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Rising Incidence of COVID Results in Gubernatorial Finger Pointing

11/12/2020

Sturgis Rally
A Superspreader Event

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) has criticized the Governor of neighboring South Dakota Kristi Noem (R) for facilitating the spread of COVID. He pointed specifically to the August Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that he characterized as "absolutely unnecessary" and resulted in regional spread of the virus. As of Friday 13th the positive rate for COVID tests attained 56 percent in South Dakota, indicating widespread infection. The WHO generally regards 5 percent as a critical level requiring public health intervention. In comparison there are 11 states with positive levels ranging from 1.1 to 5.0 percent of those tested. The difference is not due to intensity of testing as the states with low positive rates all have a higher proportion of their populations tested than in South Dakota.

Irrespective of political affiliation, virtually all states are recording increased incidence rates although social distancing and masking appear to be ameliorative. Every effort should be made to once again "flatten the curve". This will require voluntary compliance with masking and abstaining from unnecessary travel and gatherings. Since wide deployment of an effective COVID vaccine is months in the future, commonsense precautions are required to ease the pressure on our medical first responders and intensive care wards. Control of the disease is essential to allow gradual reopening of schools, universities and other segments of our economy that have been impacted over the past nine months.

MN Gov. Tim Walz (D)

SD Gov. Kristi Noem (R)

As of November 13th the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security reported that the U.S. has recorded 10.4 million cases with 241,000 confirmed deaths. For seven consecutive days, new cases have exceeded 120,000 per day representing a 70 percent increase over two weeks. Fatalities are also increasing, but fortunately at a disproportionate rate to new cases mainly due to improved diagnosis and supportive therapy. Close to 1,500 fatalities were recorded on November 12th and 13th and will increase in the most affected states since deaths from COVID lag cases by about three weeks.