Gov. Noem talks with KWAT News about Omicron variant, vaccine mandates  (Audio)

January 6, 2022

Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, positive cases are spiking again, due largely to the Omicron variant of the virus that has been characterized as highly contagious, but not as severe.

While the focus recently has been on rising case numbers, Governor Kristi Noem tells KWAT News Director Mike Tanner that’s not where our attention should be…..

Governor Noem has been vaccinated against the virus, but she’s also been an outspoken critic of vaccine mandates. In other words, the federal government requiring people to get the shot…

The South Dakota Health Department’s latest numbers show 68 percent of the state’s eligible population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 2,507 people in South Dakota have died from the virus.