Monday (3/23) COVID-19 recap in South Dakota, Watertown

March 23, 2020
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.—A very busy day on the COVID-19 front in Watertown and South Dakota.

Here’s Monday’s recap:

–There are now 28 confirmed cases of coronavirus in South Dakota, including the first reported case in Codington County. Specifics of the Codington County case have not been released.

–Beadle County leads the way with 12 positive cases, followed by Minnehaha County with five, two each in Davison and McCook counties, and one each in the counties of Codington, Bon Homme, Brown, Charles Mix, Hughes, Lyman, and Pennington.

–South Dakota Health Department Secretary Kim Malsom-Rysdon confirmed the Hughes County case is that of a female inmate at the State Women’s Prison in Pierre.

–Governor Kristi Noem says the coronavirus may not peak in South Dakota until May, or perhaps June. She says experts have indicated as much as 30 percent of the state’s population may contract the virus before it’s over.

–The Watertown City Council passed a resolution ordering all non-essential businesses to close their doors as of 12:01 a.m. Thursday March 26th. Bars and restaurants will still be allowed to operate by offering take out or curbside pick up of food, but dine-in services will no longer be allowed. Businesses NOT impacted by the closure include grocery stores, pharmacies, drug stores, and convenience stores or retail stores that sell food. 

–All public buildings in the city of Watertown and all public buildings in Codington County are closed to the public. People are encouraged to try and do business by electronic means or by telephone.