North Dakota reports 43 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths

North Dakota health officials on Tuesday reported 43 new cases of COVID-19, including 38 in the state’s most populous county that contains Fargo.

Statewide, there were 2,422 confirmed cases as of Tuesday. Cass County has recorded 1,580 of the confirmed cases.

North Dakota has recorded 54 deaths linked to the coronavirus but none were reported Tuesday.

The number of patients hospitalized was 40 on Tuesday, up one from the previous day.

The state Department of Health says the testing lab recently experienced a recent malfunction of two pieces of equipment, so 82 positive results have been considered inconclusive and the individuals have been asked to retest. The malfunction has been corrected and has not impacted lab processing, officials said.

Officials said retesting is ongoing over the next “couple of days.” Sixty-five people have been retested, with one positive case. One person has refused to be retested, officials said.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.