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NDNG working on testing efforts

The North Dakota National Guard is helping with efforts to ramp up testing for COVID-19 in North Dakota.

Adjutant General Alan Dohrmann says the key to getting the virus under control and things back to normal in the state will be ramping up testing capacity. He says increasing the denominator of tests will help officials get a better picture of the situation in North Dakota, making it easier to make informed decisions on how to proceed.

"North Dakota has a strong testing strategy that is focused on testing several core groups, including health care workers, residents and staff at longterm care facilities, and other vulnerable populations. We're also focusing testing efforts around large businesses that have seen positive cases of COVID-19, as well as their close contacts, to mitigate large outbreaks."

Dohrmann says this week, another mass testing will take place in Grand Forks related to the outbreak at LM Wind Power. He says the state lab is working on being able to administer 1,800 tests per day, and up to 3,000 tests per day by next month. Governor Burgum says if the state is going to make its testing goals and re-open the state, more and more people will have to get tested.

"If you're out there and thinking about getting at test, go get a test and help us uncover where COVID is and how we can move forward - because we're going to have to be living with it for a while, but you can help us by getting tested."

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