By Dave Thompson

BISMARCK, N.D. (Prairie Public) – Setting the stage for businesses in North Dakota, closed by executive order due to COVID-19, to start to re-open Friday.

Governor Burgum made that announcement during a Monday briefing.

Burgum says he will outline what those businesses will have to do to reopen under “Phase One” guidelines.

Burgum says teams from the Department of Commerce have been working with various industry groups on reopening. He says a new executive order will be issued – and will include both rules and guidelines for this phased-in opening.