South Dakota Medical Groups Promote Masks, Countering Governor

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota’s largest medical organizations on Tuesday launched a joint effort to promote mask-wearing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as the state suffers through one of the nation’s worst outbreaks.

The move counters Gov. Kristi Noem, who has repeatedly cast doubt on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to wear face coverings in public.

The Department of Health reports the number of hospitalizations from COVID-19 broke records for the third straight day.

Groups representing doctors, nurses, hospitals, school administrators and businesses promoted mask-wearing, warning that the state's hospitals could face a tipping point in their ability to handle virus cases.