Wayne Byers Show – Evening – May 26

CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. A 30 percent chance of rain showers. Lows in the lower 50s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Northwest winds 10 to

20 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 40s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the upper 40s.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.

.MONDAY…Decreasing clouds. Highs in the mid 80s.

 

Cooler temperatures are expected on Thursday after the Canadian

upper low moves off to the southeast and northwest flow sets up

over North Dakota. Highs in the upper 60s in the far north and low

70s elsewhere is in the forecast.

A Slight chance of precipitation returns late Sunday night.

(CSi)  CVHD held is final weekly Stutsman County health news briefing Tuesday, May 26 at 2:30pm  The meeting airs live with replays on CSi 67 and CSi 10 (Wed.)    View it here at CSiNewsNOW.com or go to the CSi LiveStream at Facebook.

Presenters included Central Valley Health District, Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office, Jamestown Police Department, and the City of Jamestown.

 

Central Valley Health District. Administrator Robin Iszler said, as of Tuesday afternoon there have been 18 positive testings in Stutsman County, with a total of 2305 tests.

There are no scheduled mass testings in the county at this time. They anticipate testings at group homes and long term care facilities over the next weeks and months.  Local nursing homes, and the Anne Carlsen Center, and the State Hospital have had surveillance testing, which will continue.

Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser said, the Sheriff’s Office remains open to calls for service, and those wishing more information can call the office, or dispatch at 701-252-1000.

He said deputies arriving on scene will be wearing face masks and gloves, and in some instances a full protective gown if necessary.

 

Jamestown Police Department Assistant Chief Justin Blinsky said, the Police Department remains open for service calls.  He encourages the public to monitor and observe CDC and State Health Department guidelines including observing social distance, an wearing of face masks in public.  He added the police department appreciates the public’s cooperation during the time of the pandemic.

 

City of Jamestown, Mayor Heinrich also appreciates the public cooperation in observing guidelines concerning social distancing, and other guidelines.   He said the Emergency Operations Center, officials continue to meet daily.  He also thanked the local media including CSi Cable for their assistance for making the CVHD meetings available to the public.

He said the moratorium to allow liquor off sales to restaurants offering curb side and walk up sale of meals will continue until the September 1, 2020 city council meeting.  He added to make this permanent requires  looking at the type of liquor license that is held.

He added that serving of food on sidewalks will be given more consideration, including establishing an agreement with the  NDDOT being that Jamestown is on a major highway.

He said  making the moratorium, and sidewalk serving of food permanent, will require City Council action, in the form of an Ordinance.

He pointed out that Jamestown City Hall remains closed to walk ups and to call for an appointment for a face to face meeting or needing to conduct business, at 701-252-5900.

A date for an opening of city hall is yet to be determined.  City Council meetings at City Hall are now open to the public, with screenings, at the door, and social distancing  will  be observed.

Sanford Health, Jamestown Clinic, Director Jon Lillijord said screenings remain at the door, at both Jamestown Clinics, to ask questions, and all patients arriving at the clinic are asked to wear a face mask.  One visitor per patient is now allowed to accompany the patient, and they should also wear a mask.  Additional chairs will be added to the waiting room.  There is a separate waiting area for those with respiratory issues, such as a cough.  Thorough cleaning continues of all areas.

Appointments for regular care are still being accepted, including speech and hearing services.

Jamestown Regional Medical Center, was unable to be present due to technical issues.

This will be the final Tuesday press conference. Robin said there have been 21 News Briefings to the public since March this year.  The next press conference to be determined based on need.  Robin noted, that media releases will be forthcoming, and if the situation warrants, that the video news briefing will be brought back.

Bismarck (CSi)   Governor Doug Burgum resumed his daily COVID-19 News Briefing Tuesday afternoon at the State Capital in Bismarck.  He was joined by North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) Division of Microbiology Director Dr. Christie Massen.

North Dakota health officials reported 43 new cases of COVID-19, including 38 in the state’s most populous county that contains Fargo. Statewide, there were 2,422 confirmed cases as of Tuesday. Cass County has recorded 1,580 of the confirmed cases.

