South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is using COVID-19 relief funds to pay for a $5 million tourism ad campaign, despite a surge in coronavirus cases following the Sturgis motorcycle rally
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South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is going to use $5 million in coronavirus relief funds on a tourism ad campaign.
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South Dakota experienced a spike in COVID-19 cases following last month’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally which researchers believe might be responsible for more than 19% of all new US cases.
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The state now ranks second in the country for new cases per capita over the last two weeks, with 439 new cases per 100,000 people, but Noem is actively still encouraging people to visit.
Related: 25K for world-famous motorcycle rally amid pandemic
In the weeks following the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, South Dakota has emerged as a COVID-19 hotspot.
Despite the spike in infections, the Gov. Kristi Noem decided to spend $5 million in federal coronavirus relief funds on a tourism ad campaign to actively bring outsiders to the state, according to the Associated Press.