Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum, Sunday afternoon held his daily News Briefing in Bismarck with new information on state issues, concerning the Coronavirus.   Video of the Sunday March 22 press briefing on replay, scroll forward to 10 minutes for start of comments

https://www.facebook.com/ndhealth/videos/3005877902807668/

North Dakota National Guard Chaplain Colonel Wymer opened the briefing with a prayer.

A.M. POSITIVE TEST RESULTS | March 21 at 3 p.m. – March 22 at 9 a.m.

  • There were no additional positives reported during this timeframe.

P.M. POSITIVE TEST RESULTS | March 22 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

  • Woman in her 30s from Burleigh County, travel related
  • Man in his 40s from Pierce County, close contact

Categories: Travel, Possible Travel, Community Spread, Close Contact, Under Investigation

BY THE NUMBERS

1355 – Total Tested (+173 individuals from yesterday)

1325 – Negative (+171 individuals from yesterday)

30 – Positive (+2 individual from yesterday)

4 – Hospitalized (+1 individual from yesterday)

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 noted results are pending for roughly 300 test samples taken in Cass County and sent to a national lab. He also pointed to cases in neighboring states such as South Dakota, which reported a spike in cases Sunday with six additional cases in Beadle County and one in Brown County.

“This could happen at any time in any community in North Dakota. There’s no community that’s immune … and that’s why social distancing is so important,” Burgum said. “This is not the time to be complacent. We’ve got to be vigilant.”

The governor announced he has requested a significant increase in contact tracing efforts to better determine who newly identified COVID-19 cases have been in contact with in recent days.

As he foreshadowed Friday, Burgum also signed an executive order Sunday giving K-12 school districts until March 27 to submit plans for resuming instruction with age-appropriate, distance learning methods.

School districts have until April 1 to have their plan approved by the governor, in conjunction with the state superintendent, and implemented to receive their final state aid payment for the current school year. Districts not ready by April 1 will be eligible for a delayed state aid payment upon approval and initiation of their plan. Access to school facilities remains restricted to essential staff only until further notice.

He clarified that pharmacies can perform tests, only if directed by the State Health Department.  Otherwise continue to get testing at healthcare facilities.

Judicial changes have been made concerning court appearance, including online hearings and expanding the district court judges jurisdictions.

County Clerks offices at courthouses have more information.

All ND Supreme  Court hearings will be live streamed.

Childcare providers will be notified on any state policy changes.

All 11 State University campuses will now conduct classes on line.  Those coming back from spring break out of state should be tested, and self quarantine if they exhibit virus symptoms.

Those receiving WIC and food stamp benefits need to be aware of some changes in those programs and will be notified.  Be watching for announcements.

The ND National Guard is continuing to plan for any possible activation.

The next planned News Briefing is planned for Monday March 23, at 4-p.m.