SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — The third most impactful story of 2021 as voted by the KELO.com News Team is how COVID-19 has impacted the local area.
2021 has been a rough year for COVID-19 in the Sioux Falls area.
The Sioux Falls metro area has seen almost 54,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
Although 95 percent have recovered, the area has seen over 500 deaths.
Minnesota has been hit harder by the virus, with almost 980,000 affected statewide, and a total of over 10,000 deaths.
Iowa has seen almost 8,000 deaths due to the virus.
Despite many states mandating mask wearing, Sioux Falls and South Dakota never enacted a statewide mask mandate.
In Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz relinquished his temporary COVID powers as mask mandates ended during the year.
In Iowa, Governor Kim Reynolds fought against local municipalities that mandated vaccinations and masks
