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BISMARCK, ND (KFYR) – The era of “individualistic responsibility” is over.
Governor Doug Burgum., RN.D., announced new requirements for the state in hopes of slowing the spread of COVID 19.
The measure requires that the face shield be worn in indoor businesses and indoor public places as well as outdoor public places where physical distance is not possible.All bars, restaurants and food services are limited to 50% of their capacity and all event venues are limited to 25 percent occupancy. The measures come into effect at midnight from Saturday to December 13.
Unlike the mask and business plans that are rampant in cities and counties in North Dakota, these requirements carry a penalty.
Those who do not comply are subject to an offense; the same sanction as the initial orders that shut down many businesses at the start of the state of emergency last spring.
It’s a different tone coming from the governor’s office.
Burgum, like many other Republican governors, has consistently spoken out in favor of wearing masks, but has consistently opposed a statewide mask mandate. Arguing that they are difficult to apply and could create the opposite of the targeted effect; saying that many would be reluctant to wear a mask if forced to.
“Our doctors and nurses who work heroically on the front lines need our help, and they need it now. From the start, we have taken a data-driven approach to our response to the pandemic, focusing on saving lives and livelihoods. Right now, the data demands a higher level of mitigation effort to reverse these dangerous trends, to slow the spread of this virus and to avoid the need for economic shutdowns, ”Burgum said. “Our situation has changed and we must change with it. Tonight, we are announcing four measures designed to reduce the spread of infections in our communities to protect our most vulnerable and ensure the capacity of hospitals.
Industries that are not specifically mentioned in orders are urged to continue to follow the state’s smart restart guidelines.
“I fully support and endorse the orders signed today by Governor Burgum and the state health official,” said Dr. Joshua Wynne, chief health strategist for North Dakota and dean of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences. “As citizens of North Dakota, we must act now to limit the spread of the virus and thus prevent our hospital capacity from being threatened. Let’s do these things now so that by Thanksgiving the pandemic situation in North Dakota is headed in the right direction.
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