Aberdeen – I write to you again today after waking up to a message from a local physician. Our situation is serious.
I will repeat again – this is not political. Our hospitals are treading water. We need to take care of our healthcare workers.
I have always said I am not a medical expert, and I will rely on their knowledge to guide me.
I am NOT interested, and I will NOT vote to shut down businesses. But we must start having serious discussions on how we can help the hospitals. I will continue those discussions today.
I ask again on behalf of the healthcare providers who have reached out to me – for us to wear masks, wash our hands frequently, stay home if you feel sick, and social distance when possible.
Regardless if you agree with masks or not, if you are able to wear one, can you do it for our healthcare workers who have repeatedly asked us to? [Tiffany Langer, FB post, 2020.10.22]
I am contacting you as a physician. I am internal medicine trained and only work in the hospital. I work the ICU and medical floor and I have been involved in formulating much of the process and protocol changes that have occurred to prepare for our COVID surge.
I have sat on our ethics board and led discussions regarding rationing medical treatment should it become necessary, I have directed staffing and I am directly involved in the day to day operations regarding the “flow” of inpatient medicine.
I am involved in the medical executive committee meetings and meeting with our administration on a regular basis to tell them what changes are necessary to meet the needs of our region from an inpatient healthcare perspective.
If anybody has a pulse on what the situation is in Aberdeen in regards to COVID, hospitalizations, and critical care, I think I would be near the top of the list. I plan on reaching out to each of the council members on the board as I can.
Since our first COVID admission in April, we have kept records of the number of admissions we have had. Data up through 10/15 shows that we have had 108 COVID admissions with 81 discharges, 10 deaths, and as of 10/15, 17 patients remain in the hospital. We have transferred 1 patient to Sioux Falls due to the need for dialysis. We have intubated 4 patients with 2 deaths and 2 successful liberations.
It is important to note, that since August our admission rate has risen exponentially with a doubling of admissions every month. August we had 14 admissions, September 33, and now in October (half way through) there were 49. I imagine by the end of month we will have closer to 75 admissions for that month alone.
I want it to be very clear to the council members that our numbers will not peak and plateau unless there is a dramatic change in behavior by the community. I encourage you to review “Trends in COVID -19 incidence after implementation of mitigation measures — arizona, January 22-August 7 2020.”
My place of employment is treading water. We have multiple plans in place for when our surge overwhelms us and we are ready with a plan, of that, there is no doubt. However, we do not have the staff to adequately care for the surge that appears to be coming at us, unabated. I absolutely implore you to do more. The only way this wave in this region ultimately peaks, plateaus and falls is with community mitigation measures. That’s it. That’s the tweet.
I know it it seems “hard to enforce,” I know there are people who are very loud and very opposed to mandates, but if you review the data collected from the CDC in regards to Arizona, it does not lie. We do not need to reinvent the wheel here. The longer we wait, the more draconian the measures will need to be to get this thing under control [emphasis mine, unnamed Aberdeen doctor, quoted in Langer, 2020.10.22].
Today’s dreadful coronavirus numbers and the comments of Councilor Langer and the Aberdeen doctor who contacted her show that Noem’s first two statements are false. If we don’t take the action that doctor recommends and stifle this outbreak now, the third statement, to the extent that it bears any semblance to truth now, will also find its verity negated.
To put SDs new 1000 covid cases record in perspective, MN has a population of rougly 5.6 million and had 1500 new covid cases reported yesterday (MN Dept of Health website). Hey SD, congratulations, you beat MN in something finally :(
North Mississippi’s governor just doesn’t care enough.
Eve Fisher
2020-10-23 14:53
The daily update:
Today we hit 37,202 cases in South Dakota, and 9,862 active cases, and 365 deaths.
This means that, in SD, 1 out of every 24 people has or has had the virus.
1 out every 89 people is currently active.
1 out of every 2,472 people has died.
Here in Sioux Falls metro (Minnehaha and Lincoln counties, 230,000 population), we currently have 12,406 cases, 2,889 active cases, and 119 deaths.
This means that in Sioux Falls metro, 1 out of every 19 either has or has had the virus.
1 out of every 80 is currently active.
1 out of every 1,933 people has died.
Hey, Kristi! If we’re doing so dang well, why don’t you come on back to SD and hit some of the hot spots and PROVE it’s all nothing to worry about? And I don’t mean stay in your broadcasting booth in Pierre.
mike from iowa
2020-10-23 15:02
drumpf body count will easily surpass 2 more milestones today…
United States
Coronavirus Cases:
8,710,441
Deaths:
228,961
and drumpf is hoping the scotus eliminates the ACA and he has basically admitted he has no plan to replace the ACA, the pre-existing conditions clause in the ACA or people’s health insurance all the while he keeps ignoring doctor’s advice on what needs be done.
96Tears
2020-10-23 15:08
COVID Kristi? COVID Kristi? COVID Kristi?
(Pause.)
Buehler? Buehler? Buehler?
From “2020: COVID Kristi’s Year Off.”
scott
2020-10-23 15:12
“It’s not political”. Yes it is. If it wasn’t, then you’d mandate masks.
I want it to be very clear to the council members that our numbers will not peak and plateau unless there is a dramatic change in behavior by the community.
Really? So without that “dramatic change” there’d be more than a thousand new cases per day in South Dakota, forever?
There are well under a million people in South Dakota. Three years from now, would those new cases be primarily people yet to be born here, people who’ll move here, or people who’ll catch Covid-19 over and over?
Jake
2020-10-23 15:58
What saddens me most (and maddens me most) is that it seems ALL the planning is being done by the medical responders -not any to speak of by the government which is sworn to keep us safe!
