ND Governor closes K-12 schools for 1 week

Bismarck (CSi)  Gov. Doug Burgum, on Sunday issued an Executive Order,  that all public and private K-12 schools will be closed for 1 week, Mon March 16 through Friday March 20.   He says the executive order does not include daycares because infants and young children are considered to be low risk.  Facilities can make the decision to close on their own.  He conferred with all Superintendents Sunday evening.   The Press Conference Video is below, at the ND Health Dept Facebook page. and The Replay Channel Facebook page.    Press Conf starts at about 12 minutes into video.

This closure impacts approximately 110,000 students across 175 districts.

During the news conference Sunday evening, Burgum said  new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  limiting gatherings of more than 50 people, played a role in closing the schools.

Burgum said the one week closure this week enables school districts to use the week to collect “better data” on the virus and the capacity of state’s health care system to handle it. Burgum said state officials will reassess by Friday, March 20,  when to bring school back in session.

State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler says the state received two waivers from the USDA that will allow them to provide brown-bag lunches to students and families in need. A plan for delivery will be made in the coming days. “Students’ health and safety is our number one priority. We’re working with North Dakota district superintendents and community leaders to do the best that we can for our students.”

Teachers should follow their district’s guidance on reporting to school.

Burgum and other state officials plan to meet with district superintendents and health care providers to gather information and answer questions.

Burgum said on Sunday that 112 Coronavirus tests had performed, 111  tests were returned negative and at that time only one positive result, a man in Ward County, ND.