JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Nearly a month removed from dropping from yellow to green in the ND Smart Restart Guidelines, Stutsman County Health officials are concerned the recent upswing in cases could cause the county to change levels once again.

Stutsman County saw a high rate of positivity at 6.4% in prior weeks, but soon decreased to 1.3% and is now going back up with the current 14-day positivity rate at 4.4%.

Central Valley Health Director of Health Promotions Shannon Klatt says cases continue to increase. A recent testing event had 40 positive cases out of 251 samples collected.

She says continuing to take precautions and following CDC guidelines will be vital in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the county.

Klatt says the high rates in positivity not just in Stutsman County but all across the state has led to Governor Doug Burgum and the North Dakota Department of Health to recommend those who experience symptoms to undertake contact tracing themselves.

She added that personal responsibility will be vital to ensure those who may have had close contact with COVID-19 to be informed so they can take steps to stop the spread.

Free COVID-19 testing is offered every Friday from 10 AM to Noon at the Jamestown Civic Center. Central Valley Health, with support from the North Dakota National Guard, will move testing indoors with the recent change in weather.

Those arriving for testing are asked to enter through the main door entrance of the Civic Center. Masks and social distancing are required.

Pre-registration is required at https://testreg.nd.gov. If you have registered and been tested in the past, you do not need to pre-register again.

For more information, contact Central Valley Health at 701-252-8130, visit centralvalleyhealth.org or like them on Facebook for the latest updates and information.

Listen to a full Let’s Talk About It with Shannon Klatt below: