Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum, Thursday Oct 1,  held his weekly news conference at the state capital in Bismarck.  He was joined by NDDoH Director of Disease Control Kirby Kruger and NDDoH Immunization Program Manager Molly Howell.

Burgum pointed out challenges dealing with the pandemic, and the stress North Dakotans are undergoing.  He said during these and other times residents have stepped up noting floods, and the crisis in the agriculture industry.

He gave thanks to all of those dealing with the pandemic having grace, compassion  and understanding.

He said COVID-19 testing is being stepped up in long term care facilities pointing out the number of residents testing positive.  He said health care workers staffing is being increased, saying additional workers are filling in for those staff members having been tested positive for the virus, being in close contact with a positive person, and isolating.

Burgum update the latest stats from the State Health Department.

North Dakota health officials reported a new daily high for COVID-19 hospitalizations on Thursday, along with nine more deaths. Hospital capacity is a rising concern as active cases continue to increase. Hospitalizations statewide rose to 106 on Thursday, up 17 more than a day earlier. Health officials say 373 new COVID-19 cases were reported Thursday, bringing the total number of cases in North Dakota to 22,218 since the pandemic began. Also Thursday,  Burgum provided new quarantine guidance to make exceptions for people who were in close contact with others who tested positive for COVID-19, but were wearing masks.

NDDDoH

COVID-19 Stats

Thurs.Oct. 1, 2020

Posted 11-a.m.

Barnes

New Positives  2

Total Positives 244

Active Cases 38

Recovered 206

 

Stutsman

Death 1  Man in his 50s from Stutsman County with underlying health conditions.

Total Deaths 4

New Positives  2

Total Positives  529

Active Cases 44

Recovered 481

On Thursday the State Health Department reported  226 COVID-19 tests have been given for Stutsman County for a positivity rate of less than 1% in the county.

 

COVID-19 Test Results
The results listed are from the previous day. Additional data can be found on the NDDoH website.

BY THE NUMBERS

6,080 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

642,453 – Total tests completed since the pandemic began

373– Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

22,218 – Total positive individuals since the pandemic began

6.37% – Daily Positivity Rate**

 

3,690 Total Active Cases

+29 Individuals from yesterday

334 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (238 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

18,272 – Total recovered since the pandemic began

106 – Currently Hospitalized

+17 – Individuals from yesterday

9 – New Deaths*** (256 total deaths since the pandemic began)


INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Woman in her 80s from Burleigh County with underlying health conditions.
  • Man in his 60s from Divide County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 80s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 80s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
  • Man in his 80s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
  • Man in his 60s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
  • Woman in her 90s from Morton County with underlying health conditions.
  • Man in his 80s from Richland County with underlying health conditions.
  • Man in his 50s from Stutsman County with underlying health conditions.


COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED THURSDAY

  • Adams County – 5
  • Barnes County – 2
  • Benson County – 2
  • Bottineau County – 2
  • Bowman County – 1
  • Burleigh County – 44
  • Cass County – 81
  • Dickey County – 38
  • Dunn County – 2
  • Eddy County – 1
  • Golden Valley County – 2
  • Grand Forks County – 7
  • Grant County – 1
  • Hettinger County – 2
  • LaMoure County – 6
  • McHenry County -1
  • McKenzie County – 6
  • McLean County – 6
  • Mercer County – 3
  • Morton County – 14
  • Mountrail County – 5
  • Pembina County – 5
  • Pierce County – 1
  • Ramsey County – 6
  • Renville County – 1
  • Richland County – 6
  • Rolette County – 6
  • Sargent County – 4
  • Sioux County – 3
  • Slope County – 4
  • Stark County – 18
  • Stutsman County – 2
  • Traill County – 1
  • Walsh County – 4
  • Ward County – 29
  • Wells County – 1
  • Williams County – 51

 

* 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.

**Individuals who tested positive divided by the total number of people tested who have not previously tested positive (susceptible encounters).

