COVID-19 restrictions on Sioux Falls businesses repealed

Correction: Updated modeling assumes more than 34,000 in Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties have or have had COVID-19, most of which were never diagnosed. An earlier version of this story reported the incorrect number. 

The COVID-19-related reins are coming off of bars, restaurants and fitness and entertainment venues this week.

Sioux Falls city councilors voted unanimously during a special meeting at Carnegie Town Hall Tuesday to fully repeal all patron restrictions placed on Sioux Falls businesses since the coronavirus pandemic began in early March.

Coming at the recommendation of Mayor Paul TenHaken and the Sioux Falls Board of Health, the lifted restrictions mean food and alcohol establishments no longer have to limit groups of patrons to six people or less and keep them seated six feet apart. 

Places like movie theaters, bowling alleys, gyms and concert halls that had been limited to 50% of their normal occupant load also no longer have to adhere to those patron limits.

The ordinance authorizing the repeal takes effect Friday.

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Sioux Falls Health Director Jill Franken said the city was originally projected to have 625 COVID-19 patients needing hospitalized medical care at this point, but that hasn't materialized. 

"It's about 10 percent of what we projected," she said in support of the recommendation to further ease restrictions.

Since May 9 when the existing regulations replaced the 10-patron limit called the "no lingering" ordinance was adopted in late March, daily upticks in cases have stabilized and hospitalization rates of coronavirus patients in the Sioux Falls area have remained low.

Cases in Minnehaha County increased Monday by 14 to a total of 3,274, and Lincoln County's cases increased by one to a total of 230 cases, according to the state health department. Of the total cases in those two counties, 2,874 have recovered.

Coronavirus patients are occupying 4% of staffed hospital beds in the state while 57% of hospital beds are available, according to the state health department.

Franken said based on best estimates of the rate of which people with the virus don't show symptoms, it's assumed that 34,000 in Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties have or have had COVID-19.

Although councilors offered support for the repeal, several said the need to be diligent in practicing social distancing, washing hands and protecting vulnerable populations remain.

"It all comes down to, as we say over and over, personal responsibility is the key to all of this," Councilor Marshall Selberg said. "Lets continue to move cautiously forward so we're not back here again anytime soon."