(CSi) Governor Doug Burgum on Wednesday held a COVID-19 News Briefing from the state capital in Bismarck.  He was joined by Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer.

July 8th, 2020 COVID-19 Press Conference – ND Joint Information Center

Posted by North Dakota Department of Health on Wednesday, July 8, 2020

 

Burgum said to take advantage of COVID-19 testing opportunities, noting that over the past three week, an average of 23,000 individuals have been tested.

He said summer tourist traffic is moving through North Dakota.  He pointed out the average age of those positive cases have dropped in North Dakota.  He pointed out several states have reclosed businesses and beaches due to a spike in positive cases.   He added that North Dakota active cases have doubled in the past two weeks, stemming in part from more testing and then contact tracing  isolating those testing positive.

Serial testing, those testing more than once, has reached 208,192.

Long term care serial testing is occurring weekly.

He pointed out Burleigh County currently has the most active cases at 128.  Testing has been ramped up in the county. The increase in positives in Burleigh and Morton Counties is being monitored.

Testing sites around the state have been expanded, including mobile testing sites.  A static testing site will be established in Jamestown.

On Wednesday, North Dakota health officials say they’ve confirmed 73 new cases of the coronavirus. The state health department said Wednesday the state has seen 3,971 cases. One additional death was reported Wednesday, bringing the statewide total to 85. Health officials identified the victim as a Cass County woman in her 90s with underlying health conditions. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher than the state’s totals because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms.

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Woman in her 90s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED WEDNESDAY

  • Benson County – 4
  • Burleigh County – 20
  • Cass County – 15
  • Foster County – 2
  • Grand Forks County – 3
  • Logan County – 1
  • McHenry County – 1
  • McIntosh County – 1
  • McKenzie County – 1
  • Morton County – 7
  • Nelson County – 1
  • Pembina County – 2
  • Pierce County – 1
  • Ramsey County – 6
  • Sheridan County – 1
  • Sioux County – 3
  • Walsh County – 1
  • Williams County – 3

BY THE NUMBERS

208,192 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+3,669 total tests from yesterday)

115,839 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+1,482 unique individuals from yesterday)

111,868 – Total Negative (+1,409 unique individuals from yesterday)

3,971 – Total Positive (+73 unique individuals from yesterday)

2.0% – Daily Positivity Rate**

252 – Total Hospitalized (+4 individual from yesterday)

26 – Currently Hospitalized (+2 individuals from yesterday)

3,447 – Total Recovered (+34 individuals from yesterday)

85 – Total Deaths*** (+1 individual from yesterday)

Upon death record review where COVID-19 is listed as a cause of death, it was determined that this death were not previously reported to the state.

* 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.

Burgum pointed out federal dollars that have been made available in North Dakota to support businesses and individuals, during the pandemic with the help of the North Dakota congressional delegation.

North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer says the Payroll Protection Plan has extended the deadline to apply for assistance,  into August, with more information available atNDresponse.com

The North Dakota Department of Commerce will be leading a Special Business Briefing call Thursday, July 9, at 11 a.m. (CST) introducing the new Economic Resiliency Grant (ERG) available to North Dakota businesses, as approved by the Budget Section at its June 25 meeting.

The purpose of the ERG is to support investments in business facilities, systems, equipment or supplies to reduce the spread of infection and inspire consumer confidence. To support this purpose, qualifying North Dakota businesses and nonprofit applicants may apply for funding up to $50,000 for qualifying project costs.

Kommer says the Department of Commerce is working together with the business community to increase safety, in order to inspire consumer confidence in the marketplace.  This grant is one piece of a large, forward facing plan to keep North Dakota open for business.”

The ERG application process is anticipated to open July 24. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding will be approved if the application meets all criteria and funding is available.  Additional information, including educational sessions, will be available shortly, and updates about the program will be posted to Commerce’s website.

Burgum on Wednesday signed an executive order restoring the work registration and search requirements for individuals seeking unemployment benefits, effective July 26.

Registration for employment can be completed online, and all local Job Service offices will be open by July 26 to assist those who need help completing registration.

The requirements were suspended March 13 in order to expand unemployment eligibility amid business closures during the COVID-19 crisis. Under Executive Order 2020-08.2  all individuals seeking unemployment – including those whose unemployment is related to COVID-19 – must register for work and conduct an active work search as required by state statute.

With work searches once again required, if an individual receiving unemployment benefits refuses a suitable job offer, he or she becomes ineligible to receive further unemployment benefits until becoming re-employed and earning sufficient wages to requalify for benefits.

Burgum said. “The suspension of registration and work search requirements was always meant to be temporary. Reintroduction of these requirements will assist employees and employers to return to work and continue a North Dakota Smart Restart. Job Service North Dakota will continue working with individuals receiving benefits on a case-by-case basis to make sure they receive the assistance they need and that we are protecting the lives and livelihoods of all.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Job Service North Dakota has received an unprecedented number of unemployment insurance claims. In total, 97,178 regular unemployment claims have been filed by North Dakota workers. An additional 19,689 North Dakota workers have filed for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and 20,218 have filed for Pandemic Unemployment Emergency Compensation (PUEC). Nearly $568 million in benefit payments have been made since March 15.

Though claims filings remain more than four times higher than normal, filings are down significantly from the peak filing week of March 29. More importantly, certifications are down 20 percent since the week of May 3, which directly correlates with individuals returning to employment, Burgum noted.

For more information on North Dakota’s COVID-19 response, visit www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus or www.ndresponse.gov.

Burgum said the state lab in Bismarck continues COVID-19 testing 24/7.

Burgum’s next COVID-19 News Briefing will be Tuesday, July 14 at 3:30-p.m