FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A coronavirus outbreak at a northeastern North Dakota wind turbine plant has ballooned to 110 cases in early testing and one city official said Saturday he expects a “prolonged battle” to control the spread.
An uptick in cases at the LM Wind Power facility in Grand Forks led to the drive-thru screening Thursday of 424 people, which included close contacts of infected workers, other household members and employees who have not shown symptoms, Gov. Doug Burgum said. All but 52 of those tests have been completed by the state lab.
“The good news is we've only had one hospitalization so far among LM Wind Power employees who have tested positive,” Burgum said.
Another mass testing will likely be held within a week, he said. There are nearly 900 employees at the facility and the governor said “it's safe to assume" the outbreak "was widespread within the plant.”
Grand Forks Mayor Michael R. Brown said the city has planned and prepared for a major outbreak, but added it will take a group effort “so we don't overwhelm” the healthcare system.
“We anticipate this to be a prolonged battle,” Brown said.
Burgum said he doesn't think the outbreak could have been prevented because it's a “highly contagious disease that is spread very easily" and clusters have popped up in places that have taken extreme precautions, such as nursing homes.
The governor added that LM Wind Power is considered a “critical manufacturing business” by the Department of Homeland Security and was not subject to any of his business closures, although he wouldn't have shut it down anyway.
“We're trying to get things back open. We're not trying to close more things down,” Burgum said.
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