Mask-Resistant North Dakota Town Battles COVID-19 Pandemic

 

North Dakota recently rose to the top of the list of new COVID-19 cases per person.

North Dakota is one of the least populated areas in the United States, with only 700,000 people calling it home. It has had 40,000 cases statewide, with more than 6,000 active infections.

"The state has a problem we haven't been able to solve yet," Travis Enders told VOA.

Enders owns a business in Medora, a small tourist town in western North Dakota. The town's 112 people have resisted wearing face masks in a state long known for resisting government requirements.

"North Dakotans are a different breed¹," said Jim Bridger, who owns a hotel and bar. "We live in lots of open space... socially distanced our whole lives."

North Dakotans, Bridger said, do not like being told what to do. While he requires workers at his hotel to wear masks, he does not have the same rule at the bar. He keeps the seating distanced and cleans the business each night.

Jennifer Morlock, another North Dakotan, is of a different opinion. She believes that the longer the state takes to require masks, the longer the rise in COVID-19 cases will continue.

Morlock owns a store that sells bicycles. Her bicycle shop is one of the few businesses in town that requires masks to be worn.

"People like to talk about freedom and liberty," she said, adding "to me, freedom means the freedom to keep my business open. If I get sick, I don't have that freedom. I'll have to shut down."

Feeling normal

Medora has avoided the worst of an outbreak that is filling North Dakota's hospitals. That has saved the local economy, but possibly increased health risks.

Enders noted² that many visitors to world-famous Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming often go to North Dakota to visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park. They usually travel through Medora, which has reported an increase in tourists this year.

Because of the COVID-19 health crisis³, many vacationers are avoiding crowded seaside communities and other places traditionally popular among tourists. They are, however, visiting national parks in large numbers.

"People are coming here because things are open and because they feel safe here," Enders explained. "The only time you really see a mask is when you walk into Walmart. That's about it."

Reasons for a spike⁴

Health officials in the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C., have repeatedly⁵ asked people to cover their face, but wearing masks is less accepted in rural⁶ areas. Now, states that refused to require masks may be suffering the consequences.

Those following COVID-19 cases note that neighboring South Dakota held a 460,000-person motorcycle rally⁷ in August. The event is now widely considered to have been a super-spreader activity.

Even so, many people believe that increased testing is the reason for the rise in the number of cases.

"Even in our little town, we have free weekly testing," Bridger said. "When you increase testing, you're more likely to find cases...and that's happening all over the state."

North Dakota Governor⁸ Doug Burgum has left enforcement⁹ of safety measures to business owners. Early on, however, he did order the state to restrict¹⁰ businesses when the pandemic first reached the United States. A short time later, tourists stopped coming to Medora.

Shutting down

North Dakota can get bitterly cold during the winter. People do little traveling, and the national park's visitors stop coming. Businesses earn most of their money between April and September.

"So, it hurt when we had to stay closed during the first weeks of spring," Bridger said.

In addition to tourism, the state's oil industry has struggled during the pandemic. North Dakota is the second largest oil manufacturer¹¹ in the United States. As international travel stopped, the demand for oil collapsed¹².

Before the coronavirus reached the United States, North Dakota's oil industry employed as many as 55,000 workers. They captured¹³ 1.5 million barrels¹⁵ of oil each day from the Bakken, an energy-rich rock formation¹⁶ that extends¹⁷ through the western part of the state. Today, 80 percent of North Dakota's oil operations are shut, and thousands of industry employees have been sent home.

Uncertain crisis

With the return of warmer weather, many Medora businesses reported a busier year than normal.

"We saw more people than usual visiting the area," said Morlock about her bike shop. "I think with the national park, they feel like parts of North Dakota can be a safe place to travel that they've never been before."

Others, like Enders, however, believe the increased number of tourists brought health risks.

"It's great for business, but it's also a little bit of a worry," he said, adding "that means they're...bringing the virus with them."

