BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum implored the state to remain vigilant in preventing infections on the Thanksgiving holiday as the state reported a downward tick in coronavirus cases.
The Republican governor acknowledged in a Thanksgiving statement that the state still has a long way to go in containing the spread of the virus, saying “a week of improved results does not make a trend.”
Health experts have warned that holiday gatherings could lead to a surge of infections.
The Department of Health reported 952 cases, along with 10 deaths from COVID-19. Over the past two weeks, the rolling average number of daily new cases has decreased slightly. An average of 1,205 daily cases was reported in the last week.
But the state still led the nation in new cases per capita over that time, according to Johns Hopkins researchers. One in every 92 people tested positive in the past week.
Burgum thanked medical workers who have been caring for high numbers of COVID-19 patients. There are currently 302 people hospitalized with the virus.
The deaths reported Thursday included two people in their 90s, five people in their 80s, a woman in her 70s, a man in his 60s and a man in his 40s.
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