The North Dakota Department of Health has confirmed four additional cases of COVID-19 in the state, bringing the state's total to 36.
The patients are a man in his 20s from Dunn County and a woman in her 40s in Burleigh County, as well as two cases from Cass County - a man in his 70s, and a man in his 90s. The Dunn County case is travel related. The other three cases are under investigation.
To date 1,602 tests have been performed from 49 out of North Dakota's 53 counties. Seven patients are currently hospitalized.
Governor Doug Burgum says his goal is to have more testing available, with more aggressive contact tracing in order to be able to isolate those who are most at risk. He says in order to flatten the curve, we must continue to practice social distancing and use common sense best practices.
"If you are waiting for your test results to come back, and we know there are many people in that category - or if you are close to someone waiting for their results to come back - you should be self-isolating."
Burgum also says it may not be a bad idea to consider keeping a small journal of people you come in contact with in case you need to be get in touch with the state's contact tracing teams.
