South Dakota didn't shut down and they have no mask requirements and they're no worse or better off due to staying open. Proof that these epidemiologists have NO IDEA what they're talking about. We were all just a big science experiment to them.
You're forgetting that South Dakota is ranked like 46th out of 50 in US population by state (850,000 peeps or so?), and 47th in population density. Be serious, man.
There is an average of just 10.7 people per sq/mi in South Dakota. You could have a zombie apocalypse there and almost no one would get hurt. That being said, their governor has a bright future
Most the the cases happened in Sioux Falls. Would you like to compare the population density of comparable cities? New Orleans has the exact same population density as Sioux Falls. New Orleans shut down and required masks. Now what?
Now what? I was quoting state statistics. SD has a population density of ~11. Louisiana has a population density of ~107. Apples and oranges.