Gov. Kristi Noem issues claim that South Dakota has proven a point...: Lockdowns Are Useless

[TomCADem]

Source: USA Today

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Gov. Kristi Noem claimed Monday that South Dakota has given the rest of the country an example of how to navigate a pandemic without heavy-handed government mandates.

During a special legislative session in Pierre, Noem told lawmakers that while her resistance to statewide stay-at-home orders has drawn criticism, it's also provided a different approach to managing the pandemic than those taken in other states.

"As you all might imagine, these last seven months have been quite lonely at times," Noem said. "But earlier this week, one very prominent national reporter sent me a note that said: 'Governor, if you hadn't stood against lockdowns, we'd have no proof of just how useless they really have been.'"

Noem spoke after South Dakota's worst month yet during the pandemic. The Mount Rushmore State has consistently broken records in recent weeks for new and active cases, hospitalizations and the number of people killed by COVID-19.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gov-kristi-noem-issues-claim-that-south-dakota-has-proven-a-point-during-covid-19-pandemic-lockdowns-are-useless/ar-BB19JKSH?ocid=msedgdhp

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If you recall, the Governor originally claimed credit for keeping down cases in South Dakota, one of the least densely populated states, without a lockdown. But, thanks to her policies, including promoting super spreader events like Sturgis, South Dakota now has one of the highest positive test rates in the Nation. So, the Governor's new talking point is that she meant to do that, which coincides with the right wing talking point of the moment promoting herd immunity.

Thus, before Republican Governors were bragging about low initial case counts. Now, they are bragging about letting COVID spread unimpeded through their States. Heads they win, tails you lose.

https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/state-and-regional/south-dakota-beats-active-covid-19-case-record-for-fifth-consecutive-day/article_fccfae50-66ed-530f-9f88-79177800bce7.html

South Dakota beats active COVID-19 case record for fifth consecutive day

Monday marked the fifth consecutive day that South Dakota broke its own record of active COVID-19 cases. The DOH reported 3,828 residents have an active COVID-19 infection.

The state’s highest number of active COVID-19 cases was previously seen on Sept. 5 when 3,057 South Dakotans had an infection.

Numbers have spiked since Wednesday when 3,108 active cases were seen, followed by more record-breaking reports of 3,291 on Thursday, 3,507 on Friday, 3,742 on Saturday and 3,790 on Sunday.

Health secretary Kim Malsam-Rysdon said Monday that some of the highest COVID-19 testing dates have occurred in the past week.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. They can't say

there's no different between the parties or the policies or the candidates now. So they're going with there's no difference between the outcomes.

One of the grandest lies ever told.

[Thekaspervote]

2. I hope her herd immunity stance takes her or someone she cares about

[TwilightZone]

3. That's the only way it ever gets through.

Sometimes, that's not even enough. I thought Herman Cain dying would at least nudge the conversation, but they act like he never existed. He was quite literally sent to his death by Donald Trump.

[Delphinus]

16. Correct.

Sometimes even that close death is not enough.

I find myself saying, "I don't belong in this world" a whole lot more lately.

[Sherman A1]

39. +1000

[ffr]

4. Just like Sarah Palin, surrender and run before the fight even begins.

Cowards!

How about a national plan. Don't worry conservatives. The liberals are coming to clean up the mess you left us, AGAIN!

[beachbumbob]

5. we have counties with way more people than the SD has as a state BUT if COVID

is in the communities, avoiding shutdowns/mask mandates only spreads it more

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

6. I'm glad the article mentions that...

...there's less than a million people in the entire shithole state.

(I was born and raised there, so I would like to think that I'm somewhat qualified in calling it a shithole these days.)

Of COURSE they're going to have lower numbers. There's not a shitton of people in one area besides Sioux Falls and Rapid City.

*flips table*. Ugh, my home state has turned to total shit.

[pandr32]

7. Isn't Sturgis there?

Didn't they have hundreds of thousands of bikers from all over the country roll in for a week in August? They were not socially distancing and caused a spike in cases.

[SergeStorms]

14. Yes.

That was mentioned in the article.

[Lasher]

36. Those bikers are not reflected in SD's numbers.

They all went home, where they tested positive in their home states.

[NorthOf270]

8. She might as well be the mayor in Jaws.

[Mr. Sparkle]

9. mmm , Look at New Zeland, Covid free for 12 days after last lockdown.

They can live a normal life now while restricting immigration. I think what Kristi meant to say is Republicans are useless.

[bottomofthehill]

10. What is she using as a measuring stick.

Her new cases, Hospitalizations and deaths are all rising significantly

[Lochloosa]

11. Let's see...

Duval County FL 918 Square Miles Population 957,775

South Dakota 77,184 Square Miles Population: 880,235


Great comparison.

