Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Mar 20

CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows zero to 5 above. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.SATURDAY…Cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the afternoon. Highs around 30. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20. South winds 5 to

10 mph.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s. West winds 5 to

10 mph.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20.

.MONDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

.MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows around 30.

.TUESDAY…Cloudy. Highs in the mid 40s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. A 30 percent chance of snow after

midnight. Lows in the upper 20s.

.WEDNESDAY…Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Highs in

the upper 30s.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of

snow. Lows around 20.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

Tuesday night through Wednesday will bring a chance for light rain and snow.

Spring thaw update… Overall the slow thaw process of March continues with some runoff

reaching into the southern valley with Wahpeton and Abercrombie

rising to around action stage. Our current cool down will stall

the thaw process through the weekend. Next week the temperatures

are set to continue the gradual thaw with daytime highs above

freezing and overnight lows below freezing. This will allow the

southern basin to continue to see snowmelt runoff begin to reach

the river system with slowly rising streams and rivers.

 

Update….

Valley City  (VCSU)   The COVID-19 test result for a Valley City State University student tested on March 18 has come back negative — the VCSU student, who had been quarantined, does not have the coronavirus COVID-19 illness.

VCSU President Alan LaFave shared the news with campus via email; in that message he expressed concern for the student and asked that the campus community “please continue to protect yourselves and your families from this illness.”

All academic instruction at VCSU has been moved online for the remainder of spring semester 2020. In addressing those plans, President LaFave said, “Our similar experience during the Sheyenne River flood of 2009 and the success of our current online undergraduate and graduate programs have provided us with the technological tools, skills and aptitude to make this happen.”

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  A news briefing was held on Friday March 20, 2020 at City Hall in Jamestown, regarding COVID-19 local response in Stutsman County.

On hand at the meeting were representatives from:

Central Valley Health District, City of Jamestown, Stutsman County Sheriff’s Department, Jamestown Police Department, Jamestown Public Schools, Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

 

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said he is addressing not only the health aspects, but also the financial ramifications of the pandemic limiting access to businesses.

He urges citizens to follow health guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.  He said protection of citizens is the city’s first priority.  He added that all city services are continuing, and Jamestown water is safe to drink.  He said citizens need to continue with sacrifices during this time, as social, religious norms and our way of life have changed, and stresses the need for social distancing, and washing of hands with soap and water, and covering mouths and nose to limit the spread of the virus germs.

 

Central Valley Health District Administrator Robin Iszler said, as of Friday, March 20, 2020 there have been NO POSTIVE CORNONA VIRUS TEST RESULTS RECEIVED, either from Stutsman or Logan Counties. CVHD is working continuously with the State Health Department with briefings and updated information, adding that CVHD has been distributing healthcare information, including how individuals can help prevent the spread of the virus, including social distancing.

She said plans are in place in the event a positive Coronavirus is received, and that a Stutsman County Unified Command Center is being established, with information to be disseminated.

Central Valley Health District has banned walk-ins, however the office can be contacted with questions or concerns.   (701-252-8130.)

 

Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser said the Sheriff Office is operating normally, and that deputies are practicing Social Distancing when in contact with the public, and may be wearing protective gear.

He pointed out that calls may be responded to over the phone if appropriate, rather than in person.

He said Stutsman County offices are closed to walk-ins, however phones have been established inside the main door to contract employees who continue to work in the courthouse.

 

Jamestown Police Chief Scott Edinger said the Police Department is operational with officers on patrol in the city, and that laws will continue to be enforced, and that officers may respond to calls over the phone instead of in person, depending on the situation.  Officers will observe social distancing and may be wearing protective gear.

 

Jamestown School Superintendent, Robert Lech said the school district continues to work with Central Valley Health, for guidelines along with State Health Department officials.  He said school building cleanings were done for sanitizing, and the school district has been planning for providing on line classroom instruction which will begin on Monday March 23, 2020, through March 31, 2020.  He said the school district is making sure homes have computers and internet connections to access their students live classroom instruction.  He said on Thursday this week 230 free on site meals were given out and 360 on Friday, adding that the free meals will continue to be available, while school is not in session at the distribution sites.  He said to call ahead to order the meals, at each school location.  Some deliveries are available.

 

Jamestown Regional Medical Center, CEO and President, Mike Delfs said visitor restrictions continue, with visitors admitted for only specific reasons, outlined in the hospital policy.   Call JRMC with questions.   He said the hospital’s sanitizing robot is being used, along with standard sanitizing practices.   Staff travel is limited.  JRMC is working with the State Hospital in Jamestown, along with clinics and all healthcare providers, and is following guidelines set by the CDC concerning virus screenings and testing.   He said the hospital staff meets daily, including medical supplies inventory, and potential bed space available needed in the event of a regional epidemic.

As of Friday, March 20, 2020 the hospital has administered 12 Coronavirus tests with NO POSITIVE RESULTS.   He said JRMC continues to work with officials with the State Health Department with updated information and guidelines.

Friday’s meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67, followed by replays.

Jamestown   (JPD)  The Jamestown Police Department has temporarily suspended certain services effective immediately.

On Friday, the police statement said that they would be suspending all fingerprinting as well as the selling of animal and bicycle licenses. The LEC lobby is also closed.

“Sex offender registration will still occur, but the offender should call and ask to speak to an office so that a meeting time can be scheduled. If you need to report anything please call our dispatch center and they will assign a police officer who will determine if we need to respond in person, or handle over the phone. We appreciate your understanding in these difficult and uncertain times.”

