101 More Coronavirus Positive Tests; 9 More Die: NH Data Update

CONCORD, NH — Nine more Granite Staters, including two under the age of 60, have died due to complications of or from the new coronavirus, according to state health officials.

Eight of the nine lived in Hillsborough County while one man lived in Rockingham County. Both cases under 60 were men. Two of the other cases were women. The state's fatality count is now 232.

The state also announced Thursday that there were 101 more positive COVID-19 test results bringing the accumulative number of infected people to 4,386.

"Several cases are still under investigation," the State Joint Information Center said "Of those with complete information, there are two individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 71 percent being female and 29 percent being male."

Forty-two of the new cases live in Manchester while 12 live in Nashua and 22 reside in Rockingham County. Merrimack County has four new cases. Investigators are still attempting to find out where seven infected people live.

State health officials did not return an email at post time requesting more information about the new cases and whether or not there was another long-term care facility outbreak, if the new positive tests were connected in any way to the state's slow roll reopening, or some other reason. Fewer than 100 positive cases had be reported in all but two days during the past three weeks.

Despite the biggest day for positive cases in more than a week, the 14-day trend on daily positive cases, daily death counts, new hospitalizations, and current hospitalizations are still all trending down, according to the state's data.

Twelve of the new cases required hospitalization with 11 having no identified risk factors. Most of the others were either exposed to the virus by being in contact with a diagnosed patient or due to travel.

Testing numbers have dropped to about 2,200 per day, per average. Only 1,700 tests were performed Wednesday.

About 62 percent of infections, 2,730, have recovered from the virus while the state and commercial labs have collected 78,306 specimens since late January. Of those, 73,920 or 94.4 percent offered a negative result. Approximately 4,050 people are under public health monitoring.

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Flex Hospitals To Close Next Week

Gov. Chris Sununu, Commissioner Lori Shibinette and Adjutant Gen. David Mikoliaties announced plans to break down most clinical surge flex facilities across the state next week.

At the beginning of the pandemic, 14 hospitals were quickly set up. Four of the facilities, in Durham, Littleton, Manchester, and Plymouth, will remain open. New Hampshire National Guard members will help hospitals, communities, and the department pack up the closing locations.

"My job is to plan for the worst and hope for the best, and when we stood these surge sites up our hope was to never have to turn the lights on," Sununu said. "Today's announcement is welcome news for the state’s response to COVID-19 and I would like to thank the National Guard and our local partners for their hard work in setting this network up."

Shibinette said the state's hospitals had existing beds for surges, if necessary, and other spaces could be reopened within 48 hours, if needed. She also thanked the guard and hospital staffers for their rapid response in getting the facilities up and running, even though they were not needed.

Mikoliaties thanked everyone involved calling it a remarkable cooperative effort.

"If the need arises again, our citizen soldiers and airmen will be ready at a moment’s notice," he added.

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NH National Guard Extension Approved

Political leaders on both sides of the aisle thanked President Donald Trump for extending members of the Guard's Title 32 status.

Sununu wrote to the president earlier this month requesting the extension.

"From PPE distribution to running testing sites, the men and women of our National Guard have helped the state respond to COVID-19 every step of the way," he said. "I commend the president for extending Title 32 status. This announcement will allow our National Guard to continue to provide critical services."

Both U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, and Maggie Hassan, also commended the decision.

"I'm glad the president heeded my call alongside the federal delegation to right this wrong and ensure our Guardsmen and women who answered the call of duty have access to the full federal benefits they’ve earned," she said Shaheen. "Extending this order allows eligible Guard members to access the education and retirement benefits they deserve and will continue to bolster New Hampshire’s response to this public health emergency. I'm grateful for the New Hampshire National Guard’s continued service to our state, not just during this crisis, but for every day that they protect and serve Granite Staters."

Hassan agreed, saying the administration did the right thing to extend federal funding for the guard.

"The men and women of the National Guard have made a huge difference in New Hampshire’s COVID-19 response efforts, supporting the health and economic stability of Granite Staters, and I am deeply grateful for their service," she said.

Equity Response Team Formed

Sununu also established the Governor’s COVID-19 Equity Response Team to plan and address the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team is comprised of racial/ethnic disparities and health equity leaders who will make recommendations during the next 30 days.

"Ensuring equity in our response to COVID-19 is a priority for the state," Sununu said. "I would like to thank the members of the COVID-19 Equity Response Team for taking on this important charge and I look forward to their recommendations."

The org will be led by Dr. Trinidad Tellez, the director of the Office of Health Equity at NH DHHS. Other members include: Bobbie Bagley, the director of the Division of Public Health & Community Services in Nashua; Kirsten Durzy, the Equity Council lead, public health evaluation and narrative/storytelling expert at the Division of Public Health Services at NH DHHS; Rogers Johnson, the president of the Seacoast NAACP and chairman of Governors Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion; and Dr. Dottie Morris, the associate vice president for diversity and inclusion and Keene State College.

A copy of the Response Team’s charge and mission can be found here.

Shaheen Talks Shop With Cops

Shaheen also held a conference call with members of the Granite State's law enforcement community.

The audio can be found here.

During the call, the senator spoke about her work in D.C. with COVID-19 and expressed gratitude for their work in the state's communities.

"The federal government has a responsibility to provide these first responders and their communities with the resources and support they need to perform their duties, while staying healthy and safe on the job," Shaheen said. "I appreciate the opportunity I had today to hear firsthand their experiences amidst COVID-19 and will continue to make them a top priority as Congress continues to discuss upcoming relief legislation."

Letters …

Sununu also sent two letters to the Trump Administration regarding federal funding to help New Hampshire respond to COVID19.

• Sununu letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Eric Hargan regarding the funding formula to the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund.
• Sununu letter to President Donald Trump following up on the Governor's April 11 request for a 100 percent Federal cost share.

Learn More About The Spread Of COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

• Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.
• Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.
• Anybody who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspect COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic medical conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers need to move to telework as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that this virus can survive for hours or possibly even a few days on surfaces, so people should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places when sick (i.e., social distancing).
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.

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• 3 Staffers Test Positive For Coronavirus At NH's Psychiatric Hospital

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