New COVID-19 Outbreak In A New Hampshire Long-Term Care Facility

CONCORD, NH — State health officials announced 46 new positive test results for COVID-19 including 17 from a new outbreak in a long-term care facility in Manchester.

More details will be released during a nursing home update Tuesday. Accumulatively, the state has had 6,429 cases of the new coronavirus with 5,286 recovering or 85 percent.

Of the new cases, three were children while 61 percent were women and 39 percent men. Twenty-one live in Manchester, 16 live in Nashua, six reside in Rockingham County, two live in Hillsborough County outside of Manchester and Nashua, and one lives in Merrimack County.

The state reported no new hospitalizations Monday but four new cases had no identified risk factors. Twenty patients remain in the hospital.

The state collected 2,518 specimens Sunday bringing the total number of tests conducted to 170,373. Of those, 96.3 percent offered a negative result.

Approximately 3,450 people are under public health monitoring in the state of New Hampshire.

SNAP Benefits Can Be Used Online

The health department also announced a new pilot program allowing recipients of nutrition assistance (SNAP) to purchase and pay for groceries online.

The SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot program allows Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to purchase eligible food items through two authorized online retailers — Amazon and Walmart.

"Online purchasing is one more way New Hampshire residents can access good nutrition throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic," DHHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette said. "Purchasing groceries online is safe, secure, and helps people maintain social distancing measures that help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities."

SNAP recipients will be able to purchase eligible food items, but will not be able to use benefits for service or delivery charges. The program is one of several measures health officials are taking to reduce food insecurity during the pandemic.

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:

• 2 More Die; 18 More Positive Cases Of COVID-19 In New Hampshire
• Market Basket Mandates Masks Beginning Monday
• Another Woman Dies Of COVID-19 In New Hampshire: Data Update
• 26 New Positive Tests In New Hampshire: COVID-19 Update
• New Unemployment Claims In New Hampshire Continue To Drop

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