Gov. Burgum’s Tues. COVID-19 News Briefing

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum resumed his COVID-19 News Briefing Tuesday afternoon at the state Capital in Bismarck.

 

He started with gratitude to North Dakotans for helping each other and offering support, during the uncertain times during the pandemic.

He said he and North Dakota First Lady Katherine Burgum visited by conference call with First Lady Melania Trump in Washington, DC, on Monday, along with other officials.

He said it’s an honor representing North Dakotans on the national stage.

Burgum pointed out the importance of COVIC-19 testing, and the positive cases followed up including contact tracing, and isolation when necessary, to slow the spread of the virus.

North Dakota health officials are reporting one death and 63 new cases of COVID-19. Cass County, which remains the epicenter of the state’s coronavirus outbreak, had 56 cases on Tuesday, bringing the county’s total to 1,229.  Statewide, there were 1,994 confirmed cases as of Tuesday.

North Dakota health officials are reporting one death and 63 new cases of COVID-19. Cass County, which remains the epicenter of the state’s coronavirus outbreak, had 56 cases on Tuesday, bringing the county’s total to 1,229.  Statewide, there were 1,994 confirmed cases as of Tuesday.

NDDoH

Posted Tues. May 19, 2020

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

INDIVIDUAL WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

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

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TUESDAY

• Bottineau County – 1
• Burleigh County – 1
• Cass County – 56
• Ramsey County – 1
• Ransom County – 2
• Richland County – 2

BY THE NUMBERS

69,902 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+1,990 total tests from yesterday)

 

57,731 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+1,170 unique individuals from yesterday)

55,737 – Total Negative (+1,107 unique individuals from yesterday)

1,994 – Total Positive (+63 unique individuals from yesterday)

5.4% – Daily Positivity Rate

 

135 – Total Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

32 – Currently Hospitalized (+0 individuals from yesterday)

1,269 – Total Recovered (+50 individuals from yesterday)

45 – Total Deaths (+1 individual from yesterday)

 

* Note that this does not include individuals from out of state and has been updated to reflect the most recent information discovered after cases were investigated.

 

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 added the Red river Valley COVID-19 Task Force is enhancing testing of existing clients, and others with enhanced risks is continuing along with focus tests, of long term care facilities, and other congregate care facilities.

Basic Care Relief has been implemented, Burgum announced an emergency rule change that will allow residents of basic care facilities in North Dakota to keep the Economic Impact Payments provided as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

A basic care facility is similar to a nursing home, but for seniors whose medical needs are not as intense. North Dakota is the only state with basic care, with 1,143 seniors currently residing in 65 basic care facilities that are supported by the state paying part of their room and board.

Because of how the state’s rules are written for basic care, Economic Impact Payments made to basic care residents were directed to be counted as income and kept by the state – which is not what was intended under the CARES Act.

To meet the federal mandate, the Governor’s Office and Department of Human Services (DHS), led by Executive Director Chris Jones, worked closely with legislative and executive branch partners to find a solution. The administration sought an emergency rule change that allows North Dakotans in basic care facilities to be able to use the stimulus money however they choose. Jones signed the emergency rule request on Monday and Burgum signed off on it Tuesday. The rule became effective today and will remain in effect as it moves through the formal administrative rules process.

 

Unprecedented claim volumes are driving a dramatic increase in fraudulent unemployment claims across the country – North Dakota included.

Job Service North Dakota uses multiple types of fraud identification and prevention tools, but the most effective fraud prevention tool available is North Dakota’s employers.

What to look for

When an unemployment insurance claim is filed, a Notice of Claim is sent to each of the employers the claimant worked for in the last 18 months.  It is critical that employers review these notices and let Job Service know if the individual is still working or if the claim is unexpected or suspicious.  Preventing payment on fraudulent claims benefits all employers by limiting the severe impact this pandemic period will have on the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund balance.

Job Service has identified multiple instances of fraudulent claims being filed in North Dakota using the personal information of individuals who remain employed and who have not actually filed a claim for benefits.  In several of these situations, the employer of the individuals whose data was used to file the claim notified Job Service after receiving a Notice of Claim for the individual.  By notifying Job Service of the fraud, these employers were able to prevent thousands of dollars in payments to criminals who falsely filed claims.

The criminals committing the fraud gather personal information from multiple sources, from buying social security numbers on the dark web to gathering demographic and employment data from various public web sites and social media.  These sophisticated schemes are often hard to detect and ultimately can result in very large losses.  Although fraudulent attempts to receive unemployment insurance benefits happen regularly, periods of disaster which result in a large volume of unemployment insurance claims provide an opportunity for criminals and organized crime to ramp up their efforts.

Job Service North Dakota is asking every employer to pay close attention to any Notice of Claim and other materials sent to them by Job Service and to report potential fraud.

To report fraud call 701-328-2866, document your concern on the Notice of Claim you receive and return it to Job Service, or at jobsnd.com, under Unemployment for Business choose “Report Unemployment Fraud.”

https://www.jobsnd.com/unemployment-business-tax/report-unemployment-fraud.

The Behavioral Health Division is responsible for reviewing and identifying service needs and activities in the state’s behavioral health system to ensure health and safety, access to services and quality services. It also establishes quality assurance standards for the licensure of substance use disorder program services and facilities and provides policy leadership in partnership with public and private entities.

A 31-page toolkit provides employers with information on supporting employees while teleworking, utilizing an employee assistance program and finding behavioral health services and supports in North Dakota. The toolkit also has tips for supervisors on how they can provide one-on-one support to their staff members and ready-to-use information for employee newsletters or other employer communications on behavioral health resources, including tools for parents, available online at www.behavioralhealth.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/EmployeeToolkit.pdf.

For more information on the North Dakota Department of Human Services response to COVID-19, visit www.nd.gov/dhs/info/covid19/index.html. For details about the state’s COVID-19 response, visit www.ndresponse.gov.

In other state news, on Tuesday, North Dakota State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler is asking for public suggestions about the best uses for federal education aid that was recently approved by Congress.

The Department of Public Instruction has $3.1 million in discretionary federal aid, and considerable flexibility on how it is used for state and local education needs, Baesler said. The NDDPI funds are on top of $30.06 million in federal grants that are being distributed to school districts. The money was included in a $2 trillion emergency relief package that was approved by Congress in late March.

Baesler has distributed a survey to educators, family members, education groups, advocacy organizations and state lawmakers that asks for their views on improving distance learning, how federal aid spending should be prioritized, and how best to support student learning needs during this pandemic.

The multiple-choice survey is on line at : https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NDDPICOVIDsurvey. It has four questions and invites participants to add comments as they wish. One question asks: “What supports would be most helpful to provide effective distance learning for students in the event that we need to address this option again in the future?”

North Dakota’s K-12 students have been attending class via distance education since mid-March, when Gov. Doug Burgum closed schools to student in-person instruction. Many districts plan to continue distance education instruction for summer school.