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

Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum Wednesday afternoon resumed his COVID-19 News Briefings from the state capital in Bismarck.

He was joined by Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Mike Faith and North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission (NDIAC) Executive Director Scott Davis.

With the latest COVID-19 statistics, reported on Wednesday:

Another person has died from COVID-19 in North Dakota, bringing the total number of deaths to 66. State health officials said Wednesday the victim was a Cass County man in his 70s with underlying health conditions.

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

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Man in his 70s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY

• Burleigh County – 2
• Cass County – 21
• Grand Forks County – 1
• Ransom County – 2
• Stutsman County – 5
• Walsh County – 1
• Ward County – 1

BY THE NUMBERS

101,327 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+2,626 total tests from yesterday)

74,502 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+858 unique individuals from yesterday)

71,823 – Total Negative (+825 unique individuals from yesterday)

2,679 – Total Positive (+33 unique individuals from yesterday)

1.3% – Daily Positivity Rate**

172 – Total Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

34 – Currently Hospitalized (+0 individuals from yesterday)

2,169 – Total Recovered (+42 individuals from yesterday)

66 – 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.

**Because the serial tests completed and added to the total number of tests completed can result in new individuals who test positive, the daily positivity rate will be calculated using the total positives for the day by the daily number of tests completed instead of the daily number of unique individuals tested.

*** Number of individuals who tested positive and died from any cause while infected with COVID-19.

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  thanks the team effort in being a leader in lifting restrictions, and having the least amount of restrictions in place prior to moving to the low risk level.

He said the Memorial Day weekend did not spike the positive COVID-19 numbers.

He stressed ramping up testing efforts  will lead to even less restrictions.

Long term care positive numbers are improving with low numbers recently reported.

He said the goal of reaching zero positives in long term care facilities, will mean visitor restrictions will be lifted.

With Tribal Testing, Burgum said tribal testing has been completed in collaboration with state and tribal leaders.

North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission (NDIAC) Executive Director Scott Davis, said, the state opened up a number of  availabilities  in including testing and Personal Protect Equipment.

He said the North Dakota Tribes now are able to share data, with other tribes, thanks to the state’s efforts.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairman Mike Faith pointed out teamwork between Standing Rock and the State Health Department including organized testing, PPEs and the assistance of the ND National Guard.

He said South Dakota areas will be tested soon.

Margaret Gates the Tribal Health Director, and Tribal Command leader said, testing plans were developed in cooperation with support, of the National Guard initially for the young people, and older people.

She added that casino testing will be forthcoming.

Burgum thanked them for their cooperation as well.

With the Payroll Protection Plan that was implement a few weeks ago, Burgum said as of June  1, 19,000 North Dakota businesses received $1.7 billion, originally a loan that became a grant.

A loan forgiveness application form will become available soon, and will be announced.

In other state news, State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and EduTech Director Rosi Kloberdanz Wednesday announced a Code.org Professional Learning Program beginning in June for middle school teachers and July for high school teachers. There is also a program available for elementary teachers.

The Computer Science Discoveries and Principles workshops are offered through a Code.org and EduTech partnership that provides scholarships for attendees, who are only required to pay a non-refundable $100 registration fee.

Registration for the middle school program is open until June 9 with a five-day online workshop taking place June 15-19.  Registration for the high school program is open until July 7 with a five-day online workshop taking place July 13-17. Each of the Professional Learning Programs is a yearlong commitment starting with the online workshop, along with two virtual two-day follow-up academic workshops. The program has a value of $4,800. Computer science credentialing is available upon completion, which is also aligned with the state’s integrated computer science and cybersecurity standards – the first in the nation.