YANKTON, S.D. (KELO.com) — Yankton Mayor Nathan Johnson says mixed messages from political leaders have an impact on the spread of the coronavirus, saying Gov. Kristi Noem has shown “a lack of leadership” as cases surge in South Dakota.
“We’ve heard the CDC and various other health experts,” Johnson said. “Studies have shown that wearing a mask makes a huge difference if the majority of us are doing it.”
Johnson said Governor Kristi Noem could do more to spread the message.
“She has not worn a mask, she has refused to even acknowledge the efficacy of masks. And so that’s created a lot of confusion with the public about who’s telling the truth,” Johnson said.
The state has had over two thousand positive cases reported since Thursday. An analysis from the New York Times placed South Dakota second in the country in COVID-19 positive tests per capita as of Monday.
Yankton removed its municipal COVID-19 restrictions on May 1, while continuing to encourage social distancing during the pandemic.
Noem has largely resisted mask mandates throughout the pandemic.
(Jerry Oster, WNAX, contributed to this report.)
