Mayors pressure Noem on public health emergency

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – More than 160 city and county officials from across South Dakota are urging Gov. Kristi Noem to have the Department of Health declare a public health emergency in response to the coronavirus.

The South Dakota Municipal League has sent a letter signed by officials from 164 municipalities to the Republican governor.

They say that without the declaration of a public health emergency, they don’t have the power to take actions necessary for deal with the pandemic.

Noem has said she wants to leave it up to cities and counties to enforce restrictions on businesses.