BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum expressed optimism Tuesday that the state has the existing hospital bed capacity to handle coronavirus patients, even if a huge and unexpected spike of cases occurs.
“We’re well positioned and well prepared,” Burgum said at his daily briefing at the state Capitol in Bismarck.
As of Tuesday, Burgum said there were 13 patients who were hospitalized in North Dakota with COVID-19, occupying less than 1% of the 2,000 beds available in current medical facilities around the state.
Burgum didn’t believe the state would need beds beyond those at existing facilities, but said “it is our responsibility in government to prepare for worst-case scenarios.”
Officials said the Army Corps of Engineers has identified eight sites across the state for temporary medical facilities. They are in Grand Forks, Devils Lake, Minot, Williston, Dickinson, Bismarck, Jamestown and Fargo.
The National Guard has already set up more than 200 cots at the University of Mary Fieldhouse in Bismarck. And 200 cots also have been placed North Dakota’s largest sports venue, the Fargodome in Fargo.
State officials reported Tuesday 10 news cases of the coronavirus, down from Monday’s single-day high of 23 since the first case was confirmed on March 11.
The new tally includes eight from Cass County, one from Burleigh County and one from Morton County. Cass is the state’s most populous county and includes the Fargo-West Fargo metropolitan area. The county has had 107 cases, followed by Burleigh County with 50.
The latest report shows that 138 people have recovered from the virus, including 11 in the last day. That lowered the number of active cases from 196 to 194.
A total of 341 people in the state have tested positive for COVID-19, out of more than 10,900 screenings. A total of 42 people have been hospitalized, including the 13 of who currently remain in medical facilities.
Nine people have died from the virus, including a Morton County man in his 80s who was not listed in Monday’s report.
The coronavirus is present in 31 of North Dakota’s 53 counties.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever, chills and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.