BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – One day after North Dakota set a grim record of 24 more deaths from COVID-19, the topic of hospital capacity has been raised in the state.

During the latest Governor Doug Burgum COVID-19 briefing Thursday, Burgum stated that 125 patients have been hospitalized in total with 27 being in ICU. Since the pandemic began, there have been more than 1,000 hospitalizations.

With current hospitalizations at an all-time high in North Dakota, Dr. Michael LeBeau, Vice President of Clinics at Sanford in Bismarck, says the issue of capacity is at the forefront of their concerns.

Dr. LeBeau says during this time, the challenges this pandemic has presented healthcare workers in North Dakota have been met head-on.

Dr. LeBeau stressed that to keep hospital beds open, it is important to take personal responsibilities at this time.

He added that the hospitals are ready to perceiver and that there is a “long road ahead”.

The latest coronavirus numbers updated by the North Dakota Department of Health daily are accessible here. Governor Burgum says they have added current hospitalizations to those statistics.

Watch the full briefing below: