Health & Fitness

New Hampshire Has 59 New Coronavirus Infections Due To Outbreak

11 new cases at Manchester long-term care facility; 8 more children infected with COVID-19; court access limited; $2M for youth programs.

Youth programs can tap into $2 million in CARES Act to help middle and high school students stay involved in events and programs.
Youth programs can tap into $2 million in CARES Act to help middle and high school students stay involved in events and programs. (Shutterstock)

CONCORD, NH — An COVID-19 outbreak at a Manchester long-term care facility boosted new coronavirus test result data Friday to 59 new cases, according to the State Joint Information Center.

Eleven of the patients were connected to testing at the unnamed facility bringing the total case number to 6,375 in New Hampshire. About 85 percent of cases or 5,393 have recovered from the virus.

Of the new cases, eight were children with 58 percent of the 59 cases being female and 42 percent male. Thirty-two of the new patients live in Manchester while eight live in Hillsborough County outside of Manchester or Nashua, five reside in Rockingham County, four live in Merrimack County, and four live in Nashua.

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Four of the new patients required hospitalization with 27 Granite Staters currently hospitalized.

Five of the 59 cases had no identified risk factors, according to contact tracing, meaning that they do not recall being in contact with an infected party or did not travel — and may have caught it from community-based transmission. Most of the remaining cases either traveled recently or had close contact with someone with COVID-19.

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Two more people died Friday — a woman from Rockingham County and a man from Hillsborough County, bringing the fatality count to 407. Both were 60 years of age or older.

More than 3,500 tests were conducted in New Hampshire Thursday. The state has collected 177,450 tests collected since January — with 96.4 percent offering a negative result.

The state has 3,525 under public health monitoring for potential exposure to the new coronavirus.

Court Closure Extended

Following extended emergency orders, the New Hampshire Supreme Court issued new orders this week extending the courts' response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In-person proceedings in the Circuit, Superior and Supreme Courts remain limited through Aug. 17 and/or the last day of the extended state of emergency. Face coverings or masks must be worn by anyone entering court houses or conducting state business within Judicial Branch buildings, according to the court.

"These orders continue to encourage judges and clerks to conduct court proceedings by telephone, video, teleconferencing, email, or other remote means that do not involve in-person contact, including remote bench trials," said Tammy Jackson of the court's communications office. "The New Hampshire Courts will remain open on a restricted basis but clerk’s offices will not be open to the general public."

Courthouses will remain open only for parties of scheduled hearings, those reporting for jury service, those filing for emergency relief, those who are parties to a landlord/tenant case and must file required documents or make rental payments, or for members of the press, she said. Citizens can receive assistance regarding court cases or how to file for emergency relief by contacting the Information Center at 855-212-1234. Circuit, Superior and Supreme Courts all have drop boxes for filing pleadings or emergency filings that are available either outside or in the entranceway of all court facilities.

If you have questions, call 855-212-1234, or visit the Supreme Court's extended and amended orders here.

$2M For Youth Programs

The Governor's Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery announced Friday that applications are open for the Empower Youth Program, a program under the New Hampshire Invest in the Future Fund.

The program is designed to benefit middle and high-school aged young people as the COVID-19 pandemic has severely limited summer programming for these age groups.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will administer grants focused on expanding or initiating summer programming for young people from $2 million in CARES Act fund. Programs for younger children may also access resources to fund adolescent youth counselors which provide teenagers the opportunity to learn leadership and mentoring skills.

For more information, visit the GOFERR Empowering Youth website.

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.

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