NDDoH

Tuesday, May 26, 2020 – 11:11am

Categories: Coronavirus

LAB EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION

The lab experienced a recent malfunction on two pieces of lab equipment. Out of an abundance of caution, 82 positive results will be considered inconclusive and the individuals have been asked to retest. All the facilities involved have been notified. The issue was caught quickly and early; the malfunction has been corrected and has not impacted lab processing.

 

The retests will run over the next couple of days – an update will be provided in future news releases and more information will be provided at the news conference on Tuesday. For now, the previous results remain in the total positive count and will be adjusted after the results are in. More to come.

 

Total Retests Complete: 65

Positive: 1

Negative: 64

1 individual declined testing and is self-isolate at home

 

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TODAY

• Cass County – 38
• Grand Forks County – 3
• Rolette County – 1
• Walsh County – 1

BY THE NUMBERS

85,479 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+976 total tests from yesterday)

 

66,854 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+504 unique individuals from yesterday)

64,432 – Total Negative (+539 unique individuals from yesterday)

2,422 – Total Positive (43 unique individuals from yesterday)
Updated to reflect the change the reversal in positives due to the equipment malfunction in the lab.  

4.4% – Daily Positivity Rate**

156 – Total Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

He said the ND Hospital Capacity is at just two percent.

 

40 – Currently Hospitalized (-1 individuals from yesterday)

1,701 – Total Recovered (+150 individuals from yesterday)

54 – Total Deaths (+0 individual from yesterday)

Addressing the lab testing issues over the past few  days,  two new lab testing equipment pieces  have been added, for a total of 15 testing machines in service operating 24/7.

North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) Division of Microbiology Director Dr. Christie Massen, said the asymptomatic case rate, is at 30-percent.  She explained that false positive testings do occur, which are difficult to identify, and inconclusive results are retested.

She said if sick, to stay home, and all should wear at face mask when going out in public.

Burgum addressed the issue of opioid  addition, and noted the opioid overdose resources available through the State of North Dakota, including the availability of NARCAN to assist anyone experiencing an opioid overdose.  Recovering Talk is available at 1-844-44TALK2

He said the SAFER Grants are available to fire departments, for recruitment and other needs of full time and volunteer fire departments. The application deadline is Wednesday  May 27, 2020, through FEMA.

He pointed out that May 26, 2020 is the anniversary of Jamestown native, Peggy Lee’s birth, adding that she was the fifth North Dakotan inducted into the Theodore Roosevelt, Rough Rider Hall of Fame.

He said with the launch of  SpaceX  at 3:30-p.m., Wednesday, the state will make a decision around noon on Wednesday, if the governor’s news briefing will be held at the time or pushed back to later if the launch occurs at 3:30-p.m., so North Dakotans may view the launch.   Coverage of the launch will be on CSi Cable 82.2 the NASA Channel.

In Other State News…

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Most North Dakota state government offices are set to reopen to the public next week in a limited capacity and a month after businesses in the state restarted with precautions amid the coronavirus outbreak. The state also will use $23.8 million of federal coronavirus aid to update computer systems and purchase laptops for employees who remain at home. Gov. Doug Burgum amended an executive order Friday that will allow state offices to operate at a maximum 50% capacity. Burgum said some 7,000 state employees at about 1,600 facilities across North Dakota have been part of a “remote workforce” since mid-March.

Valley City (CSi)   City County Health District in Valley City will hold the next COVID-19 News Briefing on Wednesday evening  at 5:30-p.m.

Each organization will provide updates and information pertaining to recent developments in the COVID-19 community response

The meeting airs live with replays on CSi TV 10 -The Replay Channel & CSi 68.   To view the briefing online, view it here at CSiNewsNOW.com or go to the CSi LiveStream at Facebook.

Schedule speakers include: City County Health District Administrator Theresa Will

Valley City Fire Chief Scott Magnuson

Barnes County Food Pantry, Director, Pat Hansen

Barnes County Commission President, Bill Carlblom

Valley City Mayor, Dave Carlsrud.

Jamestown  (Chamber)     Members of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Davoni’s, a new restaurant in Jamestown. This business is located at 113 1^st St. W in Jamestown.

Businesses qualify for a ribbon-cutting ceremony if they open, move, remodel, are under new ownership or change their name. For more information, contact Emily Bivens by emailing: director@jamestownchamber.com or call the chamber at 701-252-4830.