She, like Trump, cannot seem to bring herself to join the cry “Wear a Mask”!! She is evidently too proud of herself and her early misguided rhetoric “Masks don’t matter” or they don’t help”! (Or too busy ‘tramping for Trump”) or fund raising in Texas. She’d best pay some attention to strong advice out of the medical science corner. Her words matter (and lack thereof).
jerry
2020-10-23 16:46
Figure it out Kurt Evans, use your math skills, then get back to us. Add to the equation, if a train leaves Sioux Falls loaded with 72 car loads of corn and 15 car loads of barley, when will the engineer get the covid and will that engineer still be in the state when contaminated? Add those two solutions together. Please work on this diligently.
sdslim
2020-10-23 16:53
So Kurt —– the infection rate and deaths are OK with you?? What is YOUR plan??
Jeff Barth
2020-10-23 17:06
I hope the Governor is happy her plan is working so well. Those of you who have been sickened, that was her plan. Those who have died, that was her plan. Her plan now is for more people to die and more people to get sick.
Covid Kristi…..
1000 dead by Christmas? Is that a sign of her continued success?
jerry
2020-10-23 17:28
So sad Kurt Evans, looks like the trump virus is just what the doctor said it would be.
“The United States hit an all-time high Friday in daily new coronavirus cases, surpassing the previous record set during a summer surge of cases across the Sun Belt.
Friday’s tally — the first above 80,000 — comes as many states break their records for new infections. The average number of covid-19 hospitalizations has jumped in at least 38 states over the past week, a trend that cannot be explained by more widespread testing, according to data tracked by The Washington Post.
Fourteen states have also reported new highs in hospitalized covid-19 patients in the past seven days: Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Iowa, Utah, Montana, West Virginia, Missouri and Kansas. Health experts say the current wave is setting the stage for an even greater surge as we head into colder months.” Washington Post 10.23.20
Wear your mask Kurt Evans and wash your mitts, it’s seriously bad out there.
Jenny
2020-10-23 17:36
In the CNN article that has her op-ed from the RC Journal, Noem writes “Our trust in the data and in each other has been rewarded”
WTH is she taking about?
David Newquist
2020-10-23 18:12
What Noem is doing is called a dereliction of duty. But the South Dakota majority of voters is getting what they want.
Debbo
2020-10-23 19:02
“So without that “dramatic change” there’d be more than a thousand new cases per day in South Dakota, forever?”
No Kurt, only for the next several months would there be 1000 newly sick per day. What a boneheaded comment. 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄
Mike Livingston
2020-10-23 21:16
Gee Whiz, we have been dealing with this since February and the most basic question is to mask. or not to mask?
Masking indisputably, increases one’s ability to resist infection and spread of the virus, so what is the defense, for defiling the common sense and science and resisting the intelligent choice?
Are you willing to risk your life and the lives of your family members and friends?
DaveFN
2020-10-23 22:51
Noem and similar are keying off statistics such as are seen in the below Wiki article (see the day-by-day “Statistics” section of the Wiki article). Noem and her ilk are indeed keeping current insofar as they see a dramatic rise in cases versus a not-as-commensurate rise in deaths. That to which they are oblivious is the death count lag following case rise. In other words they are short-sighted, tragically so, rationalizing their absence of action by tactics such as recalling the number of deaths invoked by early models which pertained to extraordinary numbers inherent to unconstrained contagion, as would be the case, indeed, if absolutely no constraints had been implemented anywhere, the latter which simply was not the case.
If you are willing to sacrifice your common man to a political mantra, what does that say about our collective view of humanity? Use a mask and follow the science, try to help your circle vote.
DaveFN
2020-10-24 04:11
Saying that wearing a mask during a pandemic is “living in fear” is like saying that wearing an oven mitt means you’re “afraid” of the oven.
—Facebook meme
james
2020-10-24 08:21
I read this morning that the US had 85,000 new COVID cases yesterday. A record.
South Dakota also had a record 1,185 cases. One in 375 Americans live here in our state. That means that if the rest of the country had as bad a COVID spike as we did, there would have been 440,000 new cases yesterday, instead of 85,000.
Kristi Noem deliberately led us here. Hold her accountable.
Daily Covid-19 cases will hit six digits soon, expert warns, as US reports a one-day high of more than 83,000 infections. from above link.
This surely ought to warm the cockles of drumpf’s and Noem Nothings’s whatevers.
96Tears
2020-10-24 10:08
COVID Kristi must be getting some provocative questions from the fat cats who attend her fundraisers in Texas and all those other states: “I see your state continues rating #1 or #2 in COVID infections. Why are you here instead of doing your job?”
Being AWOL in a crisis usually disqualifies someone for higher office.
jerry
2020-10-24 12:13
DaveFN, that quote rules the internets, with all those tubes and all.
96Tears, every Democrat needs to be in front of constituents every day saying, “Governor Noem, do your job.”
I just got a poll via text asking what my biggest issue is in this election. “education, taxes/economy, healthcare, second amendment, other”. I responded “coronavirus”. Why are legislative candidates talking about anything other than the pandemic right now? No other issue matters as much or is costing our state and nation as much right now as coronavirus.
mike from iowa
2020-10-24 13:37
drumpf”s and Noem Nothing’s secret covid plan as published on the web.
My good friend Mr. Evans can be extremely literal.
Mr. Barth, are you saying our Governor is trying to kill people? That is what I understood your typing to read.
Jake
2020-10-24 15:10
Grudz-her ability to lead ahead of a pandemic was quite evident in early March when she encouraged us to “flatten the curve. wash hands, wear masks”- but then Trumpism changed her into what she is today–denying science and wiping her hands (like Trump) of any responsibility for the increase in sick and dying in our state! Her inactions ARE killing people, Grudz!
mike from iowa
2020-10-24 17:00
Well, we passed 230k bodies for drumpf’s body count, remember the stuff that was going to magically disappear on drumpf’s say so?
