Active COVID-19 cases in North Dakota increased by more than 60% last week, an outbreak concentrated in the Fargo area

Statewide case rate

• NEW CASES: 208
• TOTAL ACTIVE CASES: 1 221
• TOTAL CASES: 103,299
• TOTAL RECOVERED: 100 612
• DAILY TEST POSITIVITY RATE: 4.3%

North Dakota’s number of active cases rose to 81 on Thursday. Cass County, which includes Fargo, has reported 115 new cases and has nearly half of the state’s active cases. More than 72% of North Dakota’s active infections are concentrated in its four largest metropolitan areas: Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks and Minot. The statewide two-week moving average positivity rate is 4.3% and is 8.1% in Cass County. The number of active cases in North Dakota has increased by more than 60% in the past seven days, and cases more than doubled in March.

Hospitalizations, death

• ACTIVE HOSPITALIZATIONS: 21

• Newly reported deaths: Zero

• TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS: 1,466

As cases of the active virus have increased in recent weeks, hospitalizations and deaths have not followed. The health department reported no deaths from the virus on Thursday and an increase of two hospitalizations.

Vaccinations

• FIRST DOSE ADMINISTERED: 238,617 (40.9% of the population)

• COMPLETE SERIES (2 DOSES): 159,123 (27.3% of the population)

With a total of more than 413,000 injections administered, North Dakota remains a national leader in the deployment of the COVID-19 vaccine. The state has opened up eligibility for the vaccine to all citizens over the age of 16. The Department of Health urges residents to seek more information at www.health.nd.gov/covidvaccinelocator.

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Readers can contact reporter Adam Willis, a member of the Report for America Corps, at [email protected].