Jamestown  (JFD)  Jamestown City Fire Chief, Jim Reuther, says, Beginning Tuesday, May 26, 2020, firefighters will be flow testing fire hydrants in the SE part of Jamestown. This will last for about the next 3weeks. Please use extreme caution in this area.
The Fire Department flows about a third of the City’s hydrants each year. The testing provides the department with the flow pressure and volume of water from each hydrant. Additionally, it reveals hydrants with mechanical problems. Flow testing is one of the ways the department uses to ensure hydrants are operable and give the proper water flow during an emergency.

Valley City  Barnes County has announced that spring road restrictions will be lifted on all asphalt county roadways, with the exception of Barnes County 17’s (Old #1).

Restrictions will remain in place on Barnes County and Township gravel roads until further notice.  Remember Barnes County 17’s (Old #1) will remain closed to all truck traffic until further notice.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis was seen on a bystander’s video pleading that he could not breathe as a white officer knelt on his neck. The officer kept his kept his knee on the man for several minutes after the man stopped moving. The death Monday night was under investigation by the FBI and state law enforcement authorities. It drew comparisons to the case of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man who died in 2014 in New York after being placed in a police chokehold. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey apologized to the black community Tuesday in a Facebook post.

In world and national news..

O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Leaders in Kansas City, St. Louis and the state of Kansas are urging people who partied close together at Lake of the Ozarks over the Memorial Day weekend to self-quarantine for two weeks. Health officials fear that the gatherings documented in social media postings could lead to a resurgence of the coronavirus. Big crowds were reported at swimming pools, bars and restaurants at the popular central Missouri lake that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Postings showed people without masks partying and swimming together in close proximity. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page asked the county’s health department to issue a travel advisory.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — Several counties north of New York City entered the first phase of the state’s four-part reopening process Tuesday after Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the region had met criteria for reopening. Those include declining deaths and hospitalizations linked to the coronavirus. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said the city has hired 1,700 coronavirus contact tracers, a crucial step to getting the city closer to meeting the reopening requirements. The trading floor of the New York Stock exchange has reopened for the first time in two months. Cuomo rang the opening bell of the Stock Exchange on Tuesday. Traders are now required to wear masks and stay 6 feet apart.

 

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden has defended its response to the COVID-19 global pandemic despite the country now reporting one of the highest mortality rates in the world with 4,125 fatalities, about 40 deaths per 100,000 people. Sweden took a relatively soft approach to fighting the coronavirus. Large gatherings were banned but restaurants and schools for younger children have stayed open. Foreign Minister Ann Linde said Tuesday that it’s still too early to tell what measures have worked and which have failed. Opponents to the government’s strategy gained an influential voice this week after the country’s former state epidemiologist expressed doubt at the Swedish health authority’s strategy and said that, in retrospect, she believes an early lockdown could have saved lives.

 

The Colosseum in the Italian capital of Rome will start receiving visitors again after three months of shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. To lower the risk of possible contagion at one of Italy’s most popular tourist attractions, tourists will have to wear protective masks and have their temperatures taken before entering the ancient arena, which re-opens to tourism on June 1. Entrance times will be staggered to discourage crowding and tickets must be bought online. A reduced-price ticket will be available for afternoon visitors in an effort to encourage Romans to visit at the end of their working day.

 

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two GOP governors are offering up their states to host the Republican National Convention, a day after President Donald Trump demanded assurances from North Carolina’s Democratic governor that the convention can go forward in August despite coronavirus fears. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp sent an open plea to Trump on Tuesday to consider his state as an alternate site. Kemp’s offer was followed by one from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, The convention is set to gather more than 2,500 delegates and thousands more guests, press and security officials. Plans have been underway for more than a year to hold it in Charlotte.

 

(AP)  Wall Street is sharply higher as hopes for economic recovery overshadow worries over the coronavirus pandemic. The S&P 500 jumped to a nearly 3-month high, recovering much of its post-pandemic losses. Investors are shifting their focus to how various nations are adapting to getting back to business, while striving to keep new COVID-19 cases in check. Reassuring comments by the head of China’s central bank also helped spur buying. Benchmarks in Paris, London and Tokyo also gained on Tuesday.