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Vaccinations, protests increase

Region continues to respond to COVID-19

A Sanford nurse prepares to vaccinate a local resident at a drive-through clinic Oct. 10 at the main station of the Minot Fire Department.

Vaccines rolled out, pandemic restrictions eased and COVID-19 cases dropped as 2021 entered with a promise to be a better year than its predecessor.

However, by September, local health officials were urging the public to vaccinate and take mitigation measures as COVID-19 numbers began to climb.

Although cases, hospitalizations and deaths didn’t reach levels similar to the peak in the fall of 2020, hospital and nursing home visitor restrictions that had loosened over the summer began to tighten again in the fall. By the holidays, though, visitation restrictions in nursing homes and other senior living facilities largely were lifted as long as masking policies were followed.

At the national level, vaccine eligibility broadened to include youth and children aged 5 and older, and new boosters were approved for those who completed their first vaccine sets.

Mass vaccinations began in the Minot area early 2021 and took off quickly. However, the highest vaccination rate reached in First District Health Unit’s seven-county region was Bottineau County at 58.2%. The lowest was Renville at 51%. Only about 53.5% of Ward County’s eligible population had been vaccinated with at least one dose going by mid-December, and virus mitigation measures were getting pushback.

Local residents protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates in northwest Minot near Burdick Job Corps Center Sept. 4.

The North Dakota Legislature passed a bill prohibiting statewide elected officials or a state health officer from imposing mask mandates. The bill passed after a similar prohibition affecting schools, employers and local governments was stripped from the bill, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Hoverson, R-Minot.

Meanwhile, employee protests over mandatory vaccinations prompted the North Dakota Legislature, meeting in special session in November, to pass a bill banning state and local government vaccine mandates for employees. Companies are allowed to impose vaccine requirements on employees, but workers may seek exemptions, including proof of antibodies, a doctor’s note or if testing weekly.

The Ward County Commission was asked to approve a resolution prohibiting mask and vaccine mandates. The commission declined to take action after weeks of holding onto the proposal for consideration. Hoverson had led the effort to get a county resolution in place.

Ward County discontinued its mask mandate on county properties in mid-January after the state lifted its requirement. The commission also ordered rapid COVID-19 test kits for employee use. Commissioners later made antibody testing available as well.

Mayor Shaun Sipma lifted a citywide mask mandate in Minot on Jan. 29. A mask mandate within city buildings continued until May 15, although it was eased in February to exclude situations where physical barriers existed or social distancing could be used. Masks continued to be required where federal rules apply, such as transit buses and the airport.

Submitted Graphic A graph showing active COVID-19 cases in First District Health Unit’s seven-county area reflects how the virus’ spread has impacted the region during 2021.

The Minot City Council had adopted a policy in August 2020 that required city employees to wear masks or face coverings at work and imposed the requirement on visitors in city buildings in October 2020.

Both the city and county provided employee COVID-related leave through part of the year.

After a school year of mask mandates, the Minot School Board in August approved a policy that makes masks strongly recommended, but not required, in school buildings. Masks remain required at Memorial Middle School and North Plains and Dakota Elementaries at Minot Air Force Base because the U.S. Air Force requires masks indoors per federal guidelines.

Businesses generally dropped mask requirements in the first part of the year, although most medical facilities have maintained requirements.

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