Fact Ck: SD Gov ignores poor health numbers to claim state's pandemic performance has been 'better

[riversedge]

Fact check: South Dakota governor ignores poor health numbers to claim state's pandemic performance has been 'better than virtually every other state'
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/04/politics/fact-check-kristi-noem-south-dakota-pandemic-state-health-economy/index.html

By Daniel Dale

Updated 1:26 PM ET, Thu February 4, 2021


ICU doctor: I'm very scared for my neighbors, my own family 04:11

Washington (CNN)South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem claimed in a Fox News interview on Tuesday that, thanks to her state's "unique" approach to the coronavirus pandemic, they "got through it better than virtually every other state."

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Noem said, "You know, Laura, I really think it's about control. They have used, for the last year, fear to control people." Noem continued that since the "science" made clear it was impossible to completely stop the virus, only to slow it down and protect "vulnerable" people, she decided to "allow people to be flexible -- to take care of their families and still put food on the table."
"That was a unique approach that, for our people, really worked well. We did have tragedies, and we did have losses, but we also got through it better than virtually every other state. And I think the media hates that," Noem said. "Because it really is a testimony to what Republicans believe in, what conservatives believe in."

Facts First: Noem's claim that South Dakota "got through it better than virtually every other state" is false with regard to public health: South Dakota has had the second-most coronavirus cases per capita and is in a tie with Connecticut for the sixth-most coronavirus deaths per capita, according to Johns Hopkins University data as of Thursday. ............................



The numbers
South Dakota had experienced 12,280 coronavirus cases per 100,000 people as of Thursday, per Johns Hopkins data -- which means about 1 in 8 state residents were known to have had the virus. (As in other states and countries, the true number may be substantially higher.) North Dakota, at 12,851 cases per 100,000 people, was the only state with a worse per-capita figure; New York -- which is far more densely populated and which experienced its first big outbreak when less was known about the virus -- was at 7,423 cases per 100,000 people.


South Dakota had experienced 201 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 people as of Thursday -- which means about 1 in 500 people in the state were known to have died from the virus. Only New Jersey (244 deaths per 100,000 people), New York (227), Massachusetts (213), Mississippi (208) and Rhode Island (207) had done worse by this measure. .....................

[Springerjjhicka]

1. They have no right to say one word about

Andrew Cuomo.

[Still Sensible]

2. It is the most sacred GOP tactic (and has been for decades)

When the evidence or facts--in other words REALITY--is not in your favor:

Make up bullshit and create your own reality! And then repeat it ad nauseum.

Unfortunately, while they have been using this tactic for about 50 years, with the help of the Internet they have perfected it in the last five years or so. They are so good at it now, about 40% of the people can no longer be convinced with facts!