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Noem Says State Is Ready To Respond To Coronavirus

Governor Kristi Noem says the state is prepared for the coronavirus if it reaches South Dakota.

She says there’s a low risk of the virus reaching the state. The Department of Health has formed an internal task force to prepare. Noem says that group is reaching out to providers daily.

“And making sure we have the ability to—not only provide testing—but also provide care if that should show up in South Dakota,” Noem says. “Our Department of Health secretary has been working on that and we’re in a good spot and doing due diligence on the issue. Although, I still think the threat to the general public is very low.”

The Department of Health is deploying a website that keeps tabs on the number of coronavirus cases in South Dakota.

Lee Strubinger is SDPB’s Rapid City-based politics and public policy reporter. Lee is a two-time national Edward R. Murrow Award winning reporter. He holds a master’s in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois-Springfield.