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First District explains COVID-19 mass testing in Ward County

First District Health United tested 696 individuals at a mass public testing at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds Wednesday.

Individuals who test positive will be contacted immediately, the health unit announced. Those who test negative will be contacted when the test run is completed, which is expected to be about Monday.

On Friday, the State of North Dakota reported that 358 tests from Ward County were processed in the 24 hours ending at midnight. Few, if any, of those tests were from the mass testing drive-through event, according to First District.

Several other testing events were conducted in the county, including a large testing event at Trinity Health. Tests ordered for symptomatic individuals also were occurring. Some individuals tested at the drive-through event were not Ward County residents, including some members of the National Guard.

The two positive tests reported in Ward County Friday were identified as close contacts to an existing case. Two additional cases in Ward County were reported Saturday, bringing the total since March to 43.

Once all tests from Wednesday’s screening have been run, First District will make more information public. Final results may show fewer than 696 tests if any samples are inconclusive.

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