Bismarck  (CSi)  Gov Doug Burgum held his daily news briefing Friday afternoon joined by Bank of ND President and CEO Eric Hardmeyer.  Comments begin 20 minutes into video.

April 24, 2020

11-a.m.

Positive COVID-19 Test Results


Results listed are from the previous day.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED FRIDAY

  • Burleigh County – 1
  • Cass County – 28
  • Grand Forks County – 8
  • Walsh County – 1
  • Williams County – 1

5th highest daily positive cases reported

BY THE NUMBERS

17,449 – Total Tested (+1,119 individuals from yesterday)

16,701 – Total Negative (+1,080 individuals from yesterday)

748 – Total Positive (+39 individuals from yesterday)

67 – Total Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

17 – Currently Hospitalized (-1 individuals from yesterday)

285 – Total Recovered (+16 individuals from yesterday)

15 – Total Deaths (+0 individual from yesterday)

 

For descriptions of these categories, visit the NDDoH dashboard.

 

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.

He said testing in North Dakota is continuing to ramp up, ninth in the nation is testing rate. The rate of increase in positives is slowing.

With antibody testing, 140,000 additional test kits have been ordered at a cost of $25 each which is reimburseable to the state from federal assistance.

President Trump signed legislation Friday that includes a substantial package of funding for  a second round of PPP loans, with applications starting to be taken on Monday, April 27

 

The North Dakota Industrial Commission Friday authorized the Bank of North Dakota (BND) to provide two financing programs to assist North Dakota businesses in obtaining long-term, low-interest loans to assist in the state’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The loan programs will help both small and large businesses to secure working capital and replenish inventory. The programs will be effective Wednesday, April 29, 2020.

The Industrial Commission, which consists of Gov. Doug Burgum as chairman, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, in a joint statement. “Long-term financing at low interest rates will help stabilize the economy, provide working capital to main street businesses and ensure our state emerges successfully from this unprecedented crisis.”

The Small Employer Loan Fund (SELF) will provide a loan of up to $50,000 to small businesses with a full-time employee equivalent (FTE) of 10 employees or less. These loans may be used for working capital, recurring expenses and replenishing inventory. Business owners will work with their local lender to access the program. The loan has a maximum term of 10 years and a fixed interest rate of 1%, with deferral of loan payments for up to six months.

The COVID-19 PACE Recovery Program (CPRP) will provide a loan of up to $5 million for businesses of less than 500 employees and a loan of up to $10 million for businesses with more than 500 employees. Loan payments may be deferred for up to six months, at which time the loan will term out with up to a 10-year amortization. The interest rate on the loan will be bought down by BND to 1% for a period of time, with a maximum buydown of $500,000. Business owners will access the program through their local lender. Unlike other PACE program offerings from BND, there is no community match required.

BND President Eric Hardmeyer said, to qualify, North Dakota businesses must have been established before Feb.15, 2020 and loan applications must be received before Nov. 30, 2020.

BND staff assessed the federal program options and visited with stakeholders as it developed the program parameters.

“The financial institutions in North Dakota deserve the appreciation of our state’s residents. They have gone above and beyond to assist their communities during this time,”. “Because of their partnership, we are able to provide these loans in a timely manner so businesses can be open as soon as it is considered safe.”

Through a combination of the Coronavirus Relief Fund and the Bank of North Dakota’s accumulated and undivided profits, the Industrial Commission will make $200 million available for interest buydown and $50 million for low-interest loans.  The buydown will be leveraged to provide up to $2 billion in low interest loans.

The Bank’s mission “to support agriculture, commerce and industry” has not changed since its earliest days in 1919. The only state-owned bank in the nation, the Bank of North Dakota is overseen by the Industrial Commission.

To learn more about loan program specifics, visit bnd.nd.gov.

Burgum pointed out that, congress has passed an amendment to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act that enables agricultural businesses with 500 or fewer employees to participate in the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The bill includes an additional $60 billion for the EIDL program.

The EIDL program will provide low-interest loans and $10,000 emergency grants administered by SBA. Ag businesses will need to show they have been affected by the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. Agriculture businesses should go to the SBA website at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/economic-injury-disaster-loan-emergency-advance to find out how to apply

With North Dakota Restart, Burgum outlined again the multi-stage approach, saying the COVID-19 virus is still on the move, with Chicago being a concern, and Burgum said the virus may be taking a westerly movement.  He said May 1 is not set for reopening the state, but is still be determined, with more information coming next week.

He said the state never did shut down elective surgery, as the federal government has now stated a restart is now possible on a national basis.

Burgum on Friday issued an executive order declaring a statewide flood emergency for spring flooding that has caused an estimated $7 million in infrastructure damage so far.

The executive order officially puts all state agencies, including the North Dakota National Guard, on standby to provide resources and capabilities as needed, although the state has been mobilizing public and private partners to prepare for and assist in the flood fight since December through a whole-of-government approach.

The order also activates the State Emergency Operations Plan to assist local and tribal officials, alleviate hardships, implement appropriate recovery actions and future mitigation measures, and facilitate restoration of services and infrastructure.

Fourteen counties in eastern and central North Dakota have estimated over $5.2 million in damage that is potentially eligible for a presidential disaster declaration request. The counties are Barnes, Emmons, Grand Forks, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Pembina, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Traill and Walsh. The North Dakota Department of Transportation also estimates nearly $1.8 million in additional damage potentially eligible for federal relief.

“Overland flooding and near-record river crests have caused extensive damage to state, county, city and township roads at a time when the state is also responding to the catastrophic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and extremely challenging economic conditions,” Burgum said.

With the emergency declaration now in place, the state Department of Emergency Services will partner with local agencies to conduct formal damage assessments and then make a recommendation to the governor on whether to seek a presidential major disaster declaration.

With unemployment, on Thursday, 1189 jobless claims were filed, and since Mar16 through Thursday a total of 61,593 claims have been filed, and 17,000 pandemic claims.

Burgum pointed out that North Dakota food processors, such as Cavendish Farms in Jamestown and other plants, are well positioned  keeping their facilities sanitized as a general practice, and to ramp up disinfecting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He concluded by showing 25 things your and your family can do to support mental health.

With CARE-19, over 24,000 users were noted, including 4,000 android users do far.

He added the North Dakota Community Foundation has distributed grants to 54 organizations, a second round of COVID grants are being opened.