For more information or to receive services, you can call the Police Department at 701-252-1000.

Bismarck   (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his daily news briefing on Friday at 4-p.m., in Bismarck, to discuss the latest developments regarding COVID-19 in North Dakota.

He said the continued strategy is to slow the rate of infection transmission, with behavioral changes, including social distancing.  He said the state is reviewing the supply chain of having medical supplies in numbers in the event of a widespread outbreak.

He said with 7 news cases Friday, that brings the total positive cases to 26, as of Friday of 938 tests.

Two infected individuals are now hospitalized.

POSITIVE TEST RESULTS

• Woman in her 70s from Ramsey County, unknown origin
• Man in his 70s from Morton County, unknown origin
• Man in his 70s from Burleigh County, community spread
• Man in his 30s from Burleigh County, unknown origin
• Woman in her 40s from Pierce County, travel related
• Woman in her 40s from Morton County, close contact of someone who’s positive
• Woman in her 30s from Morton County, travel related

 

BY THE NUMBERS

938 – Total Tested

912 – Negative

26 – Positive

2 – Hospitalized

News briefings will continue on Saturday and Sunday both days at 4-p.m., live streamed on the State Health Department’s web site.

Telehealth has been approved by an Executive Order though the State Health Deparment.

He said the unemployment claim process red tape, has been streamlined, by another Executive Order, as claims in North Dakota have daily increased dramatically.  He said claims checks should be able to come faster.  He said state and federal officials will make sure enough dollars are in the unemployment fund.

Another Executive Order says, recently expired drivers licenses and registrations are still valid at this time.

When a person is tested positive, the health department is interviewing those individuals to determine who were the recent close contacts the person has had, to track possible new cases, and tell them to stay home, and report any symptoms.  A close contact is within 6-feet over an extended period of time.

He said the Small Business Administration has low interest loan information, available through the state of North Dakota website.

The state’s highway rest stops are slated to reopen next week, after a deep cleaning and those parking lots are still open.

He said the state continues to monitor the ventilator supply capacity with ventilators available and  through the supply chain.  The state is addressing the number of hospital beds that may be needed and additional locations that could be converted for additional bed capacity in the state, including converting college dorms and other buildings in the state.

Testing swab supplies are increasing with more coming.

He ended by urging social distancing in halting the spread of the virus, and safe hygienic practices, and stay home if you are  sick.

In world and national news…

(AP)  New York state is joining California in ordering nearly all residents to stay home, as governors watch with growing alarm as southern Europe buckles under the strain of the coronavirus outbreak. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says New York is going to “close the valve,” because its hospital system could become overwhelmed. The move came after California, the nation’s most populous state, with some 40 million people, all but confined its population in the biggest lockdown in the U.S.Italy is reporting 627 new coronavirus deaths _ its biggest day-to-day rise since the outbreak began _ and says new cases also shot up. Italy now has seen over 4,000 deaths and 47,000 infections.

 

(AP) Friday afternoon,  stocks were widening their losses and the price of oil is falling sharply again as clampdowns related to the coronavirus escalate. The Dow industrials are off more than 500 points Friday afternoon, or 2.5%. The price of U.S. crude oil dropped about 21% and moved below $20 a barrel. Oil has been plunging as investors anticipate a sharp drop in demand for energy as manufacturing, travel and commerce grind nearly to a halt. The Dow is down 15% this week. Investors are worried that the global economy is entering a recession because of the massive shutdowns and layoffs caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

 

ATLANTA (AP) — A jet carrying 359 people including hundreds of American and Canadian cruise ship passengers from France has landed at Atlanta’s airport and they’re being screened for COVID-19, federal officials said. Three of the people on board have tested positive, but have no symptoms, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Friday. Thirteen others are sick but have not been tested, authorities said. The passengers from the cruise ship Costa Luminosa were being taken a hangar for screening. State officials said they’re encouraging federal officials to bring two commercial buses to the airport, and the Georgia State Patrol is prepared to escort the buses.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is tapping stepped-up powers to marshal the private sector in the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this week he said he’d invoke the rarely used Defense Production Act as needed to get vital medical supplies on the front lines of the outbreak. Now he says he’s put that “in gear.” He also announced an effective closure of the U.S. border with Mexico, prohibiting most travel except for trade. That brings it in line with the restriction on the Canadian border earlier this week. The government is suspending interest on federally owned student loans as well.

 

CHICAGO (AP) — Southwest Airlines has significantly scaled back its fights in and out of Midway International Airport, its Chicago hub, days after federal authorities closed the airport’s control tower after technicians tested positive for the coronavirus. Southwest Airlines spokeswoman Brandy King said the Dallas-based airline had canceled about 170 of its roughly 250 daily flights in and out of Midway due to the airspace restrictions following the control tower’s closure. King said that reports that Southwest Airlines had cancelled all flights in and out of Midway were not accurate. She says it’s not clear how long the airline will keep its reduced flight level in and out of Midway.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has announced that the deadline for filing U.S. income taxes has been moved from April 15 to July 15. Mnuchin tweeted Thursday morning that at President Donald Trump’s direction, “we are moving Tax Day from April 15 to July 15. All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties.” The administration had announced earlier in the week that it would delay the payments, a move that Mnuchin said would leave $300 billion in the economy at a critical time.