Last updated: October 24, 2020, 21:56 GMT
United States
Coronavirus Cases:
8,819,311
Deaths:
230,007
grudznick
2020-10-24 17:04
Mr. Jake, re-read my question with an emphasis on the word “trying”, thinking about how I was referencing Mr. Barth’s statement about “a plan.”
grudznick is a scientist, and I have read all the science. You cannot stop the virus, you can only hope to contain it.
Eve Fisher
2020-10-24 17:37
“You cannot stop the virus, you can only hope to contain it.”
However, SD has done almost nothing to contain it. Instead, Governor Noem denied any shelter-in-place orders for Sioux Falls (or anywhere else), and has consistently refused to mandate masks. She even, when the Oglala Lakota set up checkpoints to screen people before allowing them on the reservation, (1) tried to stop them herself and then (2) sent a video of the Native American checkpoints to the feds to get the federal DOJ to stop them. (Bill Barr ignored that one.) And she has repeatedly said that “There’s nothing we can do to stop or mitigate the spread,” and continues to deny the fact that science has changed – worldwide – on masks, which says that they do help to stop the spread. (I wrote a whole response a few weeks ago about her AGAIN citing old science and showed where to find the updated pleas for masks from the very sources she was using.)
Meanwhile, we currently have 4,311 cases per 100,000, the 2nd highest in the country. Which apparently is fine with our Governor. She is not interested in containing the virus – she’s interested in pursuing her national political career.
DaveFN
2020-10-24 17:37
Noem’s attack on the press that Corey mentions is quite a piece of work.
Cited therein is a publication by Carl Heneghan, Director of the NIHR SPCR Evidence Synthesis Working Group, a collaboration of nine primary care departments across UK universities. The Noem citation is:
“Oxford’s Dr. Carl Heneghan, also the editor-in-chief of British Medical Journal Evidence-Based Medicine, says: “It would appear that despite two decades of pandemic preparedness, there is considerable uncertainty as to the value of wearing masks.” ”
Heneghan’s publication from which the citation is taken—a publication now 3 months old—goes on in the same paragraph to note:
“However, recent reviews using lower quality evidence found masks to be effective. Whilst also recommending robust randomised trials to inform the evidence for these interventions.”
Further, Heneghan goes on to note in the same opinion piece (for is it not a scientific research paper, but rather a contribution which outlines nine on-going global mask trials):
“The small number of trials and lateness in the pandemic cycle is unlikely to give us reasonably clear answers and guide decision-makers.”
Yet Noem distorts the provisional nature of Heneghan’s opinion piece anyway (that the paper by Heneghan is an opinion piece is clear: “The views expressed in this viewpoint represent the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the host institution, the NHS, the NIHR, or the Department of Health”) by forcing a conclusion which the paper does not offer and by presenting HER distortion to the public as as though it was “science.”
The Noem critique of the press as published in the RCJ also says:
“Though they’ve flipped-flopped on this issue, even the World Health Organization wrote this summer, “the widespread use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not yet supported by high quality or direct scientific evidence and there are potential benefits and harms to consider.” ”
What Noem omits/ignores are the current, 20 October 2020 updated recommendations of the WHO, namely:
“Make wearing a mask a normal part of being around other people. Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives.”
In summary, Noem and Seidel’s approach to “science” is not surprisingly to cherrypick what they want the public to believe, to fail to recognize that science evolves with evolving data, and to misrepresent that science to the public.
mike from iowa
2020-10-24 18:44
Noem Nothing’s brethren drumpf is claiming the covid Barron had just disappeared, like it all was supposed to do.
o
2020-10-24 19:42
I’m curious, scientist Grudznick, what SHOULD SD be doing to contain the virus — (according to all the science)?
Jeff Barth
2020-10-24 19:51
grudznick
As the Covid Queen travels the nation boasting of her results it is hard to say she gave an actual crap. In fact she has yet to express regret for her failure! It is just as she expected or perhaps just as she hoped.
Does she have a conscience being all Christian and stuff? Does life begin at conception and end at birth?
grudznick
2020-10-24 20:14
Mr. Barth, are you confusing grudznick for a Christian? We do not look or read similar.
Jake
2020-10-24 21:32
OK, Grudz, let’s just all go to someone deadly contagious and inhale 10 deep breaths of their Covid laden exhalations and prove all the scientific doctors either wrong or right. Can you break away from your Conservatives for Common Sense long enough to make this effort? And, to reference a prior post “Trying to kill people” can very well easily be equated to “doing nothing that government is expected to” by it’s citizens can mean the same thing!
Eve Fisher
2020-10-25 09:18
DaveFN, as I’ve said before, if Noem and other conservatives’ attitude towards medical science were applied to other ailments, we would still be treating all diseases with nothing but bloodletting, purges (laxatives), and sweating.
Jeff Barth
2020-10-25 09:59
Eve
Your suggestions for Medieval medicine left out burning witches.
mike from iowa
2020-10-25 10:14
Pence’s top 4 aids are infected so Pence hits the campaign trail. drumpf deemed campaigning as essential and Pence as an essential employee or some such rot.
james
2020-10-25 10:46
That graph is revealing. Now, turn it sideways and you’ll see that it’s true.
We are… rounding the corner!
leslie
2020-10-25 11:17
On top of science-narrowness of thought and intellect of the “four dreaded horsemen/woman” [(c) jerry] so intent on selling the black mountain hills of Dakota for GOP purposes, they have the same pro-austerity dogma that Thune is already revivalling as we wind-down to imprisoning Trump before he flees the empire. Likely because Thune was raised in the Murdo by a father born of those times. Have you ever listened to farmers and ranchers camped at the diner next to the hardware all morning? Okaton fits into these Medieval beliefs :)
A HuffPo writer enlightens us. Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow’s buddy has a podcast “Why is this Happening” interviewing his old friend who has a new book: The Price of Peace by Zach Carter, Oct. 6, 2020 @34:00 it starts getting good.