Words In This Story

tourist – n. one who visits a place for pleasure

mask – n. a nose and mouth covering meant to protect against contagious¹⁸ disease¹⁹

breed – n. a type

bar – n. a place where alcohol²⁰ is served

bicycle – n. a two-wheeled vehicle operated by pushing pedals²¹

shut down – v. closing all public facilities during an outbreak of contagious disease

outbreak – n. the sudden appearance of a contagious disease

park – n. a place where nature is protected for visitors to enjoy

consequence – n. the results of one's actions

barrel¹⁴ – n. w wooden or metal container that holds wine or oil

1 breed   

n.品种，种类；vi.繁殖，产仔；vt.养殖，产生

参考例句：

• The parents are trying to breed their son a musician.这对父母尽力要把儿子培养成为音乐家。
• This breed of horses is both tall and heavily grown.这种马既高且大。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。

4 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

5 repeatedly   

adv.重复地，再三地

参考例句：

• The loudspeakers blared the speech repeatedly.扬声器里反复大声地播送那篇演讲。
• He repeatedly beat his foot upon the floor.他反复用脚敲着地板。

6 rural   

adj.乡下的，田园的，乡村风味的

参考例句：

• He lived a rural life.他过着田园生活。
• We left the city for a rural home.我们离开城市，去农村安家。

7 rally   

n.集会，公路汽车赛；v.集合，恢复，振作

参考例句：

• The grand mass rally was held on the square.广场上举行了盛大的群众集会。
• The team captain vainly tried to rally his troops.队长试图振作部队的士气，但没有成功。

8 governor   

n.统治者，地方长官(如省长，州长，总督等)

参考例句：

• The governor was an expert at fencing with reporters.这位州长是搪塞新闻记者的能手。
• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。

9 enforcement   

n.实施, 执行

参考例句：

• MPs called for tougher enforcement of the existing laws on drugs. 下院议员呼籲加强现行毒品法律的执行力度。
• The court is ineffective because it lacks the necessary enforcement machinery. 法院效率低是因为缺乏必要的执行机制。

10 restrict   

n./vt.限制，限定，约束

参考例句：

• He feels this new law will restrict his freedom. 他觉得这一新法律会限制他的自由。
• Don't restrict her proper activities.不要拘束她的正当活动。

11 manufacturer   

n.生产厂商，制造公司，厂主

参考例句：

• A manufacturer can amplify the demand of a product by advertising widely.厂商能用大做广告的方法来扩大人们对产品的需求。
• Prices are laid down by the manufacturer.价格是由厂商制定的。

12 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

13 captured   

俘获( capture的过去式和过去分词 )； 夺取； 夺得； 引起（注意、想像、兴趣）

参考例句：

• Allied troops captured over 300 enemy soldiers. 盟军俘虏了300多名敌方士兵。
• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。

14 barrel   

n.圆桶；一桶的量；枪管；vt.把...装桶

参考例句：

• I drew off three pints of beer from the barrel.我从酒桶里抽出三品脱啤酒。
• The man rolled the barrel into the yard.那个人把圆桶滚进院子。

15 barrels   

n.桶( barrel的名词复数 )；枪[炮]管；一桶（的量）；桶（石油计量单位，相当于120 到159 升）

参考例句：

• The farmers put up the apples in barrels. 农夫们把苹果装入箱内。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The wine is aged for almost a year in oak barrels. 这葡萄酒已经在橡木桶里存放近一年了。 来自辞典例句

16 formation   

n.形成，组成；形成物，结构；队形，排列

参考例句：

• This is the formation of a new government.这是新政府的构成。
• The aircraft are flying in formation.飞机编队飞行。

17 extends   

v.（空间、时间等）延伸，延续( extend的第三人称单数 )；伸展；给予；延长

参考例句：

• This country extends its power and influence into neighbouring countries. 这个国家将其势力与影响扩大至邻国。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His domain extends for 20 miles in every direction. 方圆20英里之内都是他的地产。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 contagious   

adj.传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
• He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。

19 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

20 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

21 pedals   

n.（自行车或其他机器的）踏板( pedal的名词复数 )；脚蹬子；（钢琴、风琴等的）踏板；踏瓣

参考例句：

• I couldn't reach the pedals on her bike. 我骑她的车够不到脚蹬子。
• The pedals of a cycle are attached to a crank. 自行车的踏板与曲柄相连。 来自辞典例句