SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem says the best place for kids this fall is back in school.
At a news conference in Sioux Falls Tuesday morning, the governor said flexibility is needed though because schools may need to make daily adjustments.
Noem said positive cases of COVID-19 will continue to increase in the state, but school districts should not set standards that will require them to close school.
Rather, Noem says she wants schools to work on minimizing and isolating outbreaks.
Noem said “while COVID-19 cases will continue, the science indicates that children ‘almost never transmit the disease.’. When children get COVID-19, most have mild symptoms.”
The governor cited a June opinon piece in ‘The Hill’ by Dr. Scott Atlas and Paul Peterson, both of the Hoover Institution at Sanford University, that says schools need to open again and addresses the harm that can be caused when schools are closed.
Noem says “while teachers and staff across South Dakota did well with remote, or online learning, when school closed in mid-March, it is not the best delivery system.”
Noem says roughly 30% of the state’s students did not connect through remote learning.
“The consequences of not being in school are far greater than the COVID-19 risks.”
She said hand-washing continues to be one of the best ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Noem also stated she would not recommend school districts mandate mask wearing for students, especially younger children.
“They will be touching masks and that can increase the possibility of transmitting the virus,” Noem said.
