COVID-19

State health officials are reluctant to address questions about the projected death rates for COVID-19. They say infection rates, mitigation efforts, and other factors make it difficult to predict, but they outlined the formula they are using. 

Secretary of Health Kim Malsam-Rysdon says the department’s projections focus on predicting hospital capacity needs, but she notes previous estimates of death rates from COVID-19.

“That ranges from 0.5 to 3 percent of positive cases.”

Governor Kristi Noem says the number of COVID-19 cases in South Dakota may peak in the middle of June.

That’s based on current projections and state actions so far.

Models show the state will need 5-thousand hospital beds when COVID-19 hits its peak. The projection also estimates the state will need 1,300 ventilators. Governor Noem says they are working now to get more ventilators.

South Dakota is one of five states without a stay at home order. The other are North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and Arkansas.

Governor Kristi Noem is activating the National Guard to help hospitals respond to cases of COVID-19. The guard will build supplemental medical facilities in Sioux Falls and Rapid City before expanding to other parts of the state.

The governor says efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus have provided more time to prepare for a surge of potential cases. But ultimately the state will need more hospital beds. 

We talk with Senate Majority Whip John Thune, hear a veteran politics reporter's take on Governor Noem's leadership and more in this week's In the Moment news podcast.

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In The Moment ... April 2, 2020 Show 787 Hour 2

How are South Dakotans responding to the threat of COVID-19? A new statewide survey seeks to quantify our concern, our behavior, and our willingness to keep up drastic measures to slow the spread of the pandemic. 

In The Moment ... April 2, 2020 Show 787 Hour 1

U.S. Senator John Thune is the Senate Majority Whip, the second-ranking Republican in the U.S. Senate. He recently returned to South Dakota feeling flu-like symptoms. Since then he has tested negative for COVID-19. 

He joins us now from his home in Sioux Falls. 

Watch the full interview here.

For the second week in a row, the coronavirus pandemic is forcing a record number of South Dakotans onto unemployment rolls. 

There were 6,645 claims for unemployment assistance filed last week in South Dakota. That’s the most-ever in the available data from the U.S. Department of Labor, which goes back to 1987. 

Governor Kristi Noem has already issued a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus. But many are waiting for her to declare a public health emergency. 

That distinction is frustrating local leaders—especially after lawmakers defeated a bill that would have granted more specific authorities during a public health emergency. 

A state of emergency gives the governor more flexibility to work with federal partners. It also triggers certain state resources. For instance, the governor declared a state of emergency last year to help responses during major flooding. 

South Dakota lawmakers have added another option for small-business owners who need help getting through the coronavirus pandemic. 

In The Moment ... March 31, 2020 Show 785 Hour 2

In this In the Moment news special, we hear a recap of South Dakota's first digital Veto Day and the actions brought up to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, the impacts of the pandemic on the legal world, the South Dakota economy, med students, and more. 

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In The Moment ... March 31, 2020 Show 785 Hour 1

In the midst of a pandemic, we humans are very concerned. Those same humans also have to be thoughtful of those around them whether they have 2 legs or perhaps 4. The question is how does the coronavirus affect our pets, our livestock or the farm animals? Joining us with insight is South Dakota's state veterinarian Dustin Oedekoven. 

Hope was running high for the Jaimes family five months ago when they opened their La Luna Café in Sioux Falls. 

The winter months were tough, but as the weather improved, so did business. 

In The Moment ... March 30, 2020 Show 784 Hour 1

South Dakota Public Broadcasting welcomes your questions about coronavirus and the disease it causes COVID-19. You can text your questions to 605-956-SDPB. Email us at inthemoment@sdpb.org. Today Dr. Wendell Hoffman returns to the problem to answer some of the questions we've gathered so far. He's a specialist in infectious diseases from Sanford Health. 

Education and Healthcare reporting on SDPB is supported by Monument Health of Rapid City

In The Moment ... March 30, 2020 Show 784 Hour 1

COVID-19 has us rethinking how we work, learn, and access medical services. We're also hearing questions from listeners about a variety of legal services. Neil Fulton is Dean of the School of Law at the University of South Dakota. 

