Governor Doug Burgum says actions taken in North Dakota to flatten the curve are working.
At his daily briefing this afternoon, Burgum says the record number of 835 tests taken yesterday did include numbers from the surveillance project over the weekend. But with only 14 positive results, the positive rate was only 1.6 percent. Burgum says this information is valuable going forward as work continues to "flatten the curve" and reserve medical care for those who will need it most.
"When you run out of medical care at the highest level of licensing and don't have enough ICU beds or intensive care critical access type caregivers that can manage that with all the sophisticated equipment - that's where you can save lives, is at that high end of care. We're trying to make sure we can deliver the best possible care to all North Dakotans that need it."
Burgum says he still hears rumblings that some don't believe state government is doing enough to stop the spread of the virus. But he says all the measures put in place, coupled with hand washing, social distancing guidelines and avoiding discretionary travel, is making a difference.
"If you're not in the position to know anybody who has either died or been sick from this thing, then I would encourage you to get up to speed. This is not something anybody would want to have. People describe this as someone, in the later stages - somebody putting a pillow over your face and smothering you to death. It affects lung capacity and breathing capacity. We are very grateful to everybody who's taking this deadly disease serious, and taking care of those around us."
