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Debate in South Dakota over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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These pages were updated from March 2020 through June 2020 and do not contain the latest commentary available. To submit arguments for inclusion on this page, email editor@ballotpedia.org. To learn how Ballotpedia decides which arguments to feature, click here.


Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in South Dakota in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in South Dakota

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in South Dakota.

  • Governor Kristi Noem (R) (Capital Journal): Governor Kristi Noem (R) unveiled her "Back to Normal" plan for the state, which would take effect when certain criteria were met, such as adequate hospital capacity and a decline in the number of new cases.

    "I have let science, facts, and data drive our decision-making, and we will continue to do so. The plan I am unveiling today continues to put the power of decision-making into the hands of the people – where it belongs." - "Secretary of Health says more than 99% of South Dakota COVID infections still to come; Noem will let kids go back to school," April 28, 2020.

  • Dr. Benjamin C. Aaker (The Washington Post): Dr. Benjamin C. Aaker, an emergency medicine physician in South Dakota, argued that the state should issue a stay-at-home order to help prepare for a rise in hospitalizations even as other parts of the country start to reopen.

    "As the rest of the country begins debating how and when to reopen safely, South Dakota never officially closed. Doctors like me have asked Gov. Kristi L. Noem (R) to take stronger action, which would give our health professionals the necessary time and resources to manage the coronavirus outbreak. We may soon be facing the challenges and hardships already seen in New York and other cities if a statewide order is not issued immediately." - "In South Dakota, we never closed down — but doctors like me wish we would," April 27, 2020.

  • Governor Kristi Noem (R) (The Guardian): In defense of not issuing a stay-at-home order, Governor Kristi Noem (R) argued that many Americans are sacrificing liberty for the sake of security.

    "I believe in our freedoms and liberties. What I’ve seen across the country is so many people give up their liberties for just a little bit of security, and they don’t have to do that." - "'I believe in our freedoms': the governor who resists lockdown and stresses American liberty," April 19, 2020.

  • Mayor Paul TenHaken (MSN News): Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken (R), who had previously asked the city council to pass a stay-at-home order, argued that data on the number of hospital beds needed to address the coronavirus in the state suggested that such an order was not needed and that the existing ordinance prohibiting lingering would be enough to slow the spread. - "Mayor TenHaken no longer pushing for stay-at-home order," April 18, 2020.


Debate over reopening plans in South Dakota

See also: Debate over reopening plans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on reopening plans in South Dakota.

  • Sioux City Journal Editorial Board (Sioux City Journal): "It's as if a huge swath of this nation put up a "Mission Accomplished" sign. Well, hold on. Evidence exists of progress in 'flattening the curve,' but if Americans by and large begin to act as if we have absolutely nothing to worry about any more, we fear another surge will reverse the gains we have made as a country and send us back inside our homes again." - "Our Opinion: This pandemic isn't over," June 4, 2020.

  • Yankton SD Daily Press & Dakotan Editorial Board (Yankton SD Daily Press & Dakotan): "It’s not that we WANT to see face masks mandated — we’d rather have no need for them at all — but local officials are the best judges of what their own counties (or municipalities) need and should have the power to pursue those options." - "Face Masks And COVID Relief Aid," June 23, 2020.


Debate over school closures in South Dakota

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in South Dakota.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over religious service restrictions in South Dakota

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in South Dakota.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over election policy in South Dakota

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in South Dakota.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over medical treatment in South Dakota

See also: Debate over medical treatment during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on medical treatment in South Dakota.

  • Dr. Scott Gotlieb (Twitter): Former Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, posted a graph illustrating South Dakota's infection rate and argued that it was a growing hot spot.

    "South Dakota has become one of the fastest growing hot spots in U.S., even as other parts of nation see their epidemics start to level off or slow. South Dakota has a doubling time now of about 4 days. In the setting of the ongoing national epidemic, every state is vulnerable." - "Tweet on April 15, 2020," April 15, 2020.


Responses to the coronavirus in South Dakota

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (South Dakota)

Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in South Dakota.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

v • e
Political responses to the coronavirus pandemic, 2020-2021
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Articles by Type
Federal policy responses • State government responses • Local government responses • Diagnosed or quarantined incumbents, candidates, and officials • State legislative session changes • State legislative responses • State executive orders • Eviction and foreclosure policies • Travel restrictions • School responses (2021-2022) • School responses (2020-2021) • School responses (2019-2020) • State court closures • Stay-at-home order status • States that issued stay-at-home orders • States that did not issue stay-at-home orders • Changes to ballot measure campaigns and policies • Changes to vote-by-mail and absentee voting procedures • Initial key federal official responses • Arguments in support of and opposition to government responses • Lawsuits • Multistate agreements • Non-governmental plans to reopen • Unemployment filings • Analysis articles • Paycheck Protection Program • Mask requirements • School budget changes • State budgets • Federal definitions of essential and nonessential businesses • Federal aid to states • Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program • State emergency power authority • Changes to state emergency power authority • Municipal emergency power authority • Halloween guidelines • Vaccine distribution plans • State plans to end federal unemployment • Changes to emergency power laws • Active COVID-19 emergency orders • State vaccine requirement (vaccine passport) policies • Recalls related to the pandemic • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on school responses to the coronavirus • State employee vaccine requirements • Healthcare worker vaccine requirements
State responses to coronavirus
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