JAMESTOWN, N.D. (CVH) – Results from the most recent Friday COVID-19 testing event were a cause for concern of local health and safety officials, with 40 of the 251 samples collected (15.9%) testing positive for the novel coronavirus.

The 14-day positivity rate in the community is increasing.  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%.   The drop in the positivity rate did make a difference in Stutsman County making our county color changed from yellow to green on the ND Smart Restart Guidance.

Robin Iszler, Unit Administrator at Central Valley Health District, says it will not be easy to stay green when our positivity rate is increasing.  Under the ND Smart Restart Guidance, more restrictions will be in place when the county colors change.  Iszler expressed her concern about the increases, which indicates that more disease is circulating in the community.

“What makes the positive cases different now than what we were seeing in previous months is that the majority of cases are from all over the community” says Robin Iszler, Unit Administrator at Central Valley Health District.  When cases are from a variety of places and cannot be pinpointed, this is considered “community spread.”

Iszler elaborated on examples of where recent positive cases are being exposed, which included workplaces, family and social gatherings, schools, and sporting events.   Increases in cases means that the general public is at an increased risk of exposure when they are at work, or are out in the community.  Iszler says, many businesses are being impacted by workers who are testing positive which puts a stain on the work force as businesses considering closing or working with less employees.

Stronger measures in the city being considered.

Mayor Heinrich urges the community to follow prevention measures or stricter policy orders may be necessary.

“As Mayor of Jamestown, I have the authority to strengthen our safety practices through policy changes such as: public mask mandates and early shut down of bars and restaurants and restrictions for local gatherings (i.e. weddings, community events, etc.),” states Heinrich.  The Mayor stresses that changes will not be made without consultation with local health and safety officials of the Emergency Operation Center of the community’s conditions.  “In order to keep our local business and economy going and schools open, our residents need to be healthy and our community data needs to improve,” say Heinrich.

Free testing is offered every Friday from 10am to noon at the Jamestown Civic Center by Central Valley Health District, with the support of the North Dakota National Guard.  With the recent change in weather, testing has been moved indoors.  Please enter through the North 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.