Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held a news briefing Weds at the state capital in Bismarck concerning state update in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. Briefing starts at about 16 minutes in . . .

https://www.facebook.com/ndhealth/videos/520071505358683/?t=986

Burgum announced that President Donald Trump has granted the governor’s request for a major presidential disaster declaration to make federal assistance available to support North Dakota’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Burgum says, “We are deeply grateful to the President and his administration for making this assistance available to help us expand our response efforts and protect public health as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves. We also appreciate the support from our state’s congressional delegation and the many local, state, federal and tribal partners contributing to this unprecedented effort.

In declaring that a major disaster exists in North Dakota, President Trump ordered federal assistance to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. The declaration makes federal funding available to state, tribal and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance.

He pointed out updated State Health Department numbers as of 3-p.m. Wednesday.

21 new positive cases were recorded on Wednesday, bringing the total to 147 cases in North Dakota

. P.M. POSITIVE TEST RESULTS | April 1 at 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

  • Woman in her 30s from Cass County, under investigation
  • Male age 10-19 from Cass County, under investigation
  • Man in his 40s from Stark County, close contact
  • Female age 0-9 from Stark County, close contact
  • Woman in her 30s from McKenzie County, under investigation

 

Categories: Travel, Possible Travel, Community Spread, Close Contact, Under Investigation

 

BY THE NUMBERS

4627 – Total Tested (+370 individuals from yesterday)

4480 – Negative (+349 individuals from yesterday)

147 – Positive (+21 individuals from yesterday)

26 – Hospitalized (+5 individuals from yesterday)

39 – Recovered (+9 individual from yesterday)

3 – Death (+0 individuals from yesterday)

For the most updated and timely information and updates related to COVID-19, visit the NDDoH website at www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus, follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

The state is working with testing companies including contact tracing efforts.

With unemployment :

Gov. Doug Burgum Wednesday signed an executive order waiving the mandatory one-week waiting period for unemployment benefits as claims continue to increase in North Dakota during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Waiving the one-week waiting period doesn’t increase the amount of money an individual will be eligible to receive, but it does help to get benefit payments into the hands of claimants sooner,” Burgum said. “This is critical to helping out-of-work North Dakotans who are struggling to make ends meet during the COVID-19 crisis. Using a whole-of-government approach, we continue to seek out ways to provide relief to our citizens during this pandemic.”

North Dakota saw an additional 2,574 unemployment claims filed Tuesday, bringing the total for March 16-31 to 27,241 claims – more than were filed during all of 2019. Burgum noted that by waiving the mandatory waiting week, the state will be reimbursed by the federal government for that first week of benefits, which could amount to an estimated $10 million to $20 million.

The waiting week waiver applies to all individuals filing claims with a week ending date of March 14 and going forward through the duration of the state emergency. No action is necessary by the individual who has a claim. Those who have served a waiting week for the week ending March 14 to the present time will have their waiting week paid to them automatically. The programming associated with the waiver should be completed this week, and payment of these weeks should be made next week.

Burgum also announced that existing business closures mandated by executive order will be extended by two weeks, from April 6 to April 20, to further slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. An announcement will be made by April 15 on whether closures will be extended beyond April 20. Affected businesses are listed in the amended executive order here. The extension to April 20 also applies to restrictions on access to state facilities, including the Capitol.

Insurance Commission Jon Godfread said with employer health benefits to now released employees to continue to offer those, and look into waivers by insurance carriers, on a case by case basis.

Healthcare.gov has more information for those recently losing health insurance coverage, and options that may be available.

With auto insurance, contact your agent with changes if delivering goods and services.

With the 2020 census Burgum said census form can be filled out and mailed, or on line.

If opted to those means, no census taker will come to your door.

In other state news updates

The North Dakota Department of Human Services implemented two legislative changes Wednesday, April 1, that are part of the department’s behavioral health strategy focusing on getting services closer to home, increasing community-based services and expanding access to services for more people.

Lawmakers authorized changing the qualifying age for the substance use disorder voucher program from 18 to 14 years of age. This bill was introduced by Sen. David Clemens. Also, lawmakers approved allowing licensed opioid treatment programs to apply to open a medication unit to serve people in additional communities.

The voucher program was created in 2015 to address gaps in reimbursement for addiction services. Nearly 4,100 people have used the voucher program to receive services from private providers in the state. North Dakota has 22 substance use disorder voucher providers.

The voucher program provides reimbursement for services such as screenings, evaluations, individual therapy, outpatient or residential treatment, transportation and room and board.