A woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions has died in North Dakota of the new coronavirus, Gov. Doug Burgum announced during his daily briefing on Friday.

There are now seven people in the state who have died of the illness as of Friday afternoon.

Based on North Dakota Health Department statistics as of Thursday, there have been 278 positive cases in the state thus far. Thirty six people have had to be hospitalized, including the seven who have died, and another 13 remain hospitalized. Some 105 people have recovered. There were an additional nine positive tests out of 618 tests that were completed by Thursday.

Burgum said the state will conduct more testing this weekend in Mountrail County, which has emerged as a mini hot spot in the area, with 20 people who tested positive out of 140 tests that have so far been conducted. The testing will be organized locally by tribal and county leaders, the county health department and others. The goal is to identify more positive cases and isolate them and quarantine those who have been in close contact with them.

The health department’s “strike team” has also investigated three positive test results associated with long-term care facilities, reviews the layout of the facilities and whom the people who tested positive had contact with, said Burgum. This information helps the health department to identify whom should be placed into isolation or quarantine as a precaution against spreading the virus.

Burgum said he will announce by April 15 whether the state will be able to “reopen” or whether closures will be extended past April 20. He said he did not want to be too optimistic. While North Dakota has had a relatively light number of deaths and infections from the coronavirus it is also possible that the state may hit a peak number of infections and deaths later than current hot spot New York.

Burgum said it will be necessary to review data from other states, including neighboring states, to determine whether North Dakota can safely reopen for business. When it happens, it will happen slowly, said Burgum.

Burgum said more widespread testing of a population and perhaps multiple testing of individuals could be necessary to determine whether it is safe for people to go back to work.

Burgum cautioned people to continue to follow health department guidelines regarding social distancing, even though it is Easter weekend, and to find ways to stay in touch in other ways. Many churches across the state are offering virtual church services, said Burgum. He has heard of a pastor offering parking lot services, where church members drive to a parking lot and everyone tunes their radio to the same frequency to hear the pastor deliver the sermon.

Burgum also issued a proclamation that declares the Easter Bunny, along with other magical creatures, essential workers who are permitted to go about their business provided they follow “North Dakota Smart guidelines.”