“End the gold standard!” 1919-1930, Keynes
“Years before we faced the Coronavirus pandemic and the economic crises of the 21st century, the theories of British born economist John Maynard Keynes helped lead the United States out of the Great Depression. His ideas revolutionized how we looked at scarcity and invented our understanding macroeconomics.”
Republicans generally run screaming hair afire when Democrats mention Keynes’s name. Thune has the benefit and experience of years in DC educated daily on the ways of world power, at public expense-yet he shows *NO* leadership attributes. His mind is still in Murdo. Yes, he is tall and plays BB. Congressional gymnasium and all. That’s it?
mike from iowa
2020-10-25 14:43
drumpf administration pushed off on nursing homes rapid tests for covid without warnings or instructions in how to use them.
Dems in the House have started an investigation into this practice.
There is absolutely NOTHING trump/GOP have done that does not require forensic investigation.
mike from iowa
2020-10-25 15:19
drumpf kremlin annex shocked the world with an announcement they won’t be controlling covid pandemic. My sources tell me they were a little late in their pronouncement, like about ..OMG!..9 months late. Not to worry, the obvious yoooooge bulge in the death rate was a dead give away. no pun intended
An anonymous Aberdeen doctor had supposedly written:
I want it to be very clear to the council members that our numbers will not peak and plateau unless there is a dramatic change in behavior by the community.
I’d asked:
So without that “dramatic change” there’d be more than a thousand new cases per day in South Dakota, forever?
Cory responds:
Kurt, your effort to twist the doctor’s words makes no sense.
The words under discussion explicitly indicate that the Covid-19 numbers won’t peak without a dramatic change in behavior. That’s a lie. The numbers will peak with or without such a change in behavior.
Your response suggests that I’ve made an intentional effort to misrepresent the words under discussion. That’s also a lie. I’ve made no such effort.
jerry
2020-10-31 23:13
When you become infected with the trump virus Mr. Evans, please let us know if you have changed your behavior.
mike from iowa
2020-11-01 07:16
Two moar milestones reached in drumpf’s body count yesterday, Kurt…
Got it!
Worldometer
Coronavirus
Population
WORLD / COUNTRIES / UNITED STATES
Last updated: November 01, 2020, 13:09 GMT
United States
Coronavirus Cases:
9,404,823
Deaths:
236,101
Not a single plateau I have ever eyeballed has had a flat, level ceiling.
An objective analysis of the doctor’s statement doesn’t seem to suggest or even imply that he purported to factually claim any circumstance would last eternally, i.e. “forever.” The doctor did not use the term “eternal,” “forever,” or any similar unending measure of time, as such a statement would indeed be nonsensical (e.g. when the world ultimately ends there will be no new infections and the peak will have come and gone). Interpreting the doctor’s statement in such a manner indeed distorts (i.e. “twists”) a rational understanding of the doctor’s words.
Likewise, an objective analysis of either of Cory’s statements doesn’t seem to support Kurt’s claim that these statements qualified as “lies” under normal definitions. For example, whether Kurt intentionally made an “effort to misrepresent the words under discussion,” seems more a matter of opinion than a representation of fact, although there is strong evidence to support such an opinion, namely, the nonsensical nature of the representation.
Yet, in past comments on DFP Kurt has argued in favor of a biblical “young earth” theory that the vast majority of current scientists finds to be nonsense. So perhaps Kurt actually believed the nonsensical statement that doctor’s words intended to mean “forever” and did not intend to misrepresent or twist the doctor’s words.
Even if that is the case, however, that doesn’t justify labeling Cory’s comment a “lie.” As I understand the concept of “lie,” it would relate to a misrepresentation of fact rather that a disputed opinion. An opinion that “Kurt [made an] effort to twist the doctor’s words” would not qualify as an intent to misrepresent anything, rather, it merely expresses a good faith, and reasonable, viewpoint interpreting Kurt’s statement. Kurt certainly has a right to dispute Cory’s opinion. Indeed, only Kurt knows what exactly he was thinking and intended by making such a nonsensical statement.
Unless my attempt at objectively analyzing the interchange is somehow flawed, it would seem that Kurt owes Cory an apology for publicly accusing him of lying, wouldn’t you agree?
Debbo
2020-11-01 16:37
Yes, I would agree.
One caveat. 2020 has been very stressful and a struggle for many people. Kurt may be one of them, as it seems to me he’s not usually this accusatory or hostile. I suggest cutting him some slack.
That’s only my opinion.
grudznick
2020-11-01 16:51
Ms. Geelsdottir is unusually kind and empathic, and her new haircut seems to suit her well. I agree with her stance that we need to cut Mr. Evans a bit more slack than usual. grudznick will pick up that slack, so throw your hate for Mr. Evans onto grudznick and let me help my young friend out a bit.
Debbo
2020-11-01 17:45
KNOCK OFF THE STALKING!
CORY, ARE YOU GOING TO BAN THIS STALKER OR IT STALKING OKAY WITH YOU? APPARENTLY GRUDZNICK THINKS YOU DON’T MIND.
grudznick
2020-11-01 18:39
Please stop reading my bloggings. I thought you said you weren’t. I’m telling you now that you must stop.
bearcreekbat
2020-11-01 18:41
Debbo, you make a good point about the stressful nature of 2020. I respect your caveat but believe my defense of Cory is appropriate based on my own history with Kurt, long before COVID 19 reared its ugly head.
Thus when it comes to “accusatory or hostile” comments, I too have been accused more than once by Kurt of misrepresenting his statements on DFP during attempts to explore Cory’s topics with him, so I have some experience with this particular phenomenon.
