Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his Friday daily COVID-19 news briefing at the State Capital in Bismarck.

He began the briefing with:

COVID-19 Positive Test Results

Posted Fri. May 1, 2020

Results listed are from the previous day.

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Man in his 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 80s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 70s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

 

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TODAY

  • Burleigh County – 2
  • Cass County – 29
  • Grand Forks County – 4
  • Renville County – 1
  • Stark County – 3
  • Stutsman County – 1
  • 7 total positive cases, Stutsman as of Friday a.m.

 

BY THE NUMBERS

29,525 – Total Tested (+2,065 individuals from yesterday)

28,418 – Total Negative (+2,025 individuals from yesterday)

1,107 – Total Positive (+40 individuals from yesterday)

86 – Total Hospitalized (+1 individuals from yesterday)

27 – Currently Hospitalized (-3 individuals from yesterday)

482 – Total Recovered (+24 individuals from yesterday)

23 – Total Deaths (+4 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.

 

Burgum said school buildings are “hot spots,” for close-contacting positive COVID-19 individuals, adding that a cascading of cases may have occurred, if school was in session in classrooms, and school buildings.

With that, the governing said all North Dakota Schools will continue with distance learning through the rest of this school year.

He said the state has worked with several entities in reaching the decision.  He said schools have just a few weeks of instruction left, noting the risk of contracting COVID-19 in bringing students and staff back during that time.  Plus using contact tracing for those individuals testing positive taking it away from those contracting the virus who are at risk.

Burgum said the state taking action, closing schools the rest of this school year, takes the burden off local school boards, in having to make local decisions.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said the pandemic has caused an unprecedented change in the way school is conducted, adding that schools have adapted to distance learning including preparation, and praised teachers for meeting the challenges in these difficult times.

She added that with graduation, state officials are developing ceremony guidance with high schools, and how schools may honor graduates this year.

She pointed out Tuesday May 5 is Teacher Appreciation Day, in North Dakota.

North Dakota Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Robert Schulte and Vern Dosch discussd education, testing and contact tracing.

Schulte said the National Guard had a good foundation from state leaders in taking on the challenges.  He said testing is critical is determining who has the disease in slowing the spread of the virus.  Group homes, long-term care facilities and tribal neighbors are among the screening priorities.

Screening capacity is growing from 195 tests to 2,000 in North Dakota, and building the capacity includes putting testing kits together, for mobile testing sites.  It’s expected the tests will grow to 3,000 and more in the near future.

He said, testing goes hand in hand with contact tracing of positives.

Vern Dosch added the contact tracing team’s challenge was to re-invent the way the procedure is performed, with changing the scope of contact tracing.  Contact tracers now number 352, including retired nurses and others coming out of retirement to assist in contact tracing.

Next, Burgum addressed Vision Zero the state’s effort in not having any traffic deaths in North Dakota with the support of the North Dakota Highway Patrol and local law enforcement.

He noted however three motor vehicle related deaths were reported in this past week, with 13 traffic deaths reported so far this year.  NDHP has noted an increase in speeding citation.

With the state’s business reopening, Burgum cited more traffic on North Dakota roads, and the Highway Patrol has added patrols to the highways.

With jobless numbers he said a total of 68,471 claims have been filed, since March 16 to Friday, 638 on Thursday this week, 394 of which were pandemic related claims.