- Associated Press - Tuesday, March 31, 2020

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Coronavirus cases in North Dakota rose by 17 on Tuesday, led by a surge in the state’s most populated county.

The North Dakota Health Department reported a total of 126 cases in the state. Eight of the new cases are Cass County, bringing to 31 the number of cases in the county that includes Fargo.

Burleigh County, which includes Bismarck, had a total of 30 cases, up one from Monday. The virus is now present in 22 of North Dakota’s 53 counties. Health officials said 21 people were hospitalized on Tuesday, up two from the day prior.

“The curve is still going up,” Gov. Doug Burgum said at his daily press briefing. “We should assume it’s everywhere and people should act accordingly.”

North Dakota has reported three deaths, though none on Tuesday. All of the victims were elderly and had underlying health conditions.

Burgum said the state was “still seeking” more ventilators from the federal government for people suffering from the coronavirus. He said Fargo-based Appareo Systems also plans to make “thousands” of low-cost ventilators.

North Dakota distilleries have indicated they will soon shift some of their production of alcohol to manufacture hand sanitizer, Burgum said, though he would not immediately name the companies. The hygiene product has been in short supply at stores and hospitals amid the outbreak.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently eased rules to allow ethanol factories to use supplies of alcohol to make the germ-fighting substance. But Burgum said he did not believe that any of the state’s five ethanol factories would shift production to hand sanitizer.

Still, the governor urged residents to save plastic pump bottles that could be reused if any sanitizer is produced in the state.

“We do know we have the ability to create a product, but we don’t have bottle manufacturing,” 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, and death.

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