Gov. Doug Burgum said it comes down to “personal responsibility.”
Burgum has been encouraging North Dakotans to practice guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, as the state deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. Those include social distancing, staying six feet away from everyone, having social gatherings of no more than 10 people, frequent hand washing, staying home when you’re sick, and traveling only when absolutely necessary.
Burgum has so far resisted calls to put a “stay-at-home” order in place, as other Governors have done.
"We think we've got enough government mandates out there right now," Burgum said at his daily COVID-19 briefing. "We just got to get everybody to follow them."
Burgum said if people will take the initiative and follow what the guidelines say on distance keeping, staying healthy, staying home and staying connected, the state can get through the pandemic.
"And we won't have to dial-up more government interference in the lives of people," Burgum said.
Burgum has ordered bars, restaurants, personal care facilities, theaters and gyms shut down until April 20th.