ABERDEEN, S.D. (City officials made no changes to their current COVID-19 emergency ordinance on Monday, although some concern was expressed about the recent uptick in local cases.
The council is required to pass a resolution at each meeting to continue the emergency ordinance. This is also a time when amendments can be made to ease regulations, like the action taken last week setting guidelines for businesses to reopen.
On Monday, Councilman Dennis “Mike” Olson asked if the council should take into consideration the new cases announced during the weekend. He said protocol released by Gov. Kristi Noem recommended easing guidelines after 14 days of a decline in positive COVID-19 tests.
“My information says case numbers increased by 17 this weekend,” Olson said. “Should we give this some consideration?”
Mayor Travis Schaunaman said the increase is a result of broader testing criteria. Some of the tests would not have been given under normal circumstances, he said.
“And so that exacerbates the appearance of an increase, instead it’s just the result of adding more testing,” Schaunaman said.
The resolution continuing the COVID-19 emergency ordinance passed with Olson opposed because he would like stricter regulations.