JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Stutsman County Commission heard from Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist on a proposed non-congregate sheltering plan for the county.

The plan would address non-congregate sheltering such as temporary repurposed facilities such as hotel/motels, dormitories, camps, or converted buildings that can offer single room occupancy or private sleeping spaces.

These temporary facilities house the homeless or transient population that require isolation or quarantine to help protect the public by preventing exposure to others.

Bergquist says the non-congregate would be different from a mass congregate plan and allow sheltering individuals as opposed to large groups.

Some cases the plan could be implemented include:

-A viral pandemic
-Government authorities establishing and enforcing health and safety measures and guidelines
-Hospital surge due to increase of non-critical patients
-A Public Health Emergency or Pandemic that requires isolating

The plan will be used for people who may test positive for COVID-19 and homeless individuals.

The plan was adopted unanimously by the Stutsman County Commission.