Gov Burgum’s Friday Health News Briefing

Bismarck  (CSi)  Gov Doug Burgum’s COVID-19 News Briefing Friday May 15.   He was joined by State Board of Higher Education Chair Nick Hacker.

He began the briefing with update COVID-19 statistics from the State Health Department.

The number of positive tests for the coronavirus in the state’s hotspot dropped for the second straight day. 43 new positive tests in Cass County, which leads the state with 1,032 cases.

NDDoH

Fri. May 15, 2020  11-a.m.

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

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Man in his 40s from Grand Forks County with underlying health conditions.
• Man in his 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED FRIDAY

• Burleigh County – 2
• Cass County – 43
• Grand Forks County – 3
• Morton County – 2
• Rolette County – 1
• Stutsman County – 1
• Stutsman Total 17

BY THE NUMBERS

60,492 – Total Number of Tests Completed* ( +2,310 total tests from yesterday) NEW!

51,715 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+1,404 unique individuals from yesterday)

49,954 – Total Negative (+1,355 unique individuals from yesterday)

1,761 – Total Positive (+52 unique individuals from yesterday)

Please note that after investigation three previously reported positive cases from Cass County were determined to be from out of state.

2.3% – Daily Positive Rate of Completed Tests

130 – Total Hospitalized (+1 individuals from yesterday)

35 – Currently Hospitalized (-3 individuals from yesterday)

1,071 – Total Recovered (+64 individuals from yesterday)

42 – Total Deaths (+2 individual from yesterday)

* Note that this does not include individuals from out of state.

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 the symptoms of COVID-19 range from severe to mild.  Some are asymptomatic, showing no signs of having the disease.  20 percent of the state’s residents are under the category of vulnerable.  He said vulnerability, issues are included in testing,  and aids in contact tracing, which in combination with testing results, can support further opening up the state’s economy.  He said serial testing is on the rise, with some tests on prior tested people, with North Dakota addresses.  He said active cases have fallen slightly.

Burgum said his office and legislative leaders have had good cooperation, in passing COVID-19 legislation, and keeping the services and continuity moving forward.

Recreational and sports arena venue managers have given their input into formulated recommendations concerning safety issues, and managing risks, for those attending events at those and other events.  Other event guidelines  posted at NDresponse.com on Friday evening, or on Saturday.

Under the guidance there is five risk level categories, including people in attendance occupancy rates.  The state is currently in level one.

The state is currently in the Smart Restart moderate category, down from high.

With mail in voting, Burgum re-explained and refreshed the process.

With behavioral health, he said if you know someone struggling with depression to visit with those individuals on how they are feeling.  He says the behavioral health web site has information, on assisting those people, outlining a step by step process.

State Board of Higher Education Chair Nick Hacker, talked about graduations at the university level.  Several state colleges are holding virtual graduations including this weekend. 6500 state university system students are graduating this spring.

Hacker thanked students faculty and staff in the transitioning of classes from on campus to online at the onset of the pandemic.  He said innovative solutions assisted in “getting the job done.”  He concluded by congratulating the Class of 2020.

Burgum and State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Friday that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, actor Josh Duhamel and Nashville recording artists Tigirlily will participate in a May 30 statewide celebration of North Dakota’s high school Class of 2020.

Wentz, a native of Bismarck and graduate of North Dakota State University, will give the commencement address during the hour-long ceremony, which will begin at 2 p.m. Central time on Saturday, May 30.

Duhamel, a native of Minot and graduate of Minot State University, and Tigirlily will deliver congratulatory messages, and Tigirlily will give a musical performance to close the event. Hazen natives and sisters Kendra and Krista Slaubaugh are the performing duo Tigirlily.

Five North Dakota students will participate in the ceremony. Kourtney Bitz, a senior at Napoleon High School, will provide the student address on behalf of the Class of 2020. Bitz is a member of Baesler’s Superintendent’s Student Cabinet, which is a group of elementary, middle, and high school students who provide advice to the superintendent about how to improve North Dakota education.

A collage of class and school photographs from North Dakota’s high schools will be shown during the program. Almost all of the state’s 181 high schools have contributed images for the collage.

The ceremony will be broadcast statewide on North Dakota’s ABC television affiliates (CSi-6 and 80.6 HD)  and streamed on the websites of Forum Communications Co.’s North Dakota newspaper properties: The Forum, The Jamestown Sun, The Dickinson Press, and the Grand Forks Herald.

Burgum and Superintendent Baesler said in a joint statement,  “We want to thank Carson Wentz, Josh Duhamel, and Tigirlily for agreeing to be part of this celebration, and we would also like to thank our media partners for carrying this statewide.

They went on to say, “The COVID-19 pandemic has upended many events that are dear to our seniors, including graduation ceremonies, prom, and athletic events. They have not been able to be with their classmates during their last days of high school.  We hope that this celebration will provide some memories for our seniors, their families, their friends, and their loved ones.”

Baesler said the celebration is not intended as a replacement for local high school graduations that are being held across the state.   She added, “This is another opportunity to celebrate our graduates.”

He pointed out that Friday was Peace Officers Memorial Day, and read a statement thanking all of those that gave their lives, 64 in all in North Dakota.  He added the current peace officers, have and are supporting keeping North Dakotans safe.

The next briefing will be held on TUES. May 19, 2020 at 3:30-p.m.