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COVID-19 has killed more than one in every 1,000 residents in North Dakota, data shows.

With a population of 762,000, the Peace Garden State has recorded at least 791 virus-related deaths, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.

Meanwhile, the state has ranked first in the nation for new cases per capita for the last two weeks. One in every 79 people in the state tested positive in the past week, data shows.

Gov. Doug Burgum issued an order last week requiring face coverings inside businesses and indoor public places, as well as in outdoor public spaces where social distancing isn’t possible.

“Since the beginning, we’ve taken a data-driven approach to our pandemic response, focusing on saving lives and livelihoods,” Burgum said.

“Right now, the data demands a higher level of mitigation efforts to reverse these dangerous trends, to slow the spread of this virus, and to avoid the need for economic shutdowns.”

With Post wires