In response to a meteoric rise in COVID-19 positive cases in the Fargo metro, increased hospitalizations and an unprecedented death rate, Fargo Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney has issued an Emergency Executive Order on Limitation of Occupancy.
This order, which will go into effect at 8 a.m. on Monday, November 16, seeks to effectively enforce the North Dakota Smart Restart 25% occupancy requirements (or a maximum of 50 people, whichever is less). The order will be in place until 2:01 a.m. on December 15, but may be extended as conditions require.
The city released this following statement:
“Under the Mayor’s emergency executive order, Fargo Cass Public Health’s Environmental Health division will function in a proactive role to provide education to businesses and other settings where there may be potential for a gathering where the size would exceed the order. Education will include specifics from the Mayor’s order, as well as COVID-19 risk mitigation measures. If Environmental Health is made aware of an event that would not be in compliance with the order, staff will contact the facility hosting the event and inform them of the parameters set forth by the executive order. Environmental Health will clarify the occupancy maximums in the order. Once education has been provided, Environmental Health will notify the Fargo Police Department of the event so they can monitor to ensure it meets compliance with the order. Prior to the orders implementation, Environmental Health staff members will contact local churches, funeral homes, event centers, restaurants and bars to ensure they receive the proper education behind the order and are made aware of the limitations.
Occupancy violations will be documented and forwarded to the City Attorney’s Office where that office will then determine whether a violation occurred.
The FPD will be undertaking an active role in implementation of this order. While the FPD recognizes the community’s desire to help enforce the executive order, the FPD does not have the resources to respond to individual calls for service regarding occupancy violation concerns. Instead, the FPD will be working closely with Fargo Cass Public Health to follow up on known premises violating the occupancy executive order.”
