December 2 Press Conference

Current COVID-19 Case Numbers in North Dakota: 80,135 total positive cases, 5,236 active confirmed cases, 73,933 recovered, 966 deaths
Speakers: Tim Wiedrich – Health Resources & Response Section Chief, Dr. Paul Carson – NDSU, Molly Howell – Immunization Program Manager, Dr. Christie Massen – State Lab Director.

Focus: COVID 19 Vaccine Rollout
 
Additional points of note:

• Two COVID 19 vaccines will be ready in the near future
  • Pfizer
    • Final review by the FDA on December 10th to receive emergency use authorization.
    • Doses of the vaccine could be shipped to North Dakota the week of December 14th.
    • 6,825 doses in the first shipment
  • Moderna
    • Final review by the FDA on December 17th to receive emergency use authorization.
    • Doses of the vaccine could be shipped to North Dakota the week of December 20th.
    • 13,000 doses in the first shipment
  • Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) prioritized doses to healthcare workers and residents in long-term care (Phase 1a.).
    • ND has an estimated 70,000 health care workers and 12,000 long-term care residents.
  • Due to this discrepancy, North Dakota has created the Advisory Committee on Vaccination Ethics to provide recommendations to Unified Command and the Governor on vaccine distribution.
  • Individuals with no underlying health conditions will likely not receive a vaccination until spring or summer of 2021
  • The vaccine will be free and is covered by the Federal Government. A fee may be charged by those administering the vaccine.   
• CDC adjusted it’s quarantine procedures on 12/2/20
  • 14 day quarantine reduced to 10 days
  • 7 days if close contact receives a negative test result after contact