(CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his weekly news briefing Tuesday afternoon at the state capital in Bismarck.

July 14th, 2020 COVID-19 Press Conference – ND Joint Information Center

Posted by North Dakota Department of Health on Tuesday, July 14, 2020

 

He was joined by North Dakota State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler to discuss plans for K-12 education in the fall.

Burgum said being North Dakota Smart will continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state, while many other states continue to climb with positive cases.  He said the state is on the right track to slow the spread, and enabling the state to continue to keep business open, including increasing testing.  He pointed out fewer positive cases in long-term care facilities, leading to expanded visitation.

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

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Woman in her 80s from Cass County with underlying health conditions.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TODAY

  • Bottineau County – 2
  • Burleigh County – 7
  • Cass County – 11
  • Cavalier County – 1
  • Dunn County – 1
  • Emmons County – 1
  • Golden Valley County – 1
  • Grand Forks County – 3
  • McKenzie County – 1
  • McLean County – 1
  • Morton County – 4
  • Mountrail County – 3
  • Pembina County – 1
  • Sioux County – 1
  • Stutsman County – 1
  • Stutsman County Total 69
  • Recovered 62
  • Walsh County – 1
  • Williams County – 15


BY THE NUMBERS

235,497 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+2,427 total tests from yesterday)

 

125,033 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+1,155 unique individuals from yesterday)

120,540 – Total Negative (+1,104 unique individuals from yesterday)

4,493 – Total Positive (+55 unique individuals from yesterday)

Four previously reported cases involved in a quality control check were inadvertently left in the system when the data was pulled. All the cases were previously reported under Burleigh County. 

2.3% – Daily Positivity Rate**

280 – Total Hospitalized (+3 individual from yesterday)

42 – Currently Hospitalized (-1 individuals from yesterday)

3,685 – Total Recovered (+32 individuals from yesterday)

88 – 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 said planning to hold activities outdoors this summer and early fall keeps gathering away from indoors, where the virus is easier spread in confined in closed in spaces.  He again urged social distancing whether indoors or outdoors, and wear face masks, and use good hygiene practices.

 

With K-12 public education, he said the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to challenge education in North Dakota.  He said distance learning was successful, and now reviewing that time, officials are looking back to determine what went well and what didn’t, including transitioning from classroom instruction.

Burgum said reopening K-12 requires North Dakota Smart guidelines while providing education, and addressing public health concerns.

He said collaboration between educators and health officials is imperative in reopening guidelines, along with congregation issues within school buildings, and rethinking how to handle the issue.

Local virus condition will determine if education is face to face in the classroom, or if distance learning will be still be needed.   He added that local school boards will be of great importance in making those determinations, consulting with public health officials,under health and safety plans. Included in the Smart ReOpening, is  improved distance learning plans, and health and safety plans, within  classroom guidelines.

State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler also said K-12 reopening plans will rely on school board decisions keeping in mind public safety health issues, along with education issues, creating written plans that must be included in the public schools web site.  A COVID-19 coordinator will be assigned, and a plan to identify positive cases, and action to be taken.

Distance learning plans will also be adjusted with improvements to existing distance learning.

School districts will review the plans and school district improvements, with the school calendar to be set by each school district.

Valley City Public Schools Superintendent, Josh Johnson says, VCPS will start on Aug 31st.

He says the  school district is planning and preparing for the reopening of schools this fall researching, listening, and learn from the professionals in the medical field to better understand COVID-19 and the Health and Safety needs of  students and staff.

The school district  has evaluated the feedback from our families and believe that there is a Strong Desire to SAFELY return students back to face-to-face learning this fall.

With other topics…

With immunizations, Burgum said requirements for school-agers will remain in place, under state law and accomplished before school starts this upcoming school year.

With child care, state Humane Service officials will work with school districts in determining needs for each school district, including federal funding needs.

With long-term care visitations, Burgum said 13 facilities are nearing completion of the phased in approach, and visitation will be closely monitored as to positive testing results.

 

The North Dakota Department of Commerce Tuesday announced that the application window for the ND Smart Restart Technical Skill Training Grant is anticipated to open on July 20.

Commerce was approved $1 million during a Budget Section meeting on June 25 to administer the ND Smart Restart Technical Skills Training Grant, which is designed to support accelerated, skills-based and hands-on workforce training programs for displaced workers seeking to develop the technical skills necessary to make a career change and remain gainfully employed in North Dakota.

Although a wide range of programs may qualify, Commerce anticipates that skilled trades and labor training programs are well-suited to develop accelerated programming or expand capacity in existing programs.

New programs and existing programs that began after March 1, 2020, may qualify for this grant to support operating expenses and scholarships for current participants.

Updates about the ND Smart Restart Technical Skills Training Grant will be posted on Commerce’s website as more information becomes available.

With behavior health, Burgum said, Sanford Health is developing ways to engage and provide recovery  support to health care practitioners, as a result of COVID-19.