Noem says South Dakota’s COVID-19 numbers will jump due to mass testing in Sioux Falls  (Audio)

May 6, 2020
Mike Tanner

PIERRE, S.D.—Governor Kristi Noem used her Wednesday press briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic to update the mass testing that’s going on for workers and family members with ties to the Smithfield pork plant in Sioux Falls.

She began by reporting testing numbers from Tuesday….

When those results come in, the governor says you’ll see it reflected in the daily COVID numbers reported by the Health Department….

KWAT News asked the governor her thoughts on using at least some of the state’s rainy day fund to balance a state budget that is falling into the red because of the pandemic….

KWAT News followed up that response by asking the governor what her definition of a rainy day fund is, and if a pandemic would be a justifiable cause to dip into it….

South Dakota’s general fund revenues fell $18.1 million dollars short of projections in March. The governor says the April shortfall will be much larger than that.