Burgum’s Mon COVID News Briefing, Smart Restart

(CSi)  ND Gov Doug Burgum’s Monday COVID News Briefing: Among the topics discussed was the state’s plan for a North Dakota Smart Restart.  Comments start at approximately 25 minutes into video

Reported Mon. Apr. 27, 2020

Positive COVID-19 Test Results
Results listed are from the previous day.

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Man in his 80s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 80s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TODAY

• Cass County – 34
• Grand Forks County – 36
• Mountrail County – 1
• Ramsey County – 1
• Walsh County – 3

On Monday 1987 Tests were completed

BY THE NUMBERS

22,434 – Total Tested (+1,987 individuals from yesterday)

21,492 – Total Negative (+1,912 individuals from yesterday)

942 – Total Positive (+75 individuals from yesterday)

77 – Total Hospitalized (+6 individuals from yesterday)

23 – Currently Hospitalized (+5 individuals from yesterday)

350 – Total Recovered (+24 individuals from yesterday)

19 – Total Deaths (+2 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.

The latest stop for “Operation Drive-In” was on Saturday in Fargo.  Overall, 1,013 tests were collected. The State Health Department gives, “Special thanks to the ND National Guard, Fargo-Cass Public Health & the City of Fargo for another great day of testing.”

He said the goal is to test daily, 4,000/per day in May 6,000/per day in June.

Burgum said North Dakota still has adequate hospital bed capacity.

Burgum said he said 93 percent of businesses were not affected by the mandatory closures of North Dakota businesses.

With North Dakota Smart Restart he said eight protocols need to be met before reopening, those closed businesses.  Included are increasing the daily tests, growth in contact tracing, overall transmission rates declining, protections for vulnerable population, sufficient health care capacity, adequate Personal Protective Equipment capacity, standard operating procedures, being prepared for a resurgence in Coronavirus. Also included is testing numbers up, and positive tests, low.

Burgum said North Dakota is in a good position for a Smart Restart.

A recent survey showed about 98 percent of North Dakotans survey were observing safe practices.

He said the current closures of some businesses and  business restrictions for others, will expire on Thursday April 30, 2020.  He added on Friday May 1, 2020, executive orders will be implemented for new standard  operating procedures to be in place. This phase, includes, continuing with social distancing, wearing face masks, and hygiene practices.  He added that individual businesses may fully open according to their wishes, and observing the policy under the new executive orders.

Tuesday’s News Briefing will outline further information contained in the May 1, executive order.

A range of options will be studied with school districts, the Department of Public Instruction and state officials, concerning possible options of reopening schools, partial openings, or opening by certain grade levels.

He said over the past weekend  2,336 new jobless claims were filed, bringing the total since March 16, 2020 to Monday to 63,929 jobless claims.

In other state news….

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced Monday the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $14,108,992 to 40 providers and health systems in North Dakota through the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund as allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This is the first part of the second tranche of COVID-19 relief funds awarded by HHS. Health care providers in North Dakota have now received $105,173,571 through the CARES Act.

The funds come as part of a $200 billion nation-wide federal funding allocation to respond to COVID-19, with the a second wave totaling $50 billion being delivered Monday. Facilities and providers are allotted a portion of the $50 billion based on their share of 2018 net patient revenue. These are payments, not loans, to health care providers, and will not need to be repaid.

The North Dakota Department of Human Services wants state residents to know help is available if they are currently having trouble paying their heating bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in household income.

The federally-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help qualifying households by paying a portion of their home heating costs. The regular heating assistance program, which ends on May 31, together with LIHEAP’s year-round emergency crisis program, can assist with ongoing heating costs and immediate needs.

The program also focuses on improving home heating efficiency by offering furnace and chimney inspections and cleanings, furnace repair and replacement, weatherization services like home insulation, weather stripping around doors and windows, and other energy-saving improvements to help lower heating costs for qualifying households.

Both homeowners and renters living in a permanent housing structure can apply for LIHEAP and weatherization services.

Households are encouraged to apply as soon as possible if they need financial help with heating bills, have received a shut-off notice or have been disconnected, are low on fuel or completely out of fuel, or are unable to pay for home heating fuel or services due to an unexpected economic hardship from the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency program can assist with unpaid heating costs incurred up to 90 days before the date a household applies for help.

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Public Works informs residents that city crews will begin flushing fire hydrants in the SE areas beginning Monday, APRIL 27, 2020 and will continue the work throughout the City during normal working hours until completed.

Please be aware of the possibility of lowered water pressure when flushing of hydrants occurs in the various areas.

Bismarck   (FEMA news release)  – Dickey and Emmons counties were added to the federal disaster declaration issued by President Trump on January 21, 2020 in response to North Dakota flooding from October 9 to October 26, 2019.

As a result of the declaration, federal funding is available to state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by flooding. The federal cost share is no less that 75 percent, with the state and local applicant responsible for remaining costs.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures for all counties and tribes within the state.

Areas already included in the disaster declaration were: Barnes, Eddy, Foster, Grand Forks, Griggs, Kidder, LaMoure, Logan, Mountrail, Nelson, Sargent, Sheridan, Stutsman, Traill, Walsh, and Wells Counties.