by Carrie Moritz, Gazette
On March 13, 2020, the United States declared a state of emergency in regards to Sars-COV-2, which caused the disease known as COVID-19. At the same time, Governor Kristi Noem asked all schools to close for two weeks. Life as it was known was thrown into a different state.
Everyone was asked to follow CDC guidelines, which at that time were to social distance at least 6 feet, limit gatherings, and to wash their hands. As a novel (meaning, brand new) virus, very little was known about Sars-COV-2: how it was transmitted, how it affected the body, and the length of time it would impact the lives of US citizens and the world.
The United States had been watching as the virus advanced across the globe- first China, then Europe, then Washington state and New York state. Various measures were implemented as the death toll was rising, including strict lockdowns and the shuttering of businesses, schools, and travel. The goal at that time was to flatten the curve. Epidemiologists needed more time to study the virus, and citizens were asked to help give it to them.
"I do think we did flatten the curve," said South Dakota Secretary of Health Kim Malsom-Rysdon, in a media call two weeks ago on March 3. "We never did see the 5,000 hospitalizations, let alone the 10,000 hospitalizations that were being projected in the early days."
As of March 16, 6,809 South Dakotans total have been hospitalized at some point during their illness. Hospitalization rates for COVID-19 have ranged between 3-10% in South Dakota, and lost productivity due to illness, quarantine, and on-going health issues is even higher.
Malsom-Rysdon continued, "We did see our peak in November, and even the days when we were having 600-plus people in the hospitals on a given day it was very, very stressful and very impactful on our hospital systems. I am thankful we did not see levels that were higher than they were because it was a strain on our hospitals."
South Dakota schools, which were initially closed for two weeks, stretched out their closures, eventually ending the year in May without returning students to the classroom. Garretson School District students returned in August with several new measures in place to help reduce viral spread.
CDC guidelines continued to evolve as more was known about viral transmission of Sars-COV-2. Mask-wearing and limiting large group gatherings, along with continuing social distancing and hand-washing, became the mantra.
"The additive effect of all the prevention measures, the number of people taking precautions really does help to reduce cases," said state epidemiologist Joshua Clayton in response to Malsom-Rysdon.
Continued on Part 2- available to all with a free account
