Health & Fitness

More Than 60,000 Tested For Coronavirus In New Hampshire: Data

Plus: 57 new infections including a child; 94% of tests are negative; Feltes' campaign fudges data; 2 Sununu allies get contracts.

CONCORD, NH — Another 57 new infections of the new coronavirus were announced Monday but, thankfully, no new deaths, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

The new cases — one child, 55 percent men, and 45 percent women — bring the total to 3,652 in the state since the start of the pandemic.

The health department is still investigating a number cases — and attempting to determine the residency of 24 cases. Seventeen of the new cases live in Hillsborough County while nine live in Rockingham County and three reside in Merrimack County.

Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The state said nine of the new cases required hospitalization bringing the number of cases needing care to 368 or a little more than 10 percent of all cases. A little more than 100 are still in the hospital.

Three of the new cases had no identified risk factors with most of the remaining cases either connected to a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis or travel.

Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

About 35 percent of accumulated cases, 1,269, have recovered from the virus with approximately 3,675 people under public health monitoring.

The state recently began separating testing results between polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antibody laboratory testing. On Sunday, 2,010 PCRs tests were taken while 606 antibody tests were gathered. The state is averaging around 2,700 tests per day. Accumulatively, 60,445 tests have been taken with 56,793, about 94 percent, showing negative results.


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New Guidelines For Outdoor Activities, More

After the latest news conference, Gov. Chris Sununu's office released additional guidance for child care facilities, while also announcing that outdoor attractions and equestrian facilities will be able to flex open in accordance with newly issued guidance.

Emergency Orders #44 and #45 were also issues as part of the state's efforts to respond to COVID-19. Emergency Order #44: Modification of Emergency Order #9 (Establishment of the COVID-19 Emergency Healthcare System Relief Fund) and Emergency Order #45: Modification of Emergency Order #31 (Establishment of the COVID-19 Long Term Care Stabilization Program)


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Feltes Campaign Fudges COVID-19 Data

This chart shows the full 14-day trend on positive cases which is trending down despite Dan Feltes' campaign saying otherwise. Credit: Tony Schinella | Patch

The Feltes for Governor campaign has been issuing press releases criticizing the governor's reopening guidelines saying the state has not met Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

But is Feltes' campaign data and information accurate?

At 9 a.m. Monday, the campaign released an email saying that the state had not hit the CDC 14-day downward trend of cases. The campaign said the "current streak" was "1 Consecutive Downward Days."

But that's not what the CDC is recommending.

For case criteria, the campaign pointed to the Opening America White House website which recommends a "Downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period" or a "Downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period (flat or increasing volume of tests)."

New Hampshire meets both criteria (see PCR and antibody test chart above). So, this point by the campaign was false.

The campaign also said the state had not hit a 2,400 daily recommended number of tests required for reopening and then linked to a story from May 4 by the Center for American Progress, a liberal policy org. The data in the story though is more than two weeks old.

According to the state, the 2,400 test per day minimum was reached on five of the last seven days. On May 12, there were 2,398 tests — or two tests shy of being six days in a row of beating the 2,400 test requirement.

So, that point was false, too.

The campaign then said New Hampshire had not met the 14-day downward trend on hospitalizations. But for hospitals, Opening America doesn't say anything about a 14-day trend. It says "Treat all patients without crisis care" and "Robust testing program in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing."

Both of those were also performed by the state and have been for a while. So, that point was false, too.

Three strikes and you're out, right?

What To Expect When Expecting, The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Version

Dr. Illana Cass, the chairwoman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health, discusses changes to accommodate new and expectant mother’s safety — including a new research project focusing on potential obstacles to using telemedicine in prenatal care.

Watch the video here:

Sununu Allies Sometimes Benefit: Report

Are some of the governor's supporters reaping the benefits of the COVID-19 crisis?

According to the New Hampshire Democratic Party, which is circulating a report by NHPR, which found two contracts connected to prior Gov. Chris Sununu supporters, the answer is yes.

"Chris Sununu is putting politics first during a global pandemic," said Michael Beyer, a press secretary for the party. "While Chris Sununu is spending millions of taxpayer dollars on no-bid contracts for his political cronies and campaign donors, thousands of Granite Staters and local small businesses are still waiting for relief. Maybe if Granite Staters had Chris Sununu on speed dial like his donors do, they wouldn't still be waiting for their unemployment benefits."

The two contracts the NHPR report focused on was a nearly $454,000 deal for GOP hotelier Steve Duprey for use of the Grappone Conference Center to house contact tracers and a $1.6 million grant and $1.45 million in contracts for ConvenientMD, which is providing thousands and thousands of tests to track down potential COVID-19 cases, telemedicine, and other services.

The conference center contract includes the use of four ballrooms, four guest rooms, and meals and coffee for at least 75 people. Duprey, a longtime GOP activist in the state who often discounts use of the center for all kinds of events, including charities, said the price for use of the facility was less than others would be charged. He also said he had no contact with anyone about the contract.

Both Duprey and people connected to ConvenientMD have contributed about $20,500 to Sununu's campaigns, the report said.

While Outside, Practice COVID-19 Skin Safety

The Norris Cotton Cancer Center recommends everyone enjoying New Hampshire's trails and outdoor activity during the new coronavirus to not forget about protecting their skin to reduce the changes of catching cancer.

Cover up and wear hats; avoid extensive exposure to sun; apply sunscreen liberally using at least 15 SPF; wear UV sunglasses; and teach children sun protective behavior.

"Once a year, you should see a dermatologist for a complete skin check," said M. Shane Chapman, MD, section chief of Dermatology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and a member of the Norris Cotton Cancer Center. "In between visits you should perform a monthly skin check. Look for existing moles that are different in size, shape or color, or if you have new moles or spots. If you see any changes, make an appointment to see a dermatologist."

GOFERR Stakeholder Advisory Board Meets Thursday

On Thursday, May 18, Joseph Doiron, the deputy director of the Governor’s Office For Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR), will hold a meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Board at 1 p.m.

Call-in: 800-356-8278' PIN: 194655.

All members of the GOFERR Stakeholder Advisory Board have been invited to participate in tomorrow's call. Pursuant to RSA 91-A:2, this meeting is open to the public.

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.

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