Mask-optional environments begin May 10 Written By: Marcus Traxler | ×
A general view of the South Dakota State University campus. (South Dakota State University photo)
South Dakota s public universities will end their mask mandates on campus as the 2021 spring semester ends this week, leaders said Tuesday, May 4.
South Dakota Board of Regents Executive Director and CEO Brian Maher said the changes coincide with the Board of Regents’ plans for a return to normal campus operations this fall.
At the recommendation of university presidents, a system-level protocol that required face coverings in all public indoor spaces on campus since last fall. A change to “mask-optional environments takes place Monday, May 10.
Last week after purposely avoiding as much contact as I could with the outside world over the last several months, my household got an unexpected visitor when COVID showed up on my doorstep, banishing my youngest son and I to the basement, separating us from my wife and youngest daughter on the upper side of the stairwell. My oldest son abandoned the house entirely and pushed across the town avoiding all of us.
I think I have a comparatively mild case, strictly body aches and low grade fever. I did pick up some chest issues yesterday where I went in, so I could be checked out. I think it was mainly the cheap oxygen monitor that I had gotten, but better safe than sorry. They said I look good on paper and sent me home with some preventative medicine.
Those measures were set to expire at the end of the month.
SDSU Epidemiologist Bonny Specker says, of the 10 most populous counties in the state, those with a mask mandate are seeing a bigger drop in case numbers.
She says Brookings County has had the lowest number of cases by population of any of the ten communities since November 19th.
Representatives of Brookings Health, Avera, and Sanford all recommended continuing with the mask mandate.
Brookings School Superintendent Klint Willert encouraged the council to continue the mandate.
Only two people supplied comments from the audience one opposed, one in favor.
The vote to extend the mandate was 5-2.