PIERRE, SD – South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem says the state is developing a response to the possible spread of the coronavirus.
“There is a very low risk to the general public in the state and we are prepared,” says Noem. “We are coordinating with the federal government with the vice president’s interagency task force and at the state level to make sure that no matter what comes at our direction, that we will have people’s health protected and will be prepared for that outcome.”
Noem says the state now has a task force. “Just know that we are working within this internal agency task force at the federal level but we’ve also established one at the state level.
“We are having phone calls with health care providers. In fact, we had one this morning with them coordinating preparedness and care. Testing is available here in South Dakota at our South Dakota State Public Health Lab. We do have the ability to do that should someone with systems they want to have tested, would arise within our state’s borders.”
Noem says she has also been in contact with the federal government. “I had a phone call a couple of days ago with the vice president and his folks to make sure that all the tools and resources were available to us to be prepared for this. I’ve also been down to the state lab and the resource center to check out supplies and abilities to make sure that we’re coordinating care going forward.”
Congress this week approved eight billion dollars in emergency spending in response to the virus. Some of that money is designated for states that need extra help.
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