PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Public Health Lab continued to run high-priority tests on Friday, and because testing was backlogged due to a shortage of supplies, the number of cases of COVID-19 in the state remained at 14 Friday.
The state said they would update the numbers by noon central time Saturday.
The latest numbers of the state’s website indicate 14 positive tests, 663 negative tests and 270 tests still pending. The three newest cases are tied to Beadle County, but only two patients report recent travel. Governor Kristi Noem, who did not hold a formal press conference Friday, says they continue to investigate whether or not there is community spread.
As investigation into possible community spread continues, local officials continue to consider building closures and even limits on social gatherings.
Rapid City Mayor Steve Allender in a Facebook post said “It seems more likely that the state or local level in South Dakota will fall in line and take some of the more drastic measures to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.”
Allender says city attorneys from across the state will be discussing possible “emergency regulation action” on a local level. Allender stated they would wait to hear from the state on whether or not there is community spread before placing limits on things like bars and restaurants in the city.
(Watch Mayor Allender’s video here: https://youtu.be/w81HYhlXRyw )
While there has been no reported positive case of COVID-19 reported in western South Dakota, officials believe it is just a matter of time before it happens. Local officials are hoping the measures they have taken already will aid in slowing the spread when it appears.
Meanwhile, Governor Noem made a plea to President Donald Trump in a teleconference Thursday that the state needs more testing supplies.
The teleconference, made public, has Noem telling the president that South Dakota doesn’t want to be left out just because of it’s rural population.
Many governors on that call expressed frustration and concerns about testing and the lack of needed supplies to keep up.
Noem told the President “for two weeks, we have requested reagents for our public health labs from CDC, who pushed us to private suppliers who kept canceling orders on us.”
The president told Noem South Dakota would get what they need.
