JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Stutsman County Commission passed an emergency declaration Tuesday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Put together by Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist, the declaration would allow Stutsman County access to any potential funding that would cover costs or damages accrued during the outbreak.

Bergquist stated that Stutsman County would be joining several other jurisdictions in passing a declaration.

The declaration states that agencies would be undertaking efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus and these efforts may “create a serious financial burden in excess of Stutsman County resources due to the unknown duration of the COVID-19 threat.”

Bergquist says passing this declaration was more for precaution.

Central Valley Health Unit Administrator Robin Iszler says two more cases of Coronavirus were found in the state and information they continue to receive is constantly changing and being updated.

Iszler added that there is testing constantly ongoing. No tests have been issued in Stutsman County as of Tuesday, March 17th.

The commission unanimously approved the declaration.