<p>BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota health officials said Friday that vaccinations for the coronavirus will be available to the general public beginning March 29.</p>
<p>The agency said some regions of the state could move into the Phase 2 vaccination phase even sooner.</p>
<p>The state developed a series of priority phases with the help of a vaccine ethics committee. Health care workers, long-term care residents and staff, and older adults were the first to be vaccinated. </p>
<p>Gov. Doug Burgum said in a statement that people who have not received a vaccine are encouraged to do so. Burgum received his first dose of the Moderna vaccine last week.</p>
<p>The governor has described vaccination as part of the plan to return to normal life.</p>
<p>The health department said as of Friday, almost 195,000 people in North Dakota had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.</p>
<p>Health officials reported 119 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday. One death was reported, bringing the statewide death toll to 1,460 since the pandemic began.</p>
