TenHaken will pursue citywide shelter in place ordinance for Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – The mayor of Sioux Falls is going ahead with a city-wide shelter-in-place ordinance, now that Gov. Kristi Noem has rejected his request to issue a county-wide order.

Mayor Paul TenHaken did not say how the ordinance would differ from his earlier stay-at-home proclamation.

The first reading of the ordinance will come at a meeting tonight, with a second reading scheduled for next week.

TenHaken’s request comes as Minnehaha County saw its number of cases reach 768.

The state of South Dakota has reported 988 cases, and 438 of Minnehaha County’s cases are workers at Smithfield Foods pork processing plant in Sioux Falls.

TenHaken said residents would still be able to travel for work and to get groceries and other essential items. The ordinance also wouldn’t stop people from doing activities outside as long as they are social distancing.