Brookings is the only city in South Dakota with a mask mandate. Among the counties with the ten most populated cities in the state, Brookings ranks lowest in cases per 100,000 (96) over the last seven days. 1/7

Brookings County also has the second lowest number of total cases per 100,000 people (5,134). This is despite being home to the state’s largest university and the second highest number of manufacturing sector workers. 2/7

Given what we know about the progression of cases to hospitalizations to deaths, lowering the number of cases in a community will decrease the number of deaths in a community. 3/7

No action can stand alone. Wearing a mask + social distancing + increased hygiene efforts + testing/tracing all work together to slow the spread. 4/7

Consistency makes a difference. The Brookings School District and South Dakota State University also have mask mandates. We’re all in this together. 5/7

The situation in Brookings is still concerning. We have had peaks and valleys in cases and hospitalizations since September. The realistic goal has never been to eliminate the spread of COVID-19. The goal is to minimize risks where and when we can. 6/7

Reasonable actions that influence individual behaviors can save lives. I wish we could save more. A mask mandate might not be a fit for every city, but in Brookings, ours appears to be working. 7/7