For Mayor Bob Everson, his decision centered around freedom of choice and the near equal rates of declining COVID-19 cases in counties that did not implement a mask ordinance and those that did have a mandate in place over the past two months.
Mitchell s mask mandate to expire Jan. 27 following Mayor Bob Everson s tie-breaking vote
Joining Rice in voting against the mandate were Councilmen Kevin McCardle, Jeff Smith and Marty Barington. Dan Allen, Susan Tjarks, Doescher and Sabers voted in favor of extending the mandate another 30 days. Written By: Sam Fosness | ×
A discarded mask rests on the stage at the Mitchell City Council meeting at the Corn Palace. (Matt Gade / Republic)
Mitchell’s mask mandate will end on Jan. 27 as the Mitchell City Council decided Tuesday night to let the ordinance expire.
After public commentary, councilman John Doescher made a motion to extend the mandate by 30 days, which was seconded by councilman Dan Sabers. The council split 4-4 during its meeting at City Hall, and Mayor Bob Everson broke the tie with a no vote, which ultimately puts an end to the two-month ordinance.
Doctors, nurses, caregivers carried South Dakota through challenging year Written By: Erik Kaufman | Nick Sabato | Marcus Traxler | 8:00 am, Jan. 2, 2021 ×
Avera Queen of Peace registered nurses Emily Feldhaus and Kristi Riggs stand for a portrait in the Mitchell hospital s entryway. (Matt Gade / Republic)
Facing a deadly threat, health care workers defended and treated sick South Dakotans unlike ever before in 2020.
They were the people who treated the nearly 100,000 people who tested positive for COVID-19 and took care of more than 5,000 individuals who were hospitalized. Frontline health care workers were at the bedside of the 1,488 individuals who died as a result of the coronavirus, oftentimes alone.
South Dakota s active COVID-19 cases drop to 6,695 over the weekend
South Dakota continues to see active and new COVID-19 cases drop, marking a roughly 50% decrease over the past 15 days Written By: Sam Fosness | ×
Photo: Pixabay
A post-Christmas COVID-19 surge hasn’t hit South Dakota thus far, as new and active case numbers continued to drop over the weekend.
South Dakota added 844 new cases over the weekend, according to the state Department of Health. On Sunday, Dec. 27, there were a total of 427 new cases reported, while Saturday, Dec. 26, saw 417 new cases. Active cases also fell to 6,695 on Sunday, marking a roughly 50% decrease in active cases over the past 15 days.
The Mitchell City Council will review the termination date of the mask mandate on Jan. 19. Written By: Sam Fosness | ×
A discarded mask rests on the stage at the Mitchell City Council meeting at the Corn Palace. (Matt Gade / Republic)
The termination date of the citywide mask ordinance will be revisited in mid-January following the Mitchell City Council’s approval on Monday night.
While the council narrowly approved bringing the mask mandate back to the Jan. 19 meeting to consider terminating it at that time, the ordinance is set to expire on Jan. 22, which would mark 60 days since its approval on Nov. 23. However, the council has the authority to repeal the mask ordinance at any time with a simple majority vote.