BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – On the heels of President Donald Trump’s Emergency Declaration, North Dakota followed suite with a State of Emergency announced Friday.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum was joined by several other officials to issue the declaration, which he referred to as more of a “state of calm.”
Only one positive case of Coronavirus has been confirmed in North Dakota so far, but Governor Burgum says a State of Emergency will allow them to take steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Burgum confirmed that they would also be keeping K-12 schools open at this time.
State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler says they’ve received guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in regards to school closures.
Children have not been identified as a population affected by the coronavirus. Baesler added that closing schools at this time will put unneeded stress on other areas of childcare.
Major General Alan Dohrmann with the North Dakota National Guard says the emergency declaration will allow them to be called at a moments notice if their services become required.
Mylynn Tufte with the North Dakota Department of Health also announced the availability of more testing in the state.
Individuals can help protect themselves from COVID-19 by practicing everyday preventative behaviors. Stay home when sick, cover coughs and sneezes, frequently wash hands with soap and water and clean frequently touched surfaces.
Symptoms of COVID-19 in people who have been exposed can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. Individuals who think they may have COVID-19 should call their health care provider first before going to the clinic, unless it’s an emergency.
For questions related to COVID-19, the public can call the NDDoH health hotline at 866-207-2880 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Individuals who need medical advice should contact their health care provider.
For the most updated and timely information and updates related to COVID-19, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus , follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
You can listen to the full press conference below: