Burgum signals lifting business restrictions at month’s end

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signaled Monday he would lift business restrictions beginning May 1, saying the state has made significant progress in its effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

North Dakota is in “a much better position to take on risk than we were a month ago,” Burgum said. The Republican who is seeking a second term said the aim is to protect “both lives and livelihoods.”

Burgum said the state’s increased testing capacity, its low positive test rate for the coronavirus and the existing hospital bed capacity to handle patients were among the positive signs for reopening business, under a plan he has dubbed “ND Smart Restart.”

“We are well prepared and well positioned,” he said.

Earlier this month, Burgum ordered all bars, restaurants, barber shops, beauty salons, health clubs, movie theaters and other large-scale venues to close at least until April 30, while still allowing offsite food and beverage service. He also ordered K-12 schools closed until further notice. He has not issued a general stay-at-home order as have been imposed in other states.

Burgum said he would let the order expire Friday “if the state continues to make progress” and replace it with another that outlines guidelines for such things as “hygiene and distancing” for businesses that choose to reopen.

Burgum said he would talk about those guidelines during his briefing Tuesday.

The announcement came as coronavirus cases climbed by 75 in North Dakota, including two new deaths, with almost all of the new cases in Grand Forks and Cass counties.

The new figures Monday from the Health Department include 36 in Grand Forks County, where an outbreak led to the shutdown of a wind turbine plant, and 34 in Cass, which includes Fargo. The overall number of confirmed cases is now at 942.

The two new deaths reported Monday bring the state’s total to 19. Health officials said both victims were men in their 80s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

Twenty-three people were hospitalized Monday in North Dakota, up six from Sunday. The state has tested 22,434 people, including a record 1,987 in the past day.

Burgum said the state’s “rolling 14-day average” in the number of cases “has remained relatively flat while we were really ramping up testing.”

The state likely will have the capacity for 4,000 tests daily in May, and 6,000 in June, he said.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever 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.