In any event, based on observable objective evidence the vast majority of Cory’s comments in the past have appeared to be made in good faith. Although I have frequently disagreed with the merits of some of Cory’s posts and comments, I cannot recall a single instance where objective evidence implied that Cory was intentionally misrepresenting what someone else said. The same analysis held here. The objective evidence I identified in my earlier comment indicates that Cory’s statements about the doctor’s opinion and Kurt’s comments were not lies, unless Kurt has some additional persuasive evidence not yet presented to support his accusations.
Once again, we turn from the major issue threatening this nation to the petty distraction that one commenter foists upon us.
Coronavirus is killing hundreds of South Dakotans and thousands of Americans. Grudz, quit trying to twist the conversation into a discussion of personalities. Readers, stop letting him do it.
Debbo
2020-11-02 13:47
Cory, you have the power to stop him. It’s on you, not us. Grudz is a proven stalker and misogynist, yet you allow him to continue on DFP. What does that say about you?
Ms. Geelsdottir is unusually kind and empathic, and her new haircut seems to suit her well.
I’m not sure whether “grudznick” is posting to this blog from within South Dakota, but his comments here have repeatedly violated our statutory definition of criminal stalking, and Deb might want to consider contacting her local law enforcement for advice.
… in past comments on DFP Kurt has argued in favor of a biblical “young earth” theory that the vast majority of current scientists finds to be nonsense.
Young-earth creationism in this context is technically a scientific model rather than a theory, but the radiometric dating techniques that supposedly prove the earth is billions of years old are dependent on the assumption that radioactive decay rates have always been as low as they are today. As explained in the following article by esteemed Ph.D. astrophysicist Jason Lisle, there’s substantial scientific evidence that past radioactive decay actually occurred much more rapidly over a much shorter period of time:
Unless my attempt at objectively analyzing the interchange is somehow flawed, it would seem that Kurt owes Cory an apology for publicly accusing him of lying, wouldn’t you agree?
Yes, unless your attempt at analysis is flawed.
SD is 20 per cent nonwhite
2020-11-05 21:30
I agree with you Cory, she is not doing her job at all. She is doing nothing to help us.
The Doctors and us are in the forefront of this fight.
To get over her, we have to tackle it ourselves. She can get impeached or voted out.
Maybe an elected Democrat can put an impeachment resolution in January?
I’m not sure whether “grudznick” is posting to this blog from within South Dakota, but his comments here have repeatedly violated our statutory definition of criminal stalking, and Deb might want to consider contacting her local law enforcement for advice.
To put SDs new 1000 covid cases record in perspective, MN has a population of rougly 5.6 million and had 1500 new covid cases reported yesterday (MN Dept of Health website). Hey SD, congratulations, you beat MN in something finally :(
North Mississippi’s governor just doesn’t care enough.
The daily update:
Today we hit 37,202 cases in South Dakota, and 9,862 active cases, and 365 deaths.
This means that, in SD, 1 out of every 24 people has or has had the virus.
1 out every 89 people is currently active.
1 out of every 2,472 people has died.
Here in Sioux Falls metro (Minnehaha and Lincoln counties, 230,000 population), we currently have 12,406 cases, 2,889 active cases, and 119 deaths.
This means that in Sioux Falls metro, 1 out of every 19 either has or has had the virus.
1 out of every 80 is currently active.
1 out of every 1,933 people has died.
Hey, Kristi! If we’re doing so dang well, why don’t you come on back to SD and hit some of the hot spots and PROVE it’s all nothing to worry about? And I don’t mean stay in your broadcasting booth in Pierre.
drumpf body count will easily surpass 2 more milestones today…
United States
Coronavirus Cases:
8,710,441
Deaths:
228,961
and drumpf is hoping the scotus eliminates the ACA and he has basically admitted he has no plan to replace the ACA, the pre-existing conditions clause in the ACA or people’s health insurance all the while he keeps ignoring doctor’s advice on what needs be done.
COVID Kristi? COVID Kristi? COVID Kristi?
(Pause.)
Buehler? Buehler? Buehler?
From “2020: COVID Kristi’s Year Off.”
“It’s not political”. Yes it is. If it wasn’t, then you’d mandate masks.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/23/politics/kristi-noem-south-dakota-coronavirus/index.html
She’s certainly getting publicity, whether it is good for her is not readily certain.
An anonymous Aberdeen doctor supposedly wrote:
Really? So without that “dramatic change” there’d be more than a thousand new cases per day in South Dakota, forever?
There are well under a million people in South Dakota. Three years from now, would those new cases be primarily people yet to be born here, people who’ll move here, or people who’ll catch Covid-19 over and over?
What saddens me most (and maddens me most) is that it seems ALL the planning is being done by the medical responders -not any to speak of by the government which is sworn to keep us safe!
She, like Trump, cannot seem to bring herself to join the cry “Wear a Mask”!! She is evidently too proud of herself and her early misguided rhetoric “Masks don’t matter” or they don’t help”! (Or too busy ‘tramping for Trump”) or fund raising in Texas. She’d best pay some attention to strong advice out of the medical science corner. Her words matter (and lack thereof).
Figure it out Kurt Evans, use your math skills, then get back to us. Add to the equation, if a train leaves Sioux Falls loaded with 72 car loads of corn and 15 car loads of barley, when will the engineer get the covid and will that engineer still be in the state when contaminated? Add those two solutions together. Please work on this diligently.
So Kurt —– the infection rate and deaths are OK with you?? What is YOUR plan??
I hope the Governor is happy her plan is working so well. Those of you who have been sickened, that was her plan. Those who have died, that was her plan. Her plan now is for more people to die and more people to get sick.
Covid Kristi…..
1000 dead by Christmas? Is that a sign of her continued success?
So sad Kurt Evans, looks like the trump virus is just what the doctor said it would be.
“The United States hit an all-time high Friday in daily new coronavirus cases, surpassing the previous record set during a summer surge of cases across the Sun Belt.
