South Dakota Inmates Lead the Nation in COVID-19 Infections
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, South Dakota s infection rates have been a topic of national discussion.
First, it was the Smithfield Foods outbreak in April, which saw nearly 1,300 employees test positive for coronavirus. Then it was the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally being a potential super spreader event in August.
Now the Mount Rushmore State is making headlines again for a spike in COVID-19 numbers - this time in the prison system.
AP/The Marshall Project
The Associated Press, using data from The Marshall Project, is reporting that South Dakota has the highest infection rate among inmates in America.
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State health officials doubled down Monday on the need to restrict group gatherings and close indoor bars and restaurants, despite the launch of COVID-19 vaccinations and the lowest infection and hospitalization numbers in Minnesota since Halloween.
Large gatherings over the holidays could refuel a pandemic that has led to 4,872 deaths in Minnesota and 399,311 infections with the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19, state Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. Though we have come down at quite a good healthy pace in our case growth, we re still quite a bit above what not just we, but national public health leaders, consider to be indicators of high risk, she said.
Miscellany
In June 2020 the city council of Sturgis, South Dakota, mailed surveys to determine whether residents favored proceeding with or postponing the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August. Nearly 63 percent of respondents wanted the event postponed, while 37 percent voted for it to proceed. Despite the democratic results, the council went ahead with the rally, which attracted 460,000 people to the city of 7,287. The state of South Dakota confirmed 124 residents had become sick from coronavirus after attending the rally.
For travel and tourism industry, pandemic brought both short-term and lasting changes
Almost as soon as it was identified, the coronavirus pandemic posed a challenge to businesses that depend on travel and tourism. Those businesses may have to maintain a delicate balance between safety and commerce for an interminable amount of time. Written By: Matthew Guerry | ×
Otto the Otter sits on the southeast side of Fergus Falls, Minn., near a lake. Jean Bowman / Visit Fergus Falls / Special to The Forum
ST. PAUL After taking the pandemic into account, the visitors bureau in Fergus Falls, Minn., came up with a grim forecast for the summer 2020 tourism season.