Bismarck (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his COVID-19 News Briefing on Wednesday afternoon, in Bismarck.  Burgum was joined by Molly Howell, NDDoH Immunization Program Manager.

He pointed out the growing national positive cases, with the indoors winter months, plus with the holidays coming the numbers are expected to grow.

He said North Dakota’s positive cases per capita have been reduced, recently ranked 16th in the nation.

He added that North Dakota’s hospitalizations are currently declining.

He thanked residents for reducing contacts over the Thanksgiving holiday. Although reports have shown some individuals attending larger gatherings that were infected.

He said those 65 years of age and older and with underlying health conditions should not be in public indoors spaces without wearing a mask.

He pointed out COVID-19 testing sites, that are available in the state, and those planning to attending Christmas gatherings to start isolating now, before being tested.

ND Covid Stats

Wed. Dec 9, 2020

11:00-a.m.

Barnes County

 

New Positives:  8

Total Positives: 1141

Active:  85

Recovered:  1049

 

Stutsman County

NEW DEATHS 3

  • Man in his 80s
  • Man in his 70s
  • Woman in her 90s

TOTAL DEATHS 59

New Positives: 20

Total Positives: 2813

Active:  155

Recovered:   2599

Totals include both PCR tests and antigen tests combined.

 

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

Thank you for your patience! Antigen tests (BinaxNOW, etc.) will be live on the website shortly.

A couple of things to note:

  • The NDDoH is following the guidance from the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) – the independent professional body that determines case definitions for the country. CSTE guidance and the CDC indicate that someone who has a positive antigen test for COVID-19 should be considered a probable case. Probable cases receive the same level of case investigation and follow-up as cases confirmed using a PCR test.
  • PCR tests and antigen tests are displayed separately on the first page of the dashboard and are broken out into daily and cumulative totals on the second page. For the rest of the graphs and maps, totals include both PCR tests and antigen tests combined.
  • Antigen tests are not taken into account in the percent positivity. Some testing facilities are not reporting all antigen testing. As a result, we do not know the total number of negatives and total tests completed to be able to calculate a positivity rate.
  • 1,922 positive antigen tests have been added to the totals. The past positive antigen tests and 12 deaths reported yesterday are reflected on the dashboard on the actual day they were resulted. So, the daily new positives reported today are the PCR tests and antigen tests reported from yesterday, as is usually done.


BY THE NUMBERS

6,085 – Total Tests from Yesterday*

1,199,933 – Total tests completed since the pandemic began

473 – Positive Individuals from Yesterday*****

415 – PCR Tests | 58 antigen tests
86,149 – Total positive individuals since the pandemic began

7.49% – Daily Positivity Rate** 

 

4,554 – Total Active Cases

-220 Individuals from Yesterday

666 – Individuals Recovered from Yesterday (531 with a recovery date of yesterday****)

80,515 – Total recovered since the pandemic began

284 – Currently Hospitalized

-44 – Individuals from yesterday

 

16 – New Deaths*** (1,080 total deaths since the pandemic began)

INDIVIDUALS WHO DIED WITH COVID-19

  • Man in his 90s from Burleigh County.
  • Woman in her 90s from Burleigh County.
  • Woman in her 90s from Burleigh County.
  • Man in his 80s from Burleigh County.
  • Man in his 70s from Dickey County.
  • Woman in her 80s from Grand Forks County.
  • Woman in her 80s from McKenzie County.
  • Woman in her 80s from Ramsey County.
  • Man in his 80s from Ramsey County.
  • Man in his 80s from Stutsman County.
  • Man in his 70s from Stutsman County.
  • Woman in her 90s from Stutsman County.
  • Man in his 60s from Traill County.
  • Woman in her 90s from Walsh County.
  • Man in his 80s from Ward County.
  • Man in his 50s from Ward County.

COUNTIES WITH NEW POSITIVE CASES REPORTED TODAY

  • Adams County – 1
  • Barnes County – 8
  • Benson County – 3
  • Bottineau County – 3
  • Burke County – 1
  • Burleigh County – 52
  • Cass County – 116
  • Cavalier County – 1
  • Dickey County – 7
  • Divide County – 1
  • Dunn County – 3
  • Eddy County – 2
  • Foster County – 2
  • Golden Valley County – 3
  • Grand Forks County – 51
  • Griggs County – 2
  • Hettinger County – 1
  • Kidder County – 2
  • LaMoure County – 2
  • Logan County – 5
  • McKenzie County – 4
  • McLean County – 7
  • Mercer County – 6
  • Morton County – 15
  • Mountrail County – 2
  • Nelson County – 3
  • Oliver County – 1
  • Pembina County – 4
  • Pierce County – 1
  • Ramsey County – 11
  • Ransom County – 3
  • Renville County – 1
  • Richland County – 23
  • Rolette County – 17
  • Sargent County – 4
  • Sioux County – 1
  • Stark County – 13
  • Steele County – 1
  • Stutsman County – 20
  • Towner County – 6
  • Traill County – 13
  • Walsh County – 6
  • Ward County – 18
  • Wells County – 2
  • Williams County – 25

 

* Note that this includes PCR tests and does not include individuals from out of state.

**Individuals who tested positive divided by the total number of people tested who have not previously tested positive (susceptible encounters). Antigen tests (positive or negative) are not included in the calculation.

*** Number of individuals who tested positive with a PCR or antigen test and died from any cause while infected with COVID-19. There is a lag in the time deaths are reported to the NDDoH.