Friday’s tally — the first above 80,000 — comes as many states break their records for new infections. The average number of covid-19 hospitalizations has jumped in at least 38 states over the past week, a trend that cannot be explained by more widespread testing, according to data tracked by The Washington Post.
Fourteen states have also reported new highs in hospitalized covid-19 patients in the past seven days: Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Iowa, Utah, Montana, West Virginia, Missouri and Kansas. Health experts say the current wave is setting the stage for an even greater surge as we head into colder months.” Washington Post 10.23.20
Wear your mask Kurt Evans and wash your mitts, it’s seriously bad out there.
In the CNN article that has her op-ed from the RC Journal, Noem writes “Our trust in the data and in each other has been rewarded”
WTH is she taking about?
What Noem is doing is called a dereliction of duty. But the South Dakota majority of voters is getting what they want.
“So without that “dramatic change” there’d be more than a thousand new cases per day in South Dakota, forever?”
No Kurt, only for the next several months would there be 1000 newly sick per day. What a boneheaded comment. 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄 🙄
Gee Whiz, we have been dealing with this since February and the most basic question is to mask. or not to mask?
Masking indisputably, increases one’s ability to resist infection and spread of the virus, so what is the defense, for defiling the common sense and science and resisting the intelligent choice?
Are you willing to risk your life and the lives of your family members and friends?
Noem and similar are keying off statistics such as are seen in the below Wiki article (see the day-by-day “Statistics” section of the Wiki article). Noem and her ilk are indeed keeping current insofar as they see a dramatic rise in cases versus a not-as-commensurate rise in deaths. That to which they are oblivious is the death count lag following case rise. In other words they are short-sighted, tragically so, rationalizing their absence of action by tactics such as recalling the number of deaths invoked by early models which pertained to extraordinary numbers inherent to unconstrained contagion, as would be the case, indeed, if absolutely no constraints had been implemented anywhere, the latter which simply was not the case.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_Dakota
NC pop 10.5 M
1800 plus positive cases today.
If you are willing to sacrifice your common man to a political mantra, what does that say about our collective view of humanity? Use a mask and follow the science, try to help your circle vote.
Saying that wearing a mask during a pandemic is “living in fear” is like saying that wearing an oven mitt means you’re “afraid” of the oven.
—Facebook meme
I read this morning that the US had 85,000 new COVID cases yesterday. A record.
South Dakota also had a record 1,185 cases. One in 375 Americans live here in our state. That means that if the rest of the country had as bad a COVID spike as we did, there would have been 440,000 new cases yesterday, instead of 85,000.
Kristi Noem deliberately led us here. Hold her accountable.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/24/health/us-coronavirus-saturday/index.html
Daily Covid-19 cases will hit six digits soon, expert warns, as US reports a one-day high of more than 83,000 infections. from above link.
This surely ought to warm the cockles of drumpf’s and Noem Nothings’s whatevers.
COVID Kristi must be getting some provocative questions from the fat cats who attend her fundraisers in Texas and all those other states: “I see your state continues rating #1 or #2 in COVID infections. Why are you here instead of doing your job?”
Being AWOL in a crisis usually disqualifies someone for higher office.
DaveFN, that quote rules the internets, with all those tubes and all.
Kurt, your effort to twist the doctor’s words makes no sense. We are in a crisis. The doctor says we must act to mitigate it.
96Tears, every Democrat needs to be in front of constituents every day saying, “Governor Noem, do your job.”
I just got a poll via text asking what my biggest issue is in this election. “education, taxes/economy, healthcare, second amendment, other”. I responded “coronavirus”. Why are legislative candidates talking about anything other than the pandemic right now? No other issue matters as much or is costing our state and nation as much right now as coronavirus.
drumpf”s and Noem Nothing’s secret covid plan as published on the web.
https://www.trumpcovidplan.com/ :)
My good friend Mr. Evans can be extremely literal.
Mr. Barth, are you saying our Governor is trying to kill people? That is what I understood your typing to read.
Grudz-her ability to lead ahead of a pandemic was quite evident in early March when she encouraged us to “flatten the curve. wash hands, wear masks”- but then Trumpism changed her into what she is today–denying science and wiping her hands (like Trump) of any responsibility for the increase in sick and dying in our state! Her inactions ARE killing people, Grudz!
Well, we passed 230k bodies for drumpf’s body count, remember the stuff that was going to magically disappear on drumpf’s say so?
Last updated: October 24, 2020, 21:56 GMT
United States
Coronavirus Cases:
8,819,311
Deaths:
230,007
Mr. Jake, re-read my question with an emphasis on the word “trying”, thinking about how I was referencing Mr. Barth’s statement about “a plan.”
grudznick is a scientist, and I have read all the science. You cannot stop the virus, you can only hope to contain it.
“You cannot stop the virus, you can only hope to contain it.”
However, SD has done almost nothing to contain it. Instead, Governor Noem denied any shelter-in-place orders for Sioux Falls (or anywhere else), and has consistently refused to mandate masks. She even, when the Oglala Lakota set up checkpoints to screen people before allowing them on the reservation, (1) tried to stop them herself and then (2) sent a video of the Native American checkpoints to the feds to get the federal DOJ to stop them. (Bill Barr ignored that one.) And she has repeatedly said that “There’s nothing we can do to stop or mitigate the spread,” and continues to deny the fact that science has changed – worldwide – on masks, which says that they do help to stop the spread. (I wrote a whole response a few weeks ago about her AGAIN citing old science and showed where to find the updated pleas for masks from the very sources she was using.)
Meanwhile, we currently have 4,311 cases per 100,000, the 2nd highest in the country. Which apparently is fine with our Governor. She is not interested in containing the virus – she’s interested in pursuing her national political career.
Noem’s attack on the press that Corey mentions is quite a piece of work.
