The Minnehaha County Commission voted Aug. 16 to extend a special sick leave policy for COVID-19 after the policy was set to expire Sept. 2.

The policy gives Minnehaha County employees 80 hours of paid leave specifically for a Covid diagnosis, said Carey Deaver, the county’s human resources director. Those hours can be used for employees who get Covid, those who have a spouse who is sick with Covid and needs care or a child who gets infected with Covid or who is affected by a school or daycare closure because of the disease.

Deaver told commissioners that there were more employees with Covid in July than anytime since January when the state saw its highest caseloads in the history of the pandemic, which began in March 2020.

The 80 hours of allotted sick leave are in addition to the base paid sick leave that county employees already had been receiving. Covid-related sick leave paid by the county is covered using federal funds. 

“Once it’s gone, it’s gone,” Deaver said.

The Commission voted to continue the policy until Dec. 23, 2022.