Sioux Falls readies mask rule after push from medical groups

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The largest city in South Dakota appears ready to reverse course and pass a mask mandate Tuesday after enforcement was removed from the ordinance and medical groups said hospitals have exceeded capacity dealing with COVID-19 patients.

Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken, who cast a tie-breaking vote against a mandate last week, said he was ready to get behind the requirement after the state's largest physicians' organization and a hospital system came out in support. The ordinance, which TenHaken said he expects will pass, faces a City Council vote Tuesday night. But the council said violations of the requirement, which applies to retail businesses and public buildings, will not carry any penalty.

Gov. Kristi Noem opposes mask mandates or other government interventions aimed at slowing the spread of infections.

South Dakota's COVID-19 deaths per capita in recent weeks have been among the worst in the nation, but the Department of Health did not report any new deaths on Tuesday. Just over 1,000 people tested positive for the coronavirus, and the number of hospitalizations increased to 582 people, pushing some facilities close to capacity.

“We are really at historical levels,” said Dr. David Basel, vice president for clinical quality at Avera Medical Group. “Pretty much across all of our hospitals, they are at as high a level as they’ve been at any point in the last 25 years.”

Avera has doubled the number of ICU beds it has available, including putting two patients in some ICU rooms. Basel said the hospital system is also monitoring more than 1,000 COVID-19 patients through home care, including about 160 who are receiving supplemental oxygen. He said Avera has just 11 ICU beds available statewide.

“I know the public is tired of hearing about masks, but until we increase the masking...