Cited therein is a publication by Carl Heneghan, Director of the NIHR SPCR Evidence Synthesis Working Group, a collaboration of nine primary care departments across UK universities. The Noem citation is:
“Oxford’s Dr. Carl Heneghan, also the editor-in-chief of British Medical Journal Evidence-Based Medicine, says: “It would appear that despite two decades of pandemic preparedness, there is considerable uncertainty as to the value of wearing masks.” ”
https://rapidcityjournal.com/opinion/gov-noem-update-on-south-dakota-s-covid-19-response/article_586e2456-23c0-5ba0-bb06-5fc78d084593.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1
Heneghan’s publication from which the citation is taken—a publication now 3 months old—goes on in the same paragraph to note:
“However, recent reviews using lower quality evidence found masks to be effective. Whilst also recommending robust randomised trials to inform the evidence for these interventions.”
https://www.cebm.net/covid-19/masking-lack-of-evidence-with-politics/
Further, Heneghan goes on to note in the same opinion piece (for is it not a scientific research paper, but rather a contribution which outlines nine on-going global mask trials):
“The small number of trials and lateness in the pandemic cycle is unlikely to give us reasonably clear answers and guide decision-makers.”
Yet Noem distorts the provisional nature of Heneghan’s opinion piece anyway (that the paper by Heneghan is an opinion piece is clear: “The views expressed in this viewpoint represent the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the host institution, the NHS, the NIHR, or the Department of Health”) by forcing a conclusion which the paper does not offer and by presenting HER distortion to the public as as though it was “science.”
The Noem critique of the press as published in the RCJ also says:
“Though they’ve flipped-flopped on this issue, even the World Health Organization wrote this summer, “the widespread use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not yet supported by high quality or direct scientific evidence and there are potential benefits and harms to consider.” ”
What Noem omits/ignores are the current, 20 October 2020 updated recommendations of the WHO, namely:
“Make wearing a mask a normal part of being around other people. Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives.”
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
In summary, Noem and Seidel’s approach to “science” is not surprisingly to cherrypick what they want the public to believe, to fail to recognize that science evolves with evolving data, and to misrepresent that science to the public.
Noem Nothing’s brethren drumpf is claiming the covid Barron had just disappeared, like it all was supposed to do.
I’m curious, scientist Grudznick, what SHOULD SD be doing to contain the virus — (according to all the science)?
grudznick
As the Covid Queen travels the nation boasting of her results it is hard to say she gave an actual crap. In fact she has yet to express regret for her failure! It is just as she expected or perhaps just as she hoped.
Does she have a conscience being all Christian and stuff? Does life begin at conception and end at birth?
Mr. Barth, are you confusing grudznick for a Christian? We do not look or read similar.
OK, Grudz, let’s just all go to someone deadly contagious and inhale 10 deep breaths of their Covid laden exhalations and prove all the scientific doctors either wrong or right. Can you break away from your Conservatives for Common Sense long enough to make this effort? And, to reference a prior post “Trying to kill people” can very well easily be equated to “doing nothing that government is expected to” by it’s citizens can mean the same thing!
DaveFN, as I’ve said before, if Noem and other conservatives’ attitude towards medical science were applied to other ailments, we would still be treating all diseases with nothing but bloodletting, purges (laxatives), and sweating.
Eve
Your suggestions for Medieval medicine left out burning witches.
Pence’s top 4 aids are infected so Pence hits the campaign trail. drumpf deemed campaigning as essential and Pence as an essential employee or some such rot.
That graph is revealing. Now, turn it sideways and you’ll see that it’s true.
We are… rounding the corner!
On top of science-narrowness of thought and intellect of the “four dreaded horsemen/woman” [(c) jerry] so intent on selling the black mountain hills of Dakota for GOP purposes, they have the same pro-austerity dogma that Thune is already revivalling as we wind-down to imprisoning Trump before he flees the empire. Likely because Thune was raised in the Murdo by a father born of those times. Have you ever listened to farmers and ranchers camped at the diner next to the hardware all morning? Okaton fits into these Medieval beliefs :)
A HuffPo writer enlightens us. Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow’s buddy has a podcast “Why is this Happening” interviewing his old friend who has a new book: The Price of Peace by Zach Carter, Oct. 6, 2020 @34:00 it starts getting good.
“End the gold standard!” 1919-1930, Keynes
“Years before we faced the Coronavirus pandemic and the economic crises of the 21st century, the theories of British born economist John Maynard Keynes helped lead the United States out of the Great Depression. His ideas revolutionized how we looked at scarcity and invented our understanding macroeconomics.”
Republicans generally run screaming hair afire when Democrats mention Keynes’s name. Thune has the benefit and experience of years in DC educated daily on the ways of world power, at public expense-yet he shows *NO* leadership attributes. His mind is still in Murdo. Yes, he is tall and plays BB. Congressional gymnasium and all. That’s it?
drumpf administration pushed off on nursing homes rapid tests for covid without warnings or instructions in how to use them.
Dems in the House have started an investigation into this practice.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/exclusive-house-opens-probe-of-dangerous-hhs-rapid-test-deployment-after-tpm-report
There is absolutely NOTHING trump/GOP have done that does not require forensic investigation.
drumpf kremlin annex shocked the world with an announcement they won’t be controlling covid pandemic. My sources tell me they were a little late in their pronouncement, like about ..OMG!..9 months late. Not to worry, the obvious yoooooge bulge in the death rate was a dead give away. no pun intended
An anonymous Aberdeen doctor had supposedly written:
I’d asked:
Cory responds:
The words under discussion explicitly indicate that the Covid-19 numbers won’t peak without a dramatic change in behavior. That’s a lie. The numbers will peak with or without such a change in behavior.
Your response suggests that I’ve made an intentional effort to misrepresent the words under discussion. That’s also a lie. I’ve made no such effort.
When you become infected with the trump virus Mr. Evans, please let us know if you have changed your behavior.
Two moar milestones reached in drumpf’s body count yesterday, Kurt…
Got it!
