Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Apr 13

Jamestown (CSi) A COVID-19 Joint Briefing meeting was held on Friday April 10 at 2:30 pm with representatives giving their presentations from Central Valley Health District, Jamestown Regional Medical Center, City of Jamestown, Jamestown Ministerial Association.

Central Valley Health District Administrator, Robin Iszler said,  there is one positive case of COVID-19 in Stutsman County as of Friday. CVHD has reached out to that person’s close contacts, and they have been told to monitor their health conditions.

She thanked the local businesses for taking steps to lessen the spread of the virus by protecting their employees, and the public.  She asks those businesses not doing so to take those steps.

She then gave a demonstration of the proper use of wearing a mask.  She said to make sure the homemade mask is washed between uses.

JRMC’s Katie Ryan Anderson, offered kudos to the hospital’s staff, in working together, and pointed out visitor guidelines.  As of Friday JRMC has tested 53 individuals.

She asks that during the East weekend, to self distance, and use social media, and on line programs, make phone calls, to reach out, and just be with family within your own home.

Jamestown Mayor Dwaine Heinrich expressed thanks to healthcare, and frontline  workers, and  asked residents to keep the new norm by observing social distancing, “The Magic Wand,” to keep the community safe, and winning the battle against COVID-19, and at the end of the pandemic witness a victory.

He said he’s thinking about the person that tested positive with the COVID-19 virus, and wished that person well, and a speedy recovery.

He also thanked media members for making the T.V. and radio carriage of these meetings, possible, to get the information out to the public.   He added the community as a team will defeat the coronavirus.  He urged the public to install the CARE-19 tracing app on their phones.

The Ministerial Association, passed along that many churches have on line services available, and listed those, along with radio station broadcasts, in place of attending in person, in observance of social distancing.  Each church’s web site has more information how to access their services.

Robin concluded the news briefing by saying the next COVID-19 Joint Briefing meeting, will be on Tuesday April 14, at 2:30-p.m.

The meeting was shown Live on CSi Cable 10 & 67, LiveStreamed at Facebook.com/TheReplayChannel, followed by replays on CSi 10.

Watch the CSiLiveStream  at Facebook.com/TheReplayChannel

Jamestown  (CSi)  Central Valley Health District, Administrator, Robin Iszler has received a number of calls at the office, from residents with concerns and questions about COVID-19, especially in light of a Stutsman County resident, who tested positive the virus.

On a recent Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Robin and host Wayne Byers addressed the Frequently Asked Questions.

He is a list of the Q&A’s address on the show.

Q:  I was in a business and now I heard someone tested positive what do I do? 

A:  A close contact to a positive case will be notified.  Close contact is defined within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer.   If you are a close contact someone from the Health Department will reach out to you.  You can continue to practice social distancing, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, wear a cloth mask, monitor your symptoms and stay home when you are sick.

Q:  Should I wear a mask in public?

A:  CDC is now recommending that people wear homemade masks in public when they are out getting supplies etc.  Instructions for homemade mask are at centralvalleyhealth.org  which is  Central Valley’s website under Hot Topics or JRMC’s Website.  Masks should be washed upon return to home and a clean/new mask worn next time you go out.

Q:  Should I wear gloves?

A:  Vinyl, rubber or plastic gloves are not necessary – WASH your hands or use hand sanitizer when you are out in public and upon return home.  Don’t touch your face with dirty hands or dirty gloves.  Gloves can give you a false sense of security – WASH your hands often.

Q:  Where was the positive case located?

A:  Any information on a positive case is confidential including the exact city and address.  Only county level data will be shared.  Those who are close contacts will be notified and provided information on what to do next.

Q:  Can we gather in the community?

A:  Do not gather in groups of more than 10.   You also need to stay at least 6 feet apart in distance and limit your interaction to 15 minutes or less.  Gathering in cars can also impose risk if you leave your car, open the windows or have interaction.  When you are walking or biking in the community do not gather in groups or stop to visit.  This increases your chance for exposure.

Q:  What If I have questions on COVID?

A:  you can call the state hotline at 1-866-207-2880 for general questions on COVID.  For medical questions contact your medical provider.

Q:  I want to know if I have the Coronavirus!

A:  If you have respiratory symptoms – like fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat or shortness of breath contact your provider.   People who do not have symptoms will not be tested.

Q:  What if I was in contact with someone who is a close contact?

A:  There is nothing they need to do.  You can monitor your symptoms but can continue go to work and grocery store.   Close Contacts are those who came in contact with a positive person and they will be instructed what to do next.

Q: I have deep concerns with the low rate of testing done in Stutsman County.  We are one of the more populous counties, and yet, have one of the lowest rates of testing.  The virus is in our county.  These people are just not being tested.  It gives our residents a false sense of security.

A: Thank you for your concern.

Stutsman County is actually on par with the rest of the state with regard to testing. As you can see in the chart, Stutsman County has completed 7.34 tests/1,000 residents. We’re testing at almost twice the rate of our neighboring counties. You’ll notice an increase in the southwest because of the Operation Drive-in pilot project.

Our providers use the following guidelines from the North Dakota Department of Health to determine who should be tested:

Clinicians should use their judgment to determine if a patient has signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19 and whether the patient should be tested. As supplies allow, health care providers should not turn patients away for COVID-19 testing who have upper or lower respiratory illness.

Clinicians should consider testing any patient TWO or more of the following signs/symptoms of respiratory illness with new or worsening onset:

• fever
• cough
• shortness of breath
• runny nose
• sore throat
• chills
• myalgia
• fatigue
• headache
• loss of taste and/or smell

Asymptomatic patients, even close contacts to COVID-19 cases, should not be tested for COVID-19

Also on our show, Robin said CVHD does NOT conduct COVID-19 testing.  Contact your healthcare provider for more information, on their testing availability.

Central Valley Health is closed to walk-ins.  They can be reached by phone by calling 701-252-8130

On line www.centralvalleyhealth.org

Valley City  (CSi)  The City of Valley City regular election will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at the Barnes County Courthouse, 230 4th Street NW, Valley City, ND.

Voting

Barnes County is administering the June 9, 2020 election. This election will be STRICTLY Vote-By-Mail with no in-person voting on Election Day.

Absentee Voting

If voters do NOT receive a ballot application in the mail by April 30th, please contact the Barnes County Auditor’s Office for a ballot application at (701) 845-8500 or auditor@barnescounty.us

When returning your absentee ballot, please send to the Barnes County Auditor’s Office, 230 4th Street NW, Valley City, ND 58072.

The County will have a drop box available in front of the Courthouse on the north side beginning April 30th for people to drop off their ballots, in case they choose not to mail them in.

If you have questions, please call (701) 845-8500.