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

Bismarck  (CSi)   Governor Doug Burgum held his weekly COVID-19 News Briefing, Monday afternoon at the State Capital.

 

He was joined by State School Superintendent Kirsten Baesler and interim State Health Officer Dr. Andrew Stahl.

Burgum said the vaccine development will lead the way toward meeting the challenges of finding a COVID-19 cure.

With long term care he said visitors to those facilities are able to be tested for COVID-19, under point of care.

He added the Burleigh Morton county COVID-19 Task Force met of the first time last Friday. Tuesday and Wednesday there will be another public walk up testing, with more information from those public health offices.

With Tuesday COVID-19 Statistics:

NDDoH COVID-19 stats

Posted Mon Aug 10, 2020

11-a.m.

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

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

• Woman in her 70s from Stutsman County with underlying health conditions. 
• Stutsman total death toll, at 2.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED MONDAY

• Adams County – 1
• Barnes County +2
• Barnes Total Positives 39
• Benson County – 1
• Bowman County – 2
• Burleigh County – 30
• Cass County – 7
• Foster County – 1
• Golden Valley County – 1
• Grand Forks County – 6
• Kidder County – 4
• McHenry County – 1
• McIntosh County – 7
• McKenzie County – 1
• McLean County – 11
• Morton County – 16
• Mountrail County – 5
• Nelson County – 1
• Ramsey County – 1
• Rolette County – 1
• Sheridan County – 1
• Stark County – 3
• Ward County – 12
• Williams County – 2

BY THE NUMBERS

362,730 – Total Number of Tests Completed* (+4,590 total tests from yesterday)

169,839 – Total Unique Individuals Tested* (+1,167 unique individuals from yesterday)

162,126 Total Negative (+1,050 unique individuals from yesterday)

7,713 – Total Positive (+117 unique individuals from yesterday)

1,923 – Total Positives from Serial (Repeat) Testing (+47 from yesterday †)****

2.5% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

417 – Total Hospitalized (+2 individual from yesterday)

48 – Currently Hospitalized (+1 individuals from yesterday)

6,434 – Total Recovered (+79 individuals from yesterday)

113 – 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.
**** This number includes individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 after they had previously had a negative test.
† 63 new positives from serial testing were reported Saturday, August 8; 46 were reported Sunday, August 9.

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 local school districts will set their guidance for wearing face masks.

Interim State Health Officer Dr. Andrew Stahl, talked about the Mask-up North Dakota campaign.

He said masks are one of the most powerful weapons to slow the spread to COVID-19.

He added that the virus spreads by coughs, sneezes and by talking, with droplets emitted into the air.  He said to wash hands before putting on the masks, and make sure it sealed around the face and nose.  He said children learn from example from parents.  Children under the age of two should, not, wear facemasks.

North Dakota State Health Department has more information/www.health.nd.gov/coronavirus/maskup.nd

With Distance Learning, Superintendent Baseler said, a high quality education is the goal while keeping students safe. She said the DPI has announced two resources.  A learning program will be available for lessons in math, reading and writing.

North Dakota Exact Path funding will be covered by the federal CARES Act.

School districts will, not, be required to use the program.

In person, hybrid, and distance learning, will be able to access the program.

Baesler added that innovative programs for Special Education will be addressed through the CARES Act through Minot State University offering scholarships to paraprofessionals  to earn an education degree.

The North Dakota Department of Commerce announced that the Economic Resiliency Grant (ERG) Program application process is scheduled to open Wednesday, Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. CDT.

The ERG is a grant opportunity designed by Commerce to enhance revenue in both the immediate and long-term future by growing consumer confidence. The grant will provide funding to private companies operating in North Dakota for costs associated with the business improvements to reduce the spread of infection and instill consumer confidence in the marketplace.

Eligible applicants may qualify to receive grant funding up to $50,000 per business and up to $100,000 per business with multiple locations for direct investments that help create a safe environment for both employees and consumers.

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 can be found at belegendary.link/ERG.

Burgum has signed an Executive Order.  All renewals for driver licenses, which expired March 1 or later, have been extended and will follow a phased schedule. The deadline for vehicle registrations remains August 31.

This new executive order takes the place of Executive Order 2020-36 which extended expiration dates for vehicle registration and driver licenses to August 31.

North Dakota law enforcement agencies and private sector businesses operating in this state are directed to recognize any North Dakota driver’s license that expired after March 1, 2020, or a license that will expire by December 31, 2020 as valid, based upon the renewal schedule below.

 

• Licenses which expired in March, April or May 2020 must be renewed no later than September 30, 2020.
• Licenses which expired in June 2020 must be renewed no later than October 31, 2020.
• Licenses which expired, or will expire, in July, August, September or October 2020 must be renewed no later than November 30, 2020.
• Licenses which expire in November and December 2020 must be renewed no later than December 31, 2020.

 

Robin Rehborg, NDDOT Deputy Director for Driver Safety, says, “The latest extension is necessary for the Department of Transportation to meet customer demand and allow citizens of North Dakota to legally operate their vehicles. We ask for your patience as we continue to work through this backlog while providing the safest possible experience for our customers.”

 

NDDOT will continue to serve the citizens by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, visit our website at dot.nd.gov or call 1-855-633-6835.

 

NDDOT is focused on serving customers with driver’s licenses that expired March 1 – December 31, 2020 and will continue to schedule appointments based on immediate need. Currently there are 22,911 expired driver’s licenses that need to be renewed during the COVID emergency.

 

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration also has extended the REAL ID deadline to October 2021. Only customers renewing a North Dakota driver license at this time will be able to obtain a REAL ID during their scheduled appointment.

 

In addition to appointments, many driver’s license services such as change of address, renewals, replacements, and more are available online.

 

Please continue to watch the NDDOT website for the most up-to-date information at www.dot.nd.gov.

He said the extension is based on a backlog of applications.  The extensions were granted due to DMV offices closed for an extended period of time during the early weeks of the pandemic.

The North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH) announced Monday that North Dakota has been selected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of four states to be part of a pilot project to plan for a COVID-19 vaccination program.

NDDoH Immunization Program Manager Molly Howell says,  “North Dakota was selected because of the strength of our immunization program. Our teams have been working for weeks on a plan and we’re thrilled to supplement that work with this partnership with the CDC and the Department of Defense to plan and prepare for the COVID-19 vaccination response in North Dakota.”

In addition, the CDC is interested in exploring strategies to reach American Indian populations and help determine opportunities as it relates to vaccine planning and distribution.

When a vaccine becomes available, the federal government will provide general guidance on how to prioritize and distribute the vaccine. Howell said her team and other partners will take that broad guidance and implement it in North Dakota.

Howell adds, “Planning with North Dakota and other pilot sites will inform and support other states planning for coronavirus vaccine.”

Meetings kick off this week in Bismarck. For more information on COVID-19, visit health.nd.gov/coronavirus.

The next Burgum news briefing is planned for Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at 3:30-p.m.