Argus Leader Editorial Board

As our desire for convenience gives way to the need for personal sacrifice, South Dakotans are ready to become vigilant. Will those in positions of power follow our lead?

The public health crisis that South Dakota faces, along with the rest of the nation and world, is no longer the stuff of quick-read headlines or far-off concerns. It has reached our backyard and wants in.

The best way to mitigate the damage is through social distancing, a strategy to slow the rate of infections that many have already enacted.

In short, cancel public gatherings, from basketball tournaments to trade shows and concerts. Steer to the side of caution. Do it now.

Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken took a positive step Thursday with an emergency declaration that limits all public gatherings of 250 people or more in the city for the next 14 days. But a more sweeping statewide mandate is needed.

Coronavirus in South Dakota:Confirmed cases, latest news and updates

And though such a significant disruption in our lives might feel sudden and startling, in truth it is not.

Political leaders in this country have had more time than many others around the globe to learn and implement lessons gained from the spread elsewhere of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for the disease dubbed COVID-19.

Gov. Kristi Noem has attempted in several recent press conferences to reassure South Dakotans that “we have been prepared” as a state since January, when her administration put together a targeted COVID-19 task force, to meet the challenge of this virus. Only two weeks ago, she said South Dakota faced a “very low” public risk.

It’s plain that we are we are in truth woefully unprepared from a public response capability standpoint, as evidenced by the state only possessing enough test kits for about 800 people as of Tuesday. It is equally evident that public uncertainty about the virus and its effects can quickly devolve into fear. Or panic.

Leadership and clear messages are needed, as well as a firm hand. Such emergencies are well-suited for governors to take the reins and serve various roles – drill sergeant, information officer, calming presence – rather than relying on Washington D.C. for guidance or blame.

Part of that means embracing scientific reality and making it clear that we have a small window of opportunity to act. Social distancing and other precautions must be undertaken to slow the spread of the virus so that health systems aren’t overwhelmed, as is currently the case in Italy, where more than 1,000 people have died.

Other states, facing confirmed cases that are rising exponentially, have already acted.

California governor Gavin Newsom called for canceling gatherings of 250 or more people through the end of March, while New York’s Andrew Cuomo banned gatherings of 500 or more. Ohio’s Mike DeWine was the first to limit highly attended events earlier this week, even if that meant jeopardizing NCAA basketball events in the state.

As it turned out, sports leagues followed suit. College basketball tournaments fell away one by one, and the NBA suspended its season when one of its prominent players tested positive for COVID-19. Locally, the NAIA abruptly canceled its Division II national basketball tournament at the Sanford Pentagon, one of a flurry of tough decisions by national organizations to slow the upward arc of community spread.

In South Dakota, however, there is normalcy where it doesn’t belong. The Class B girls state basketball tournament was played as scheduled Thursday in Spearfish, with a gym full of spectators. As of Thursday afternoon, the state activities association had not announced any changes (other than eliminating handshake lines) for the Class AA and A combined basketball tournaments next week, which drew a not-so-subtle rebuke from Sioux Falls School District superintendent Brian Maher.

“I tell you right now, I don’t know that I’d necessarily be OK with our kids going and participating in that, in any capacity – even in a restricted fan environment,” Maher said.

In many respects, these matters are left hanging until the adult in the room speaks up. Without direct guidance from the governor, events such as the Sioux Empire Sportsmen's Show is also set to take place this weekend at the Sioux Falls Arena – the exact opposite of social distancing.

“We would encourage folks just to be safe and make wise decisions,” Noem said in her press conference Wednesday. “If you don’t have to go to a big event, stay home.”

Those words are not just a cop out; they’re irresponsible. Sports and other entertainment events are social rituals that are hard for people to leave behind – just ask any senior high school basketball player who might not get to play in a state tournament.

But we no longer have the luxury of soothing those wounds. And if some of these restrictions are later viewed as an overreaction, they can also be seen as a success.

The same goes for state funding of medical resources to ramp up testing and treatment. While other states have declared emergencies or mobilized the National Guard, Noem has adopted a more measured approach while noting that the majority of those who contract the virus experience mild or no symptoms. She announced Thursday that the state was awarded $4.5 million from the CDC to help address the virus spread.

Map:Where in South Dakota has coronavirus been detected?

With major health systems Sanford and Avera in the state’s largest city, the response should be more robust. States such as Minnesota, Colorado, Connecticut have used public-private partnerships to provide drive-up testing so that those with symptoms don’t potentially infect others.

Word that there will be no additional state finances allocated to fight the virus because the health department has adequate resources is disheartening but not surprising. South Dakotans must demand accountability and adequate resources as part of their vigilance in facing this challenge.

The citizens of this state have shown time and again that they can stare down adversity, even as everyday lives are altered. But stable leadership and reliable information is paramount.

As the latest threat looms, will those in power provide bold initiative or cross their fingers that everything will turn out OK?

The answer to that question becomes more urgent by the hour.