Gov Burgum’s Weds COVID News Briefing

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held a COVID-19 news briefing on Wednesday afternoon at the State Capital.  Joining Burgum were State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, West Fargo Mayor Bernie Dardis and Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson

Reported Wednesday, May 6, 2020 – 11:04am

Categories: Coronavirus

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

Multiple days have been co-mingled in the numbers

• Woman in her 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 100s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 50s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.
• Woman in her 90s from Grand Forks County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY

• Burleigh County – 10
• Cass County – 43
• Grand Forks County – 1
• Mountrail County – 1
• Ransom County – 1
• Sargent County – 1

BY THE NUMBERS

38,632 – Total Tested (+2,211 individuals from yesterday)

37,309 – Total Negative (+2,154 individuals from yesterday)

1,323 – Total Positive (+57 individuals from yesterday)

NEW! 2.6% – Daily Positive Rate of Completed Tests

97 – Total Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

32 – Currently Hospitalized (+1 individuals from yesterday)

582 – Total Recovered (+23 individuals from yesterday)

31 – Total Deaths (+6 individual from yesterday)

Burgum said the testing backlog amounts to 1800 as of Wednesday.

He said a Red River COVID-19 Task Force has been formed, for the prevention and mitigation of Community spread within Cass County, and to get the Cass County positives down to the state average.  It includes deeper tracing of positive individuals, and ramping up testing.  Every day testing is planned in Fargo.  Long term care facilities will be getting assistance to support staff, through organizations.

Cass County COVID-19 Task Force members, include:  Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney, West Fargo Mayor, Bernie Dardis and Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson

Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney said, the partnership is a good example of governmental entities working together to fight COVID-19.  Data is being reviewed in detail for concerning not only testing but also contact tracing efforts being stepped up.  Congregate living facilities are being targeted.

West Fargo Mayor, Bernie Dardis emphasize good hygiene practice, and also noted the partnerships.

Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson noted Cass has the state’s highest population in long term care facilities, and homeless.

He said the area is partnering with the state in the COVID-19 fight, and said controlling the pandemic in the Cass County area, is imperative to control the spread of the virus in North Dakota.

The North Dakota Long term Care Association is collaborating with the task force.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said with high school graduations around the state:

She passed along  graduation guidelines for local consideration, as part of the Smart Restart Plan, the phased in plan to safely reopen the state.

School district leaders should consider the number of positive COVID-19 cases, and if there is a surge in any area, to cancel.

Graduation can be held in school facilities, with safety precautions, including social distancing and cleaning of the school building.   Virtual, live stream, drive in, outdoor field driving-in ceremonies along with parades, can be considered, with social distancing in force, at in person graduations.  Those sick or at risk should not attend the in person ceremonies.

The guidelines will be posted at the DPI websites.

She added that a statewide virtual graduation celebration will take place later this month, live streamed on line, and over the statewide ABC T.V. stations, CSi Cable 11, and 78.11 HD.  More details also on the DPI website, in conjunction with Burgum’s Executive Order.

Burgum pointed out that The Department of Mineral Resources has established the Bakken Restart Task Force to facilitate rapid recovery of the oil and gas industry and supporting sectors impacted by COVID-related demand shock.

The task force includes Mineral Resources, Public Service Commission, Environmental Quality, Trust Lands, Pipeline Authority, Office of Management and Budget, Tax Department, Commerce, Bank of North Dakota and input requested from various industry subject matter experts.

The federal Administration for Community Living (ACL) has awarded the North Dakota Department of Human Services a $300,000 grant to help meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities as communities continue working to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to bring services and provide support to people at increased risk of COVID-19.

The  Grant funding will be focused on addressing and preventing isolation, which we know can negatively impact individuals’ health and well-being, and on ensuring older adults and people with disabilities can access the care, support services and supplies they need to remain living in the community.

The department, is partnering with ND Assistive to provide technology solutions to nursing homes and basic care facilities – especially those in rural areas – so that facility residents, their families and caregivers can stay connected.

The Long-Term Care Association is surveying its members to identify technology and other communication needs. Based on those results, ND Assistive will be distributing assistive technology devices and equipment and will provide training if needed to participating facilities.

With unemployment, 2,013 regular claims have been filed, Tuesday, pandemic related claims.

Since March 16, 2020 through Tuesday there have been a total of 71,864 claims filed.

The next news briefing is planned for Friday May 8, at 3:30-p.m.

In other state news..

The North Dakota Department of Commerce received more than 11,300 responses from the North Dakota COVID-19 Community Impact Survey.

Commerce in partnership with other agencies, issued the statewide survey in April to gain a better understanding of how the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting communities and individuals across the state.

Information gleaned from responses will be used to inform state and partner efforts to support North Dakotans during this challenging time.

A report of survey results can be found at https://belegendary.link/NDCommunitySurvey. More resources for communities are available at www.mainstreetnd.com.