As hospitals in the state reach capacity and face dire staff shortages, North Dakota will now allow healthcare workers who have tested positive for COVID-19 to continue working in coronavirus units, officials announced this week.
Hospital administrators have asked for the extraordinary action to be taken, Governor Doug Burgum said at a Monday press conference, and interim State Health Officer Dirk Wilke amended an order to allow the new measure to take effect.
Now, North Dakota healthcare workers are permitted to continue treating COVID-19 patients, even if they’ve tested positive for the virus themselves. “This applies only to COVID-positive healthcare workers who do not have symptoms and they are allowed only to work COVID units around patients who already have the virus,” Burgum said.