COVID-19 Deaths Reach 400 In New Hampshire: Data

CONCORD, NH — The announcement of two more deaths related to the new coronavirus have pushed New Hampshire's COVID-19 fatality rate to 400, according to data released by the State Joint Information Center.

The man and woman who most recently died both lived in Hillsborough County, were connected to a long-term care setting, and were 80 years of age or older. The state offered sympathies to the family and friends of the man and woman.

State officials also reported 16 new positive test results bringing the accumulative case count to 6,262. Six of the new patients live in Manchester while four reside in Nashua and one lives in Merrimack County. Four of the patients required hospitalization bringing the total number of people needing more extensive care to 677 or 11 percent of all cases. Only 23, however, are still in the hospital currently.

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Eight of the new cases, according to contact tracing, had no known identified risk factors, meaning they did not recall being near a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis and had not traveled recently.

A fourth long-term care setting outbreak was reported Monday. On Tuesday, state officials released the name of the facility: Evergreen Place in Manchester, where 17 residents and three staffers are infected. Three other long-term care outbreaks, at Birch Hill Nursing Home in Manchester, Greenbriar in Nashua, and the Hillsborough County Nursing Home in Goffstown, are still active.

According to the latest data, 5,316 or 85 percent of cases have recovered. New Hampshire has fewer than 550 active cases.

The state has collected 171,633 test specimens since January with more than 96.3 percent offering a negative result. More than 1,200 specimens were collected Monday.

About 3,400 residents are under public health monitoring by the state.

GAP Fund Applications Open

Applications for the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery new New Hampshire General Assistance & Preservation Fund are now open.

Businesses and nonprofits that were unable to qualify for funding via the state’s Main Street Relief Fund, the Non-Profit Emergency Relief Fund, or the Self Employed Livelihood Fund or slipped through the cracks due to faulty applications or other reasons can apply to the new fund.

For more information, visit the GAP Fund website here.

Task Force Makes Right-To-Know Request

The recent reassessment of hospitalization data in the state has prompted a Seacoast task force to make a right-to-know request of The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

The NH Science and Public Health Taskforce, a group that has been pushing for a mask mandate since March, said in a letter Tuesday it was "troubling" to see a 12 percent increase in the hospitalization count without any explanation of how and why the change came to be. The group has requested all communication about the reassessment and the decision to release updated numbers.

Read the full request here.

Stop 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.
• When you can't practice 6 feet of social distancing, wear a face covering.
• Anyone who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic and underlying health conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers should work from home as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that the virus can survive for hours or possibly days on surfaces. 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.
• Wear a face covering.
• 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.
• To access the state's COVID-19 data dashboard, click on this link here.

ALSO READ:

• New COVID-19 Outbreak In A New Hampshire Long-Term Care Facility
• Plymouth State University Outlines Covid-19 Safety Plans For Fall
• A Consumer's Guide To Coronavirus Antibody Tests
• 2 More Die; 18 More Positive Cases Of COVID-19 In New Hampshire
• Market Basket Mandates Masks Beginning Monday

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