*** Number of individuals who tested positive and died from any cause while infected with COVID-19.
**** The actual date individuals are officially out of isolation and no longer contagious.

******Totals may be adjusted as individuals are found to live out of state, in another county, or as other information is found during investigation.

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 added that the NDDoH website’s dashboard will be update to clarify the numbers and comparisons.

With hospitalizations, he said the state’s hospital capacity is continually be monitored.

He said 14,000 “quick” testing kits are on there way to North Dakota,  220,00 expected by December this year.  Those tests do not require lab testing, and shows results within 15 minutes.

He said from joining in a White House conference call, he learned that the COVID-19 vaccine trail are moving forward.  He did not indicate when a safe and effective vaccine will be approved and distributed.

Burgum said, the September announcement of the county risk level changes will stay the same with the more changes being announced within the next two weeks.

He reminded residents about the NDSmart guidelines to stay safe.  More information on the NDDoH website.

He added that bringing the state’s positivity rate back to five percent and maintaining that number will keep businesses and schools open.

NDDoH Director of Disease Control Kirby Kruger, pointed out studies by the CDC concerning the benefits of wearing face masks, to control the spread of the virus, citing a hair salon where employees and clients were kept safe from the virus spread, from known positive individuals.

#MASKUPND has more information.

With flu shots Burgum said they protect especially youth and the elderly from contracting the flu.

NDDoH Immunization Program Manager Molly Howell, everyone six months of age and older should get a vaccination, with the possible COVID-19 vaccine coming possibly this coming winter.  She said having to test individuals for both COVID-1 and the flu and treating those people, will put additional stress on  healthcare .

With behavior health, Burgum pointed out advances in tele-health, and its effectiveness, with the delivery improving.

Gov. Doug Burgum and the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDOH) Thursday announced updated guidance for the quarantining of individuals who are identified as close contacts to COVID-19 positive individuals.

The guidance has been updated to reflect that in non-health care, non-residential settings, when the positive case and close contact have both been wearing a face covering consistently and correctly for the entire time, the close contact will not need to self-quarantine at home.

Burgum says, “This is a common-sense approach that creates an incentive for people to wear face coverings and provides for a more positive school experience for students, faculty, administrators and parents. ” Burgum said, noting the quarantine exception applies retroactively if both parties were wearing masks.

The quarantine exception includes, but may not be limited to:

  • Child care centers where staff and older children (age 2 or above) are able to wear a mask.
  • Group homes
  • K-12 schools and preschools
  • Colleges and universities
  • Work settings
  • Social interactions
  • Other settings where both the infected person and contact were masked during the exposure.

Kirby Kruger, an epidemiologist and director of the NDDOH Division of Disease Control, says, close contacts who meet the quarantine exception should still self-monitor, which means wearing a face covering and keeping a close eye out for any symptoms, said Kirby Kruger, an epidemiologist and director of the NDDOH Division of Disease Control.

Kruger said the updated guidelines are based on mounting evidence, evaluated by public health experts including NDDoH epidemiologists and infectious disease experts, supporting the effectiveness of masks in reducing transmission.

Kruger says, “The evidence is clear: The steps we take by wearing a mask have a direct impact on the spread of COVID-19.  In addition, individuals should continue to stay home when sick, keep 6 feet of distance, wash hands frequently and sanitize frequently touched surfaces. Thank you in advance for doing your part to keep our state safe.”

The Recovery Reinvented conference will be held virtually, with nationally known addiction counselors to speak.  More information on line, at recoveryreinvented.com

The North Dakota Department of Commerce Thursday announced that the Economic Resiliency Grant (ERG) has reached two milestones since the program’s opening for applications in August.

As of Thursday, Commerce reported it has successfully adjudicated more than half of the applications received, totaling more than $20 million awarded to 1,000 North Dakota businesses.

Small businesses with less than 25 employees represented 80% of businesses that received ERG funds.

More Information