►
Description
COVID-19 Briefing for the City of Watertown, SD - 05-7-2020
A
Good
afternoon,
I'm
Steve
rehearsed
one
of
the
public
information
officers
at
the
Watertown
area.
Cova
task
force
a
couple
of
mountains
before
we
begin
today.
The
food
distribution
is
taking
place
again
today
and
that's
starting
at
four
o'clock.
So
in
about
one
hour
here
and
that's
gonna,
be
over
at
the
Boys
and
Girls
Club,
you
can
line
up
for
that,
starting
at
highway
81
a
narrow,
Avenue
I'm
gonna
go
east
on
arrow
Avenue.
All
the
way
to
ninth
Street,
then
they'll
be
directed
north
to
the
Boys
and
Girls
Club.
A
That's
gonna
start
at
4:00,
and
we
ask
that
you
do
not
line
up
before
4
o'clock
and
there
will
be
no
access
from
3rd
Avenue
and
that
event
will
start
at
4:00
and
go
for
as
long
as
supplies.
Last
so
go,
then
that's
a
food
distribution
today
at
4
p.m.
as
far
as
homemade
masks,
I,
don't
date
on
that.
If
you
are
out
there
and
you're
making
homemade
masks
for
first
responders
or
medical
personnel
again,
those
can
be
dropped
off
at
the
Salvation
Army
Monday
through
Friday
from
9
a.m.
to
5
p.m.
something
new.
A
On
that,
any
masks
that
are
dropped
off
up
until
Friday
those
will
be
collected
and
distributed
to
the
medical
personnel
and
first
responders
anything
collected
after
Friday
will
be
collected
and
then
distributed
to
people
in
the
community.
So
anything
that
is
donated
after
this
Friday
will
be
distributed
to
people
in
the
community.
We're
hoping
to
look
at
process
on
that
to
get
it
to
individuals
are
at
risk.
A
Another
thing
as
far
as
cleaning
homemade
masks,
if
that's
something
that
you're
concerned
about
you've,
been
wearing
it
for
a
while
and
you're
wondering
how
do
I
take
care
of
this?
Well,
if
it's
soiled
or
looks
dirty
or
depending
on
the
frequency
that
you've
been
using
your
homemade
mask,
the
CDC
recommends
to
just
go
ahead
and
put
in
your
into
regular
washing
machine
with
your
soap
and
wash
it
as
you
normally
would
any
anything
else
in
the
laundry
there.
A
So
if
it's
been
used
quite
a
bit
or
it's
so
I'll
go
ahead
and
wash
that
the
other
thing
is
our
updated
briefings.
We
are
going
to
stick
to
the
two
days
a
week.
We're
going
to
be
doing
that,
though,
on
Tuesdays
and
Thursdays,
starting
next
week
at
3:30
p.m.
so
we
had
updated
this
week
to
Mondays
and
Thursdays,
but
we
are
changing
that
to
Tuesdays
and
Thursdays
starting
next
week
on
May
12th
and
the
other
update
instead
of
three
o'clock,
we're
going
to
be
doing
those
at
3:30
p.m.
so
again.
A
If
you're
going
to
be
watching
these
updates
again
twice
a
week,
Tuesdays
and
Thursdays
at
3:30
p.m.
that's
all
that
I
have
for
today.
We
have
a
few
presenters
here
today.
First
we're
going
to
have
mayor
Karen
with
the
community
update
and
then
we're
gonna
have
Jenkins
Living
Center
CEO
Loren
diekmen,
and
then
we
have
father
Richard
Fox
from
Immaculate
Conception
Church,
and
after
that
we
have
Watertown,
School
District
Superintendent,
dr.
Jeff
Danielson.
So
right
now,
we'll
start
off
with
mayor
Sarah
Karen
with
a
community
update.
Thank
you.
B
B
The
City
Council
opened
the
prayer
lakes
wellness
center
and
Zoo
on
Monday
night
with
limited
services.
So
what
that
means
is
no
pool,
no
Jim,
no
locker
room
and
no
large
groups
at
this
time,
but
the
machines
are
open,
the
walking
track
is
open
and
there
will
try
to
accommodate
other
activities
as
much
as
possible
and
that
could
change
from
time
to
time.
B
The
zoo
has
no
Discovery
Center
at
this
time,
but
you
can
use
the
zoo,
there'll
be
some
hand
sanitizer
around,
and
we
ask
that
people
take
it
upon
themselves
to
exercise
good
hygiene
while
they're
visiting
these
places.
Cases
are
rising
all
around
us
and
they
probably
will
rise
in
Coddington
County
as
well,
and
we
need
to
be
mindful
of
this
and
be
ready
to
fight
this
kovat
enemy
on
two
fronts.
With
equal
seriousness
and
devotion.
B
We
need
to
fight
for
our
public
health,
but
we
also
need
to
fight
for
our
economy,
and
this
requires
personal
responsibility
on
everyone's
part.
So
please
continue
to
take
precautions
and
especially
exercise
social
distance.
