​May 27 Press Conference Summary

Current COVID-19 Case Numbers in North Dakota: 2,439 total positive cases, 621 active confirmed cases, 1,762 recovered, 56 deaths
Speakers: Governor Burgum, Kirsten Baesler-Superintendent of Public Instruction

Focus: Health Department leadership changes

• New Leader and New Position at ND Dept of Health
  • Dr. Joshua Wynne, UND Interim President and VP For Health Affairs. Dr. Wynne will become ND’s first Chief Health Strategist on June 1.
  • New State Health Officer – Mylynn Tufte has submitted her resignation and is returning to the private sector. Dr. Andrew Stahl will serve as the Interim State Health Officer 

Additional points of note:

• Testing
  • Serial testing is for people who may have reason to be tested more than one time
  • Only 1.6% positive results in the last day of testing.
  • We have tested almost 9% of our state’s population.
  • 17 new cases. Lowest new positive count since April 10. 
• Executive Order 2020-33 – Suspends ending fund general fund balance rule for K12 schools. Allows larger carryover than what is stated in Century Code
• Human Services awarded emergency grant to support behavioral health response to COVID-19; agency is seeking proposals to provide behavioral health services 

 
Other issues covered: Continuity of Government task force is looking at what state government roles could be changed permanently to “work at home” positions
 
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