The deaths included two Burleigh County residents, two McLean County residents and one each from Logan and Ward counties. The residents whose deaths were reported Wednesday ranged between their 60s and their 100s.
During the past month and a half, active COVID-19 cases fell from their peak of more than 10,000 on November 13, and the increase in active cases on Wednesday was a break from the trend of the past week. Now it is known that 1821 North Dakotans were infected with the virus, which was 120 by Tuesday. With the decline in recent weeks, active virus cases in North Dakota are at their lowest point since late August, when the state’s virus uptake has just begun.
According to the Department of Health, 1,282 North Dakotans have died since COVID-19. The state averages nearly eight deaths a day in December, showing a decline from November when an average of more than 16 North Dakotans died each day. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state has the fourth highest number of deaths per capita in the country.
At least 768 of the state’s deaths occur in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. There are 50 infected residents in the state nursing home, which is more than 300 since the beginning of the month.
Virus hospitals have also been significantly cleaned up, with more than 200 people as of mid-November. On Wednesday, the number of North Dakotans hospitalized with COVID-19 dropped from 19 on Monday, bringing the state below 100 virus hospitals for the first time since September.
The department reported 375 new cases on Wednesday, including:
- 72 of Cass County, which includes Fargo.
- 35 of Burleigh County, which includes Bismarck.
- 20 of Grand Forks County.
About 4.7% of the 7,919 residents tested as part of the youngest group received a positive result and the average positivity rate of those tested over the past two weeks is about 4.6%. The state does not yet report how many residents tested negative on rapid antigen tests, although 119 of the positive results came Wednesday from the new 15-minute tests.
Healthcare workers began receiving their first doses of the newly released COVID-19 vaccine earlier this month, and vaccinations in state nursing homes are underway this week. Public health officials have urged North Dakotans to refrain from traveling and large gatherings for the Christmas and New Year holidays, to prevent a bump in January.
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Readers can contact Adam News Service Reporter Adam Willis, a member of the U.S. Corps, at [email protected].