That's
extremely
important,
so,
as
cases
start
to
rise
here,
you
should
be
wearing
a
mask
in
public
to
protect
others.
In
case
you
happen
to
be
one
of
those
lucky
people
who
becomes
infected
with
kovat
but
doesn't
have
any
symptoms.
B
If
you
are
infected
with
kovat,
you
may
not
have
symptoms,
but
you
still
might
spread
the
disease,
so
we
don't
know
when
we
have
it.
If
that's
the
case
so
wearing
a
mask
protects
other
people,
don't
ask
people
to
do
that
and
that's
all
I
have
to
say,
and
next
up
will
be
Lauren
dieckmann
from
Jenkins
Living
Center.
C
Thank
You
mayor
Karen,
as
she
mentioned,
I
am
Lauren
dieckmann
from
Jenkins
I'm,
the
long-term
care
representative
on
the
health
branch
of
the
Watertown
COBIT
task
force,
so
I
have
been
having
weekly
meetings
with
the
head
of
the
healthcare
branch
and
I
make
frequent
contact
with
the
long-term
care
facilities
in
Watertown
they're.
Basically,
two
skilled
nursing
facilities
in
Watertown
and
three
major
assisted
living
facilities,
aventura,
Watertown
and
Jenkins-
are
the
skilled
facilities
and
then
Edgewood,
Stony,
Brook
and
Meadow
Lake
assisted
living
are
the
three
assisted
living
facilities
in
Watertown
that
are
all
considered
long-term
care.
C
Pretty
much.
We
have
all
been
receiving
a
lot
of
guidance
from
many
many
sources
as
everyone
else
in
Watertown
is
the
CDC,
the
South
Dakota
Department
of
Health
CMS,
the
federal
government
and
we're
following
all
of
those
guidelines
and,
of
course,
early
on
information
changed
frequently,
but
I
think
we're
all
pretty
much.
On
the
same
page
now,
most
long-term
care
facilities
locked
down
our
facilities
to
outside
visitation.
Early
on
we
started
on
March
11th
at
Jenkins,
Living
Center.
C
The
only
visitors
allowed
in
our
facility
are
family
members
for
a
resident
who
is
at
end
of
life
and
I.
Think
that's
pretty
typical
in
the
long-term
care
community.
We
allow
two
people
at
a
time
to
come
in
for
someone
who
was
at
end
of
life.
They
have
to
be
have
their
temperature
checked.
First,
ask
him
about
any
respiratory
symptoms
and
then
they're
allowed
to
go
two
at
a
time.
Clergy
is
allowed
to
come
in
a
course
at
that
time,
also
if
they're
invited
by
the
family.
C
Since
that
time,
we
have
begun
to
try
to
open
up
a
little
bit
as
the
weather's
gotten
warmer.
A
lot
of
our
residents
want
to
go
outside
and
enjoy
the
sunshine,
the
fresh
air,
and
we
encourage
them
to
do
that.
So
we
recently
created
a
system
in
the
front
of
our
building
at
Jenkins,
where
we
have
got
barriers
set
up
that
are
a
that
exceed
the
normal
social
distancing.
C
We
have
barriers
that
are
about
8
to
10
feet
apart
and
we're
allowing
the
resident
to
go
out
there
beyond
the
facility
side
of
the
barrier,
the
family
members
to
come
beyond
the
street
side
of
the
barrier,
and
it's
been
a
great
way
of
connecting
families
and
residents
again,
and
you
can
just
see
the
well-being
of
the
residents
is
increasing
a
lot
because
of
that
I
think
a
lot
of
other
facilities
are
trying
to
be
creative
in
creating
those
visits
and
and
yet
follow
all
the
necessary
guidelines
out.
There
staff
are
trained.
C
Pardon
me
there
they're
tested
every
day
at
the
start
of
their
shift
that
we
take
the
temperature.
We
again
ask
the
questions
about
any
respiratory
symptoms
and
if
they
show
any
of
those
things,
they're
not
allowed
to
be
on
their
shift,
but
again
at
Jenkins,
Living,
Center
and
I
believe
in
the
Watertown
community
as
a
whole.
We've
been
very,
very
fortunate.
We
we
don't
have
anyone
testing
positive
among
staff
or
residents
in
any
of
our
facilities.
So
that's
kind
of
what's
going
on
with
long-term
care.
C
I
feel
that,
as
the
rest
of
the
city
begins
to
open
up
health
care
facilities
might
be
one
of
the
last
entities
to
open
up
simply
because
we
want
to
make
sure
we're
taking
care
of
this
vulnerable
population
that
we're
all
so
passionate
about
caring.
For
so
that's.
Basically,
my
comments
and
I
will
allow
the
next
speaker
to
come
down
Father
Fox.
Thank
you.
D
Thank
you.
My
name
is
father:
Richard
Fox
and
I'm.
The
pastor
of
Immaculate
Conception
Church
in
Watertown
in
the
team
leader
of
the
Cova
19
pastor
strike
force
team.