**** The actual date individuals are officially out of isolation and no longer contagious.

*****Daily positive numbers include people who tested with a PCR or antigen test. 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.

 

 

With the North Dakota mask mandate, Burgum’s previous order requires people wear masks and limits the size of gatherings and earlier business closing.  Burugm’s  order expires Sunday December 13. North Dakota has dropped from first to 16th in the country for new cases per capita in the last two weeks.

Yesterday, Burgum said, the mask mandate will be extended to January 18, 2021. He said by that date residents will have started the first round of getting vaccines.  The mandate for restrictions on bars restaurants and other hospitality industries will be extended to Friday January 8th.  Local political subdivisions Emergency Orders with similar restrictions can be adjusted by each city.

With sports, the suspension of sports games will be allowed to expire on December 14.

NDDoH Immunization Program Manager, Molly Howell said,

North Dakota has been working for months and is ready to take action as soon as the vaccine is is available, beginning in North Dakota as soon as this weekend, or next Monday with Pfizer, 6825 doses available .  13,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine availability will follow soon after. for healthcare workers, and long-term care residents and staff with the top priority.

The  vaccine will be available from pharmacies, public health and private health care providers.

Thrifty White Drug is the North Dakota pharmacy handling the local immuizations.

The general public will be able to get the vaccine, this spring, with the exception of children and pregnant woman.

She said the vaccine is showing 82 percent effectiveness after the first dose, but a booster is required a few weeks later.

Two companies, Moderna and Pfizer, recently applied to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize the vaccine for emergency use in the U.S.

The North Dakota COVID-19 Vaccination Ethics Committee, which includes a physician, ethicist, local public health representative, representative of the Department of Human Services and a representative of the Department of Health, has prioritized who should receive the limited, initial supplies of vaccine.

Both vaccines displayed about 95% efficacy, which means they will prevent a person from getting the infection up to 95% of the time.  .Both vaccines showed excellent protection against severe COVID disease.  This level of protection would put them among the very best vaccines we currently have.

Burgum pointed out the BinaxNow rapid testing is now available in North Dakota, in addition to COVID-19 antigen testing.

The Hospitality Economic Resiliency Grant PLUS application is Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. CST and will close on Dec. 18 at 5 p.m. CST.

The Hospitality Economic Resiliency Grant PLUS expands the Hospitality Economic Resiliency Grant (HERG) to provide funding for the accommodation sector which includes hotels, motels, lodges and resort establishments. The Hospitality Economic Resiliently Grant PLUS is intended to assist the state’s hotels, motels and lodging businesses who have been impacted by loss of revenue due to low occupancy rates as a result of the pandemic.

Burgum said, “These businesses serve a pivotal role in our communities, not only for visitors and tourism, but also for the local workforce and supporting businesses that rely on consistent occupancy rates. Expanding the HERG program will provide much-needed relief for this vital sector of our economy.”

The grant is not intended for private vacation rentals or bed-and-breakfasts who rent rooms, apartments, condos or homes to the traveling public through online marketplaces. Extended stay hotels that offer rooms for an ongoing nightly basis are eligible but, those who only serve long-term stays defined as 30 days or more are not eligible.

Eligible facilities may apply for up to $40,000. Applicants with more than one facility may apply for up to $80,000 with maximum of $40,000 to be used per location.

Funds must be used to reimburse eligible entities for costs in operations, like payroll, rent, utilities, and other expenses that comply with CARES Act federal and/or CDC guidelines. Eligible expenses must have been incurred on or after March 27, 2020, and no later than date of application.

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 is available at https://belegendary.link/PHERG.

For more North Dakota news and information, go to www.NDCommerce.com.

The ND Dept of Transporation reminds customers that all driver licenses, which expired after March 1, are due for renewal by December 31.

The December 31 deadline aligns with Governor Burgum’s executive order which extended certain expiration dates. If your license is not renewed by this date it will be considered invalid.

The NDDOT continues to provide driver license services by appointment only. No walk-in services are available at this time.

Customers need to schedule an appointment ahead of time by visiting our website at dot.nd.gov to complete an online request or by calling 1-855-633-6835.

In other state news…

The North Dakota Medical Expense Assistance Program (MEAP) applications are scheduled to opened Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 10:00 AM CST and will close at 5:00 pm on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020 CST.

The MEAP is a new program designed for first responders and frontline healthcare workers and provides financial assistance for COVID-19 related expenses. Eligible applicants may qualify to receive funding up to $5,000.

Burgum says, “Healthcare workers and first responders are on the front lines of our fight against the coronavirus, and this program provides another measure of relief for those who become COVID- We’re  deeply grateful for their tireless service and critical roles in saving lives and caring for our citizens during this pandemic.”

To be eligible for MEAP, an applicant must:

  • be a first responder or frontline healthcare worker infected with COVID-19 (employee or volunteer) per Executive Orders 2020-12 and 2020-12.2, and
  • have received a positive COVID-19 medical diagnosis, and
  • have been denied a claim, or have not applied, for workers’ compensation benefits from WSI for COVID-19.

Applicants may be eligible for $1,000 award if they meet the eligibility requirements. They may be eligible for an additional $4,000 if they did not have private health insurance coverage at the time they received treatment for COVID-19.

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. Contact MEAP Hotline at meap@nd.gov or 701-328-6004 with questions.