Pierce County’s number of confirmed positive coronavirus cases have been relatively low since March.

As of Thursday morning, the N.D. Department of Health Coronavirus Cases webpage listed Pierce County having two tests for COVID-19 coming back positive and 41 coming back negative.

Some neighboring counties also showed low numbers of confirmed cases, but also higher amounts of negative tests.

Benson County as of Thursday had 291 tests, all negative. Rolette County had 1 confirmed positive case and 133 negatives for a total of 134 tests. McHenry County had 1 confirmed positive and 71 negatives out of 72 tests. Towner County had 31 tests, all coming back negative. Bottineau County to the northeast had 92 tests, all negative. Sheridan County had 15 negatives out of 15 tests, while Wells County had one positive and 40 negative tests.

According to Pierce County Lake Region District Health Unit Nurse Samantha Wentz, clinicians consider testing patients for COVID-19 if two or more symptoms are present with new or worsening onset, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, chills, fatigue, headache, loss of taste/smell, and myalgia. In Pierce County, the Heart of America Medical Center is the only place conducting tests.

“I would recommend that anyone in this county who has two or more of the above symptoms, get tested,” said Wentz in an email to the Tribune. “The testing has become more available, and everywhere will be increasing testing capabilities.”

In a press release Thursday, HAMC announced that due to a lack of positive cases the hospital would resume offering elective procedures to patients effective April 27. Staff are required to wear face masks.

– Tribune Staff Report