BISMARCK —The North Dakota Department of Health reported six new COVID-19-related deaths in the state as active cases have continued to fall from their mid-November peak.
The department also reported 241 new cases of the virus in the state.
Forty-nine new cases were recorded in Fargo's Cass County, while Bismarck's Burleigh County added 22 new cases. Minot's Ward County totaled 19 new cases.
Morton, Stark and Stutsman counties each reported 16 new cases. Williams County tallied 15 new cases.
Barnes, Grand Forks, Mercer, Richland, Rolette and Towner counties each added between five and 10 new cases. Benson, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Cavalier, Dickey, Dunn, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, LaMoure, Logan, McHenry, McIntosh, McKenzie, McLean, Mountrail, Nelson, Pembina, Ramsey, Ransom, Renville, Traill and Walsh counties all added four or fewer new cases.
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The new cases emerged from 5,598 tests for a daily positivity rate of 3.9%.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , North Dakota has reported 44.1 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past seven days, the ninth-lowest figure in the nation over that span.
The six new deceased North Dakotans — five men and one woman — ranged in age from their 60s to their 90s and were from Grand Forks, McLean, Ramsey, Stutsman and Walsh counties.
The deaths moved North Dakota's death toll from the virus to 1,231. Of those, 1,005 list COVID-19 as the primary cause, while an additional 220 list it as a secondary cause or are pending death records. Additionally, six deaths are of individuals who are presumed to have been positive for COVID-19. According to a Forum News Service calculation, 1.4% of those who have become infected have died in the state.
The state ranked second-highest in the nation with 1.8 deaths per 100,000 residents over the last seven days, the CDC said .
The state reported 401 new recoveries as well. Of those who have become infected with COVID-19 in North Dakota, 95.4% have recovered, a Forum News Service calculation found.
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For the second consecutive week, active cases dropped in each of North Dakota's four largest metropolitan areas.
Cass County's active cases numbered 631 Saturday, marking a 31% decrease from a week prior .
Active cases in Burleigh County dropped 32% from last Saturday from 573 to 388.
Grand Forks County reported a 38% drop-off to 204 active cases, while Ward County reported a 37% decrease to 191 active cases.
Five other North Dakota counties —Morton, Rolette, Stark, Stutsman and Williams — reported triple-digit active cases Saturday.
Nationwide, the CDC has reported 16,987,911 COVID-19 cases and 309,880 deaths attributed to the virus.
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