He is right that coronavirus isn’t swamping the hospitals: Sioux Falls and surrounding southeast South Dakota counties saw only 2 to 3 covid admissions per 100 beds over the past week, compared with 4 to 5 per 100 beds around Aberdeen and 6 to 10 around Watertown. But all three of those areas saw more than a 26% increase in hospitalizations last week:
In goodish news, that report states there are no more red states on the White House’s rating scale combining cases, hospitalizations, and test positivity. But two states remain at Threat Level Orange, South Dakota and New Jersey:
And there are more green states than not-green states:
South Dakota is orange; Minnesota is light green; tell me again, Minnesotans, why you would want to merge with us?
Given these figures, Sioux Falls might want to reconsider the wisdom of removing its masks. We’re not out of the woods yet; we still need to give time for everyone to get their shots and for those shots to do their work. Mask up, stay home.
https://www.vox.com/recode/22340744/covid-19-coronavirus-testing-vaccines-rapid-home-antigen
If masks don’t help prevent the spread, what is the mayor blaming the increase on?
We don’t want Minnesota to merge with us! Write your congressmen, people. Urge them to vote no. Tomorrow at the Conservatives with Common Sense breakfast grudznick will deliver the Opening Rant on why Minnesotians need to stay over on their side.
Why the increase? People are dumb, greedy and selfish. They don’t give a damn about anyone besides themselves. They do stupid things. Where government is incapable of leading with science, these traits lead to suicide by stupid. My feeling is I hope they all die fast.
Grudzilla and his cosmic other half, Jen-zilla are bound and determined to keep others out. I wonder if they understand in-breeding and how it is caused and what effects it has on humans.Not that I would insult the trolls by suggesting they may be human.
Great post and comments! Thanks.
Texas is showing us that opening up and unmasking too early is BAD for business. Conferences are cancelling. Hotels, restaurants, are suffering more from the poor, unscientific decisions.
https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/25/conventions-texas-mask-mandate/
The virus is waiting patiently. What are a few more deaths for freedom from masks? Take them all off Republicans, but please stay amongst yourselves. There can be positives from this pandemic.
MFI-when you mention ‘inbreeding’, for some quirky, kharmalike reason Grudz and like come to mind! They might be right at home in the Georgia GOP voter suspending-law
signing under the picture of a slave labored plantation Thursday1
The mayor has the same attitude as COVID Kristi, as long as we have hospital capacity, go ahead and get sick. Silly me though the whole idea was to prevent people from getting sick. Sort of like saying one might as well break a leg tonight because we have the hospital capacity. No, the idea is to try not breaking your leg. The idea is to STAY HEALTHY… unless I am missing something. (disclaimer – I am not a doctor, so what do I know?) Sheesh!
Doctors and Thieves, they both wear masks. Overpaid meat-magicians.
I went into Harbor Freight in Sioux Falls.
Two large signs on the door.
Masks Required for Entry. I went in with my mask on and there were at least 6 people in the store w/o masks.
I found the manager and asked him why he allowed that and I was told “I can’t do anything about it”
One guy w/o a mask walked by and called me Karen.
I looked at him and said that he is either REAL special or he couldn’t read.
And…He didn’t look to special to me.
I wound up in an argument with Harbor Freights customers over the mask policy
that they weren’t enforcing.
Harbor Freights corporate website says ALL stores enforce masks.
Oh, ya….I almost forgot , this is South Dakota.
Maybe the dumass really couldn’t read.
Pretty lame of me to misspell dumbass
Huh?
I don’t understand what the big deal is with wearing a mask. New cases in the US have risen considerably this last week. Apparently not enough people gasping for air yet to take seriously.
Nix, Jen-zilla, the spelling police hasn’t reared its ugly head today so grant yourself some poetic license and let your feelings dictate the way you put your thoughts out.
Thank you MFI.
Nix got called a Karen. I was, too, recently. Being called that in the context of wearing masks is an indication that the caller is totally indoctrinated by Fox News. The term Karen designates a woman who seems entitled or demanding beyond the scope of what is normal. It comes from the character of Karen in the movie “Mean Girls.” But some commentators on Fox News don’t know that. They think a Karen is a wuss.
The stupid rectum, or dumbass, as Nix calls it, probably couldn’t read. Or perform any other task that requires a modicum of mind. It can only emit gas from ingesting Fox News.
Jake, my take on a certain troll and his thoughts about in bred is in bred might be a place he would put his gravy taters….sorta like a pita pocket. Heaven knows all that greasy gravy can’t be good for one’s brain cells..
Just when Mrs Bear and I decided to go to SF for a COSTCO visit !!
Good goin’, Nix!
Grudz doesn’t wear a mask, it is a good day!
Sidney Powell fraud that she is said it best: “Nobody in their right mind would believe my election fraud claims.”
Which is to say that millions of Americans weren’t and aren’t in their “right minds,” and that takes in a lot of territory beyond election fraud claims, extending to Noem’s fatalism when it comes to this pandemic.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/03/sidney-powells-defamation-defense-nobody-in-their-right-mind-would-believe-my-election-fraud-claims?fbclid=IwAR0rE8yTE9eoIbZirC3wFOm8Mk3YPo1Cj1karzor1_9B1-SwSYdnQd_G0zw
The mayor folded like a cheap suit who bowed to pressure from the mask now look at the numbers.
So grudz, who ya gonna go to when your gall bladder goes south or your skin starts erupting?? Elk Man???
Yes, Mr. Blundt, I will call your Elk Man, and he will waft some sage smoke and cure all that ails me. Unless he is a plastic shaman, of course, and there are plenty of those about.
I compare the covid outbreak to a drag race. You don’t let off the gas until you cross the finish line. They put a parachute in the trunk for a reason. Keep following guidelines until the outbreaks end. Seems simple enough. I have noticed that when the mandate was in place most people wore masks in Sioux Falls, I would even say that I rarely saw people with NOT one on. Yesterday when I was shopping it was about 75% usage. Even if the the mandate had no teeth, it was working and most people abided.
So Mr. Lewis, claim there is a toothless mandate, and those about you will wear the masks. grudznick has told people for months to stay home, stop frolicking about. That goes for you too, Mr. Lewis. Mask or not, the best and safest thing you can do for your ownself and for my good friends in the Sioux Falls town is stop frolicking about and stay home.
I already had Covid, and I am vaccinated. I wear the mask at this point to be respectful.