Bismarck  (CSi)  Governor Doug Burgum held his daily News Briefing, Friday afternoon from Bismarck at an earlier time, at 3:30-p.m.  He was joined by North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Jon Jensen, and Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer.  Comments start at 18 minutes into video.  Reminder:  No Press Briefing scheduled for Saturday.    If one is to occur on Sunday, ND Dept of Health will announce it on Sunday afternoon.

https://www.facebook.com/ndhealth/videos/221605845818456/?t=1049

Burgum related the latest information on COVID-19 tests and positive results.

Friday, April 3, 2020 – 11:14am

Coronavirus updates:

Results listed are from the previous day.

Notice:  Reporting Plan moving forward:  April 3 and forward – by 11am the State Health Department  post results from the previous day.

POSITIVE TEST RESULTS

  • Woman in her 50s from Cass County, under investigation
  • Woman in her 20s from Cass County, community spread
  • Women in her 60s from Grand Forks County, possible travel
  • Woman in 40s from Cass County, community spread
  • Woman in her 70s from Stark County, close contact
  • Man in his 60s from Slope County, community spread
  • Man in his 40s from Mountrail County, under investigation
  • Woman in her 30s from Ward County, travel
  • Man in his 40s from Eddy County, travel
  • Man in his 50s from Williams County, close contact
  • Female age 10-19 from Mountrail County, close contact
  • Female in her 30s from Mountrail County, community spread
  • Female in her 20s from Morton County, close contact
  • Female in her 70s from Morton County, under investigation

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

 

BY THE NUMBERS

5798 – Total Tested (+818 individuals from yesterday)

5625 – Negative (+804 individuals from yesterday)

173 – Positive (+14 individuals from yesterday)

29 – Hospitalized (+1 individuals from yesterday)

55 – Recovered (+12 individual from yesterday)

3 – Death (+0 individuals 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.

He stressed  for people to stay home if sick avoid crowds over 10, observe social distancing, and urges frequent handwashing, and sanitizing surfaces.

Burgum then recapped state efforts over the past few weeks in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Surveillance testing is being ramped up in the state, testing people that are asymptomatic.

On Saturday, April 4, the testing will take place in the city of Amidon, in southwestern North Dakota, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. MT at a drive-through location at the Community Center Fairgrounds. This invitation to participate and be tested is only for residents of Slope County.

On Sunday, April 5, drive-through testing will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. MT at the Gladstone Fire Station in Gladstone, which is 10 minutes east of Dickinson. This testing is only for residents who live within the Gladstone Fire District.

All residents of these two areas are encouraged to participate in the testing, regardless of exposure or current symptoms. Once they arrive, they will see traffic control directing them to a public health expert who will give them a mouth swab from the comfort of their own car. The following day they will receive a phone call with their results and be given further instructions.

The National Guard will be on hand to direct traffic.

Burgum signed an Executive Order, it allows Respiratory Therapists to reinstate licenses and be issued a temporary license, through the State Board of Respiratory Care.

With evictions, North Dakota Supreme Court Chief Justice Jon Jensen, explained the legal process to evict residents, and when the judicial process begins, if the tenant  fails to abide by the evection notice.

The North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled in regard to temporarily suspending evictions of tenants for the duration of the coronavirus emergency, within certain circumstances.

Burgum said for tenants to notify their landlords if they have lost their jobs, and paycheck, and make arrangements for payment, and communicate with each other.

By phone, Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer, outlined federal funds coming to North Dakota through the CARES ACT, and checks coming to businesses, and individuals.

Small business loans are  available through the end of 2020 or if funds run out sooner.

A payroll loan to small businesses is also available through June 30, 2020, or when the funds run out.  The loan is designed to keep workers in small businesses, employed.  She said demand for the loans, nationally have already been strong.   The North Dakota Commerce Commission has more information on its web site.

 

He reminded parents to not create anxieties in their children about the coronavirus emergency, and do activities with them while they are home.  Parents need to take care of themselves as well.

Burgum said there have been 32,600 unemployment claims filed in North Dakota since March 16, 2020, to date.

 

In other state news…

– In response to the COVID-19 pandemic with funding from Congress included in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and support from the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture – Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), the North Dakota Department of Human Services will be issuing extra Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for March and April to some SNAP households in the state.

The extra benefits will ensure that all SNAP households receive the maximum SNAP benefit for March and April.  The department will provide extra benefits only to those households that did not receive the maximum benefit amount in March and April due to earned income. SNAP benefits typically decrease as a household’s income goes up, but the short-term policy change is intended to help address food insecurity during this unusual time.

“The coronavirus pandemic is affecting people’s jobs and incomes. We are taking action to ensure that all SNAP households receive a maximum benefit for a household their size for both March and April,” said Economic Assistance Division Director Michele Gee. “This temporary change will benefit about 14,500 SNAP households that had earned income and did not receive a maximum benefit.”

She said, the extra SNAP benefits for March total $2.4 million and will be issued to qualifying SNAP households on April 9 and available on their EBT cards on April 10. The extra April benefits will be available on qualifying SNAP households’ EBT cards on April 21.

The maximum benefit is $355 for a two-person household, and $509 for a three-person household.  A brochure describing the program and listing all maximum SNAP benefit amounts by household size is available online at www.nd.gov/dhs/info/pubs/docs/dn-1375.pdf.