SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken will ask the City Council tomorrow for a city-wide shelter in place order because of the coronavirus outbreak
There will be a first reading of the proposed order tomorrow then a second reading next Tuesday.
South Dakota’s COVID-19 numbers have risen by 120 cases since yesterday (Monday) according to the state department of health. The state is now at 988 cases.
Minnehaha County cases have increased by 114 to 768. Deaths remain at six. 261 South Dakotans have recovered from the coronavirus.
439 of the cases are Smithfield Foods workers.
TenHaken said at a morning briefing today that he is still trying to convince Governor Kristi Noem to order a stay at home order for Lincoln and Minnehaha Counties.
He says Avera Health supports his request for a stay at home order as they are Smithfield Food’s health insurer and have been hit harder than Sanford Health because of that.
He says the state will be presenting him with new data on COVID-19 in Sioux Falls and the state.
TenHaken says if the Council rejects the stay at home order or the Governor doesn’t order one, he says his Plan B is to “keep on keeping on.”
“We’ll double down on our current measures,” TenHaken said. “That’s the only option we’d have.” He added that the City would continue to work hard to stress that message.
TenHaken says he has a good relationship with Gov. Noem and the state. However, he said some of their conversations about Sioux Falls’ issues have been “tense.”
“This is a tense situation. No one has all the answers. Have to consider several people’s positions. I’ve already pivoted several times.”
Whether citizens support or oppose a stay at home order, TenHaken wants people to contact their City Councilor to let them know their opinion.
