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.