Many small businesses are reeling from the economic effects of the pandemic. The impact can be especially hard for new ventures. 

Anna Robinson, creates digital work with her husband. 

“Primarily filmmaker, songwriter slash composer. But I also do graphic design and meet other media work to bring in income, you know.”

They started their home-business Open Space Creative last October to offer services to clients in the area. 

In The Moment ... March 27, 2020 Show 783 Hour 2

Since the coronavirus pandemic began, testing has been key to slow the spread of COVID-19. It's also become key to a certain peace of mind for South Dakotans. Today we're talking about coronavirus testing done in-house at Avera and how the health system was poised to respond to the need because of existing infrastructure and expertise.

Gareth Davies, Ph.D. is the Chief Scientific Officer at the Avera Institute for Human Genetics, and Dr. Michelle Bleile is the Medical Director for the Avera Institute for Human Genetics.

In The Moment ... March 27, 2020 Show 783 Hour 2

Eddie Sullivan is President & CEO of SAB Therapeutics in Sioux Falls. He joins us for a look at research into COVID-19 therapeutics. 

Science and Technology reporting is brought to you by SDN Communications, your business broadband provider. Learn more at sdncommunications.com

The coronavirus pandemic has driven unemployment claims to all-time highs in the state and nation.  

Last week, 1,703 people filed claims for unemployment assistance in South Dakota. That’s almost nine times more than the previous week, when there were 190 claims. 

Roughly 100 high-risk cancer patients and 12 healthcare providers may have been exposed to COVID-19 in Rapid City.

A Monument Health caregiver tested positive for the disease after recently traveling outside of the state. 

The Meade County resident’s test result came back positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

Monument Health President and CEO Paulette Davidson says the health system immediately enacted protocol to protect their employees and patients.  

For small businesses wondering how to get money from the $2 trillion coronavirus economic rescue package, the answer is at local banks. 

The congressional deal was struck Wednesday. It includes a reported $350 billion for loans to businesses with 500 or fewer employees.  

In The Moment ... March 25, 2020 Show 781 Hour 1

SDPB is inviting representatives of cities and counties across South Dakota to join us to discuss the COVID-19 plans for their communities. And we're also asking listeners from those communities what questions they would like to hear answered.  Today we take a look at how COVID-19 is impacting the City of Yankton and Yankton County. Paul Scherschligt is the director of Yankton County Emergency Management​, and Amy Leon is the city manager.  

In The Moment ... March 25, 2020 Show 781 Hour 2

If you are feeling more anxiety than normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you are not alone. Emilia Flint Ph.D., is an associate professor of psychology at Black Hills State University, has several tips to help us cultivate calm in our lives.

With recommendations to stay at home because of the pandemic, it’s tough for elderly people to keep stocked up on household supplies. To help, volunteers in Rapid City are putting care packages together.

Sunny Red Bear and her partner are delivering supplies to seniors in predominantly Native communities. 

“We’re starting in Lakota Homes and after today we’ll reach about 55 homes so far.” 

Their project started about a week ago. Packages include canned goods, grooming and cleaning supplies. 

The number of COVID-19 cases in South Dakota will increase in the coming months. As a result, Governor Kristi Noem has released an executive order recommending business and community responses to the coronavirus pandemic.

The order is not a legal mandate, even though state law gives the governor such authority during an emergency.

Governor Kristi Noem issued an executive order establishing that every South Dakota business and government agency should adhere to important public health guidelines.

More than a thousand people who work in Deadwood’s gaming industry could soon be out of work. 

Governor Noem recommends that all k-12 school districts remain closed until early May. She says that course of action offers consistency in the approach to educating South Dakota students during the pandemic. 

The governor says she’s open to reevaluate school closings in May. But until then, schools are closed.

Congressman Dusty Johnson joins us today for an update on Congressional efforts to blunt the impact of the coronavirus in the U.S., we hear from Huron, the largest city in Beadle County, which currently has more coronavirus cases than any other county in South Dakota, The Secretary of South Dakota's Department of Tourism joins us for a look at the impact of COVID-19 on the travel and arts industry, and much more in this "In the Moment" news special.