May 26 Press Conference Summary

Current COVID-19 Case Numbers in North Dakota: 2,422 total positive cases, 667 active confirmed cases, 1,701 recovered, 54 deaths
Speakers: Governor Burgum, Christie Massen-Director of ND Public Health Laboratory

Focus: Testing capacity and quality assurance

• Due to an equipment malfunction 82 people were re-tested.
  • 65 of these are complete and only one of those was positive upon second test.
  • Thank you to the laboratory staff who caught this early.
• We were among the states that closed the least and among the states that opened first
  • To be ready for reopening, we needed testing and hospital capacity. We have done this.
• Good testing, contract tracing and isolation are what is needed to slow spread.
  • Two new machines will be online this week for a total capacity of 4,000 tests a day.

Other issues covered: Opioid overdose can be treated with Narcan. Free 2 dose Narcan kits available, SAFER Grant available from FEMA for local Fire Departments, Press Conference may be moved back tomorrow depending on when SpaceX Demo-2 launch takes place tomorrow. There should be an update on this around noon tomorrow.
 
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