Noem touts South Dakota coronavirus response, knocks lockdowns in CPAC speech

South Dakota Gov. Kristi NoemKristi Lynn NoemGolden statue of Trump at CPAC ridiculed online Five things to watch at CPAC Haley isolated after Trump fallout MORE (R) in her address at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday touted her state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, while criticizing other state leaders for resorting to restrictive measures to combat the virus. 

Noem, an ally of former President TrumpDonald TrumpBiden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than 300 charged in connection to Capitol riot Trump Jr.: There are ‘plenty’ of GOP incumbents who should be challenged MORE, began her address in Orlando, Fla., Saturday stating that America needs conservatives for one reason — the year 2020.  

“The question of why America needs conservatives can be answered by just mentioning one single year, and that year is 2020,” she said.  “Everybody knows that almost overnight we went from a roaring economy to a tragic, nationwide shutdown,” she continued, before attributing a record low unemployment rate at the beginning of 2020 to Trump.

The South Dakota governor went on to say that once the pandemic hit, many states chose to implement widespread shutdowns, which Noem said resulted in significant job losses, school closures and an economic downturn.

“Now let me be clear: COVID didn’t crush the economy, government crushed the economy,” she said. 

Noem added that South Dakota was the only state that never ordered “a single business or church to close,” and also did not issue a shelter-in-place order or a mask mandate, prompting applause and a standing ovation from many in the crowd. 

Noem also took aim at Anthony FauciAnthony FauciOne dose of Pfizer vaccine offers significant protection for those who have had COVID-19: studies Fauci: Whatever COVID-19 vaccine is available, ‘take it’ Julia Roberts presents Award of Courage to Fauci: ‘You have been a beacon for us’ MORE, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, claiming that President BidenJoe BidenHouse Democrats pass sweeping .9T COVID-19 relief bill with minimum wage hike Biden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than 300 charged in connection to Capitol riot MORE’s chief medical adviser is “wrong a lot,” a comment that also received a standing ovation from conference attendees. 

“We never focused on the case numbers,” Noem explained. “Instead, we kept our eye on hospital capacity. Now Dr. FauciAnthony FauciOne dose of Pfizer vaccine offers significant protection for those who have had COVID-19: studies Fauci: Whatever COVID-19 vaccine is available, ‘take it’ Julia Roberts presents Award of Courage to Fauci: ‘You have been a beacon for us’ MORE, he told me that on my worst day I’d have 10,000 patients in the hospital. On our worst day, we had a little over 600.” 

Despite Noem’s defense of her particular approach to the pandemic, South Dakota saw some of the highest coronavirus cases and deaths per capita of any state in the U.S. this fall, despite having a relatively small population of approximately 884,000. 

In August, the state played host to the Sturgis…