This
is
a
team
of
local
pastors
who
care
about
other
pastors
in
Watertown
their
churches,
as
well
as
the
surrounding
Cottington
County,
as
probably
put
into
this
position,
because
I
was
the
only
person
on
the
task
force
that
didn't
have
a
spouse
at
home
or
was
homeschooling.
So
I
got
the
job.
D
We
meet
virtually
every
Friday
at
1:30
p.m.
and
we
pray
together.
We
share
common
concerns.
We
discuss
any
issues
or
problems
that
are
unique
to
that
particular
church
or
one
in
general,
and
we
serve
as
a
conduit
through
which
we
can
keep
ourselves
and
our
members
informed
of
the
kovat
19
information
to
explore
best
practices
for
opening
our
churches
to
worship
God,
while
also
keeping
members
safe
if
you're
a
pastor
in
Watertown
or
in
Cottington
County.
D
D
D
Family
Worship
Center
is
opening
the
weekend
of
May
16th
and
17th.
St.
Martin's
Lutheran
is
discussing
how
to
open
the
church
in
school,
but
has
no
definitive
dates
and
holy
name
of
Jesus
and
Immaculate
Conception
Catholic
churches.
If
there
is
little
or
no
change
in
the
numbers
and
in
the
data
coming
in
plans
to
begin
a
gradual
reopening
starting
the
weekend
of
May
16th
and
17th
a
few
details
of
how
these
last
two
churches
are
gradually
reopening,
because
people
are
asking
us,
what
does
that?
Look
like
admitting?
D
No
more
than
one-third
of
our
total
seating
capacity,
that's
the
ceiling
having
pump
sanitizers
at
the
door
and
also
around
the
church
masks
will
be
worn.
Every
other
pew
is
roped
off.
People
will
maintain
a
six-foot
radius
between
family
units,
both
in
the
pew
and
while
moving
there'll
be
no
hand
shaking
or
physical
contact.
There
will
be
no
communion
cups
between
liturgies
volunteers
will
sanitize
the
main
contact
points
of
the
church,
interior
hymnals
will
all
be
removed
and
a
fresh
music
sheet
will
be
provided
each
week.
D
There'll
be
no
collection
taken
up
just
stationary
baskets
placed
around
the
church
and,
as
in
most
other
churches,
liturgies
will
continue
to
be
either
recorded
or
live.
Streamed.
I
want
to
just
take
a
moment
and
thank
all
of
you
for
the
opportunity
for
the
pastor
Strikeforce
to
share
this
bit
of
information.
The
pastor's
are
very
grateful
for
the
opportunity
to
assist
the
city
in
the
region,
as
we
all
strive
to
move
forward
towards
a
more
safe,
sensible
and
a
gradual
reopening
of
our
beloved
communities.
E
Good
afternoon
I'm
superintendent,
Jeff
Danielson,
the
Watertown
School
District
this
week
is
actually
teacher
and
staff
appreciation
week.
So
we
are
grateful
for
all
the
work
that
our
staff
has
done,
in
particular
throughout
the
Cova
19
situation,
with
our
flexible
learning.
So
if
you
see
a
teacher,
give
them
a
big
pat
on
the
back.
Well,
no,
no
don't
do
that
say
thanks.
So
we
will
have
an
another
materials
exchange
on
Monday
May
11th
from
8:00
to
5:00
at
all
buildings.
That
will
be
the
final
exchange.
E
There
will
not
be
a
materials
exchange
on
Monday
May
18th,
because
we
will
be
working
on
turn
in
closeout
procedures
for
later
that
week,
on
Wednesday
and
Thursday,
May
20th
and
21st
the
last
day
of
school
for
students
being
May
21st
more
details
will
come
out
about
that
as
we
get
a
little
bit
closer.
Finally,
I
would
like
to
update
the
community
on
our
graduation
plans.
This
week
we
have
been
filming
graduates
of
the
class
of
2020
receiving
their
diplomas.
E
Speakers
for
the
graduation
ceremony
will
also
be
videotaped,
and
then
we
will
broadcast
this
graduation
ceremony
on
Sunday
May
24th
at
2:00
p.m.
this
was
the
originally
scheduled
date
for
graduation
in
Watertown.
This
will
be
aired
again
on
Sunday
May
24th
at
2:00
p.m.
on
multiple
airwaves
we'll
do
it
on
the
local
government
channel
on
the
television.
We
also
want
to
thank
our
friends
in
the
media.
It
will
be
aired
on
the
KWA
tea
radio
website,
go
Watertown
net
on
the
KX
LG
website
and
then
also
on
the
public
opinion
website.
E
So
there
are
multiple
options
to
air
this
graduation
ceremony.
We
want
to
have
a
big
thank
you
to
our
students
and
our
families
for
cooperating
with
us
to
get
that
done
this
week
and
I
also
want
to
say
we
do
have
a
few
senior
families
that
have
not
come
in
yet
we
want
to
videotape
your
grad
and
have
them
be
a
part
of
this
ceremony.
So
please,
if
it's.