North Dakota — Concerned about rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in long-term care facilities in the state, Gov. Doug Burgum (R) expedited actions to improve care.
Among the measures instituted in late September, he directed health officials to make residents a priority for testing, contact tracing and follow-up; and to move medical personnel, such as EMTs, and supplies to congregate settings to help with the testing effort. Also, the governor said that 200 nurses from the health department’s operations center will help provide staff coverage.
Test processing at the state lab had been on a first-come, first-serve basis, Burgum said.
As of late September, the state surpassed 200 deaths from COVID-19. A hot spot at this time was Burleigh and Morton counties.
From the November 2020 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