Worldometer
Coronavirus
Population
WORLD / COUNTRIES / UNITED STATES
Last updated: November 01, 2020, 13:09 GMT
United States
Coronavirus Cases:
9,404,823
Deaths:
236,101
Not a single plateau I have ever eyeballed has had a flat, level ceiling.
drumpf’s biggest whopper, yet….
https://www.rawstory.com/2020/10/trump-makes-startling-claim-after-ignoring-our-opponents-do-not-believe-in-science/
An objective analysis of the doctor’s statement doesn’t seem to suggest or even imply that he purported to factually claim any circumstance would last eternally, i.e. “forever.” The doctor did not use the term “eternal,” “forever,” or any similar unending measure of time, as such a statement would indeed be nonsensical (e.g. when the world ultimately ends there will be no new infections and the peak will have come and gone). Interpreting the doctor’s statement in such a manner indeed distorts (i.e. “twists”) a rational understanding of the doctor’s words.
Likewise, an objective analysis of either of Cory’s statements doesn’t seem to support Kurt’s claim that these statements qualified as “lies” under normal definitions. For example, whether Kurt intentionally made an “effort to misrepresent the words under discussion,” seems more a matter of opinion than a representation of fact, although there is strong evidence to support such an opinion, namely, the nonsensical nature of the representation.
Yet, in past comments on DFP Kurt has argued in favor of a biblical “young earth” theory that the vast majority of current scientists finds to be nonsense. So perhaps Kurt actually believed the nonsensical statement that doctor’s words intended to mean “forever” and did not intend to misrepresent or twist the doctor’s words.
Even if that is the case, however, that doesn’t justify labeling Cory’s comment a “lie.” As I understand the concept of “lie,” it would relate to a misrepresentation of fact rather that a disputed opinion. An opinion that “Kurt [made an] effort to twist the doctor’s words” would not qualify as an intent to misrepresent anything, rather, it merely expresses a good faith, and reasonable, viewpoint interpreting Kurt’s statement. Kurt certainly has a right to dispute Cory’s opinion. Indeed, only Kurt knows what exactly he was thinking and intended by making such a nonsensical statement.
Unless my attempt at objectively analyzing the interchange is somehow flawed, it would seem that Kurt owes Cory an apology for publicly accusing him of lying, wouldn’t you agree?
Yes, I would agree.
One caveat. 2020 has been very stressful and a struggle for many people. Kurt may be one of them, as it seems to me he’s not usually this accusatory or hostile. I suggest cutting him some slack.
That’s only my opinion.
Ms. Geelsdottir is unusually kind and empathic, and her new haircut seems to suit her well. I agree with her stance that we need to cut Mr. Evans a bit more slack than usual. grudznick will pick up that slack, so throw your hate for Mr. Evans onto grudznick and let me help my young friend out a bit.
KNOCK OFF THE STALKING!
CORY, ARE YOU GOING TO BAN THIS STALKER OR IT STALKING OKAY WITH YOU? APPARENTLY GRUDZNICK THINKS YOU DON’T MIND.
Please stop reading my bloggings. I thought you said you weren’t. I’m telling you now that you must stop.
Debbo, you make a good point about the stressful nature of 2020. I respect your caveat but believe my defense of Cory is appropriate based on my own history with Kurt, long before COVID 19 reared its ugly head.
Thus when it comes to “accusatory or hostile” comments, I too have been accused more than once by Kurt of misrepresenting his statements on DFP during attempts to explore Cory’s topics with him, so I have some experience with this particular phenomenon.
In any event, based on observable objective evidence the vast majority of Cory’s comments in the past have appeared to be made in good faith. Although I have frequently disagreed with the merits of some of Cory’s posts and comments, I cannot recall a single instance where objective evidence implied that Cory was intentionally misrepresenting what someone else said. The same analysis held here. The objective evidence I identified in my earlier comment indicates that Cory’s statements about the doctor’s opinion and Kurt’s comments were not lies, unless Kurt has some additional persuasive evidence not yet presented to support his accusations.
I understand, BCB.
Once again, we turn from the major issue threatening this nation to the petty distraction that one commenter foists upon us.
Coronavirus is killing hundreds of South Dakotans and thousands of Americans. Grudz, quit trying to twist the conversation into a discussion of personalities. Readers, stop letting him do it.
Cory, you have the power to stop him. It’s on you, not us. Grudz is a proven stalker and misogynist, yet you allow him to continue on DFP. What does that say about you?
“grudznick” writes:
I’m not sure whether “grudznick” is posting to this blog from within South Dakota, but his comments here have repeatedly violated our statutory definition of criminal stalking, and Deb might want to consider contacting her local law enforcement for advice.
“bearcreekbat” writes:
Young-earth creationism in this context is technically a scientific model rather than a theory, but the radiometric dating techniques that supposedly prove the earth is billions of years old are dependent on the assumption that radioactive decay rates have always been as low as they are today. As explained in the following article by esteemed Ph.D. astrophysicist Jason Lisle, there’s substantial scientific evidence that past radioactive decay actually occurred much more rapidly over a much shorter period of time:
https://biblicalscienceinstitute.com/origins/creation-101-radiometric-dating-and-the-age-of-the-earth/
“bearcreekbat” writes:
Yes, unless your attempt at analysis is flawed.
I agree with you Cory, she is not doing her job at all. She is doing nothing to help us.
The Doctors and us are in the forefront of this fight.
To get over her, we have to tackle it ourselves. She can get impeached or voted out.
Maybe an elected Democrat can put an impeachment resolution in January?
[Hey, “SD is 20 per cent nonwhite”—could you check your email and conform your comment, please?]
Good work Kurt (your 23:45)
I’d written:
“leslie” responds:
Thanks.
Rehab, eh?
“leslie” writes:
Is that question intended for me?