[Lokee11]

18. It is "De Facto Social Distancing"

Republicans - Never let facts get in the way of their conclusions - FUCK THEM ALL seriously!

FDT!

[Sherman A1]

40. +1

[catbyte]

12. Fucking delusional

[bluestarone]

13. I just wish this covid would KILL

Some of these assholes that DESERVE it!!! NONE of these bastards are getting the severe symptoms!!

[roamer65]

15. South Dakota has proven that Repuke governors are useless.

Noem is a useless bag of shit.

[The Magistrate]

17. Who Is This 'National Reporter', Sir?

Jim Hoff?

Ben Shapiro?

[TomCADem]

21. I am betting someone from OANN

[ProfessorGAC]

25. Aren't OANN & Prominent Mutually Exclusive?

There are CNN, Faux, MSNBC & the three network personalities that are household names. OANN reporters are barely known at OANN!
I think she just made it up.

[The Magistrate]

31. Legends In Their On Minds, Sir

I expect this wretched critter watches OANN exclusively....

[SergeStorms]

19. A prominent national reporter sent her a note, huh?

Republicans are always doing this. Trump does it the most, and since Noem is a Trumphumper extraordinaire she's using it a lot too. Please, name this "prominent national reporter." "Some people say", "many people say", "a man walked up to me and said".......... all complete bullshit. It's always some anonymous person. It's just another way for them to inject their lies into the narrative.

[LiberalFighter]

32. Probably one of Trump's stooges at Fox.

[Sherman A1]

41. Precisely

That was my thought as well.

[PSPS]

20. LOL. "one very prominent national reporter sent me a note" but won't name them. Trumpian.

[MyOwnPeace]

23. "Many people are saying....."

[Aerator]

22. Population is 11.7 per square mile

Only 4 states have a smaller population than SD per square mile which should help the virus from spreading but SD is in the top 10 in cases per million of population.

[efhmc]

24. Why is anybody anywhere listening to anything any member of the GOP spouts?

#GOPTrumpDeathCult

[TomCADem]

28. Because It Often Translates Into Actual Policy That Affects People's Lives?

Votes matter, and if people elect folks like Trump or South Dakota's Governor, there are consequences.

[jayfish]

26. They Never Learn.

[noneof_theabove]

27. Noem is not the right person

Said this all over the place...Politicians will not do anything until the "right" person dies, and she ain't it.

Trumps young son, McTurtle's grandchild, get the picture.

If something does not personally effect them then nothing will happen.

[Stallion]

29. North Dakota is 5th and South Dakota is 12th in Cases Per Million

....and they have only begun the upsurge so deaths routinely lag behind. Its outrageous to have numbers that high in a social distanced state that had very little covid before Sturgis

[IronLionZion]

30. No matter how badly you fail, always declare victory and pretend to be a winner.

Works for Trump too. When douchebag loses the election, he will say he meant to do that and it's proof that elections are useless.

[AllaN01Bear]

33. hem.

[LymphocyteLover]

34. Such BS. The US never did any sort of "lockdown".

We did "stay at home" and "shelter in place" to limit the spread, especially early on. No one was ever "locked down". That's GOP propaganda to make it seem like the big bad govt was locking up people. These people are just so freaking demented.

Those stay at home efforts would have done a lot more if the administration had put together a national plan. Instead it was largely wasted. Now the only plan is just avoiding large crowds, social distancing and wearing masks which helps limit spread.

[patphil]

35. Lock downs don't work if the people being affected don't want to follow the directives.

It's a combination of not wanting to be told what to do, embracing Trump's anti-mask mentality, and a strong dose of"stick it to the libtards" in action.

Ever since Sturgis, this state has been rapidly moving upward in confirmed cases. South Dakota reached 10,000 confirmed cases on August 14th, during the Sturgis rally.
Today they are at almost 25,000. That's 2.5 times increase in less than 2 months.

That's more confirmed cases per million residents than Texas or New York.
Oh, they also rank 45th in number of tests per million residents.
Even with weak testing, they are still seeing a strong surge in cases.


figures are from:
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

[progree]

37. Last time I checked, yesterday, SD was 2nd in us in daily new cases per capita

7 day moving avg. I'm away and on my phone, so I can't provide the usual links. Oh, and the trend is straight up. As for #1, that's dear neighbor nodak.

[StClone]

38. Greenland do you want buy a couple of plots of vacant land?

If you buy South Dakota we'll throw in North Dakota for half price.

[Yeehah]

42. Noem is vapid and evil

It's mind boggling that people vote for idiots like her.

[RussBLib]

43. she's gunning for a top job in the GOP

so she has to act like a fucking idiot