Politics & Government

Stay-At-Home 2.0 Order Slated To End In New Hampshire Soon

Sununu urges testing "ASAP"; 13,000 applicants request part of $400M in Main Street aid; indoor restaurant eating to resume June 15; more.

CONCORD, NH — The state of New Hampshire has created a new program to encourage Granite Staters to get a new coronavirus test — and Gov. Chris Sununu is signing up to get one, too.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services' new "asymptomatic spread assessment program" or ASAP testing initiative has been created to find residents who might be infected with COVID-19 and just do not know it. Sununu said he had not had a test yet either but has not symptoms since the pandemic started in early March. But now, he would be getting one, too.

"We really want to encourage everyone, even if you don't have no symptoms at all, to get a test," Sununu said. "There is a lot of asymptomatic spread that has been identified, not just here in New Hampshire, but across the country, and we want everyone to know those doors are open."

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The ASAP program can be accessed from the state's main COVID-19 site.

The $400 million Main Street Relief Program has more than 13,000 pre-grant applications and state officials will be walking businesses through the final grant submission process in an effort to clarify what they lost during the pandemic as well as minimizing fraud, waste, and abuse, ensuring businesses are legitimate, and to crosscheck data with the Department of Revenue Administration, the governor said. That work, as well as a 10- to 15-minute follow-up survey to businesses, will be done during the next week and will close on June 12.

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Sununu said the payouts are capped at $350,000, to ensure that as many businesses get at least something. So, if a business lost $10 million, as an example, they would only get $350,000. He called the payout formula "simple": Last year's revenues compared to anticipated revenues for this year while ensuring every business gets "a prorata" share. Health care, self-employed, and others have been or will be weeded out. If businesses received Paycheck Protection Program loans or any other federal grants, that would be figured in, too, to limit overlap of grants.

Sununu called the formula "a very good balance" which allowed "enough of the dollars in to help recoup the loses." Checks are expected to be released June 15.

New Health Information

Lori Shibinette, the commissioner of the health department, announced five new deaths, four connected to long-term care facilities in the state, and 80 new positive patients. Four of those people were hospitalized. The state has tested 87,000 people so far, according to Shibinette.

Beaches Open, Golf, Attractions, And More

Sununu said the state would be loosening a number of regulations including opening beaches to a limited capacity, flexing open golf courses, and other attractions.

The governor announced the beach reopening Friday.

With golfing, since so many courses have been opened regionally, openings in New Hampshire will go beyond just club members. Teammates are allowed to ride in golf carts together and out-of-staters to participate in tee times.

Attractions such as batting cages, petting zoos, rope course, disc golf, and other outdoor recreational opportunities would also be reopening, with new guidance and hygiene requirements.

"They don't require large groups, working together or in a large conglomeration, and they are in the fresh air," Sununu said. "We have confidence we can open these up safely. It's a good step forward.


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Restaurants And Wedding Receptions

Beginning June 15, restaurants will be able to open with indoor seating on a limited basis.

North Country and western New Hampshire communities will be able to open up to 100 percent capacity. Restaurants in Merrimack, Hillsborough, Rockingham, and Strafford counties can open up to 50 percent capacity, Sununu said.

More than 90 percent of infections were in four counties to the central, south, and southeastern part of the state. Sununu said it was "a regional approach" and he also didn't believe infected people from "higher impact areas, specifically, Massachusetts," won't drive to the North Country or the Lakes Region to have dinner. That, he said, would limit the likely spread from the Bay State — even though there was positive news on rates coming from there.

Wedding reception businesses will also be allowed to reopen to 50 percent capacity June 15 while encouraging social distancing.

Overnight camps will also reopening later this month.

Gov. Sununu speaks about some of the reopening strategies below:


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Questions And Answers

Sununu was asked why he was waiting to reopen the state until June 15 when he could do it now. He said everything was a step — look at the data, take a step, look at the data, a couple of weeks, and take another step. "We're sticking with the plan," he said.

On weddings and whether there was a problem with smaller venues versus larger ones, the governor said the larger venues will ensure physical distancing and gave health officials a lot of assurance there wouldn't be outbreaks. At a reception, he said, everyone is together and that is one of the fundamental difference between a wedding reception and a restaurant — the likelihood for interaction is so much higher.

When asked about dancing, Sununu said there should be no funky chicken or conga lines. "I'm kidding … no, not really … I'm encouraging people to be smart, practical and enforceable and reasonable. If you're too restrictive, it becomes a joke. Dancing is discouraged … but we aren't going to send the 'Footloose' police after you."

When asked about insurance at the ASAP plan, Sununu said there shouldn't be any issues with coverage and anyone who wants a test can get a test.

Sununu was asked if he had issued memos or requests or anything to department heads to start looking on where to right-size the state budget considering the current finances and revenue drop and if the recommendations would be released or held by executive privilege like they were when former Gov. Maggie Hassan requested the same exercise in 2013. He said department heads were looking at all programs and the scope of their work and whether there were dual programs in different departments. Sununu added he expected another round of funding from Congress, at some point, so it did not make sense to make a lot of cuts yet just to have to add them back later. He also encouraged people to go to the hospital and undertake procedures if residents needed them. Sununu did not answer if the streamlining information would be publicly accessible.

When asked if he had thought about how the state could find other ways to do business or be managed differently without having to rely out-of-state visitors and their rooms and meals tax revenue, people who might not come to the state if there is another pandemic or something else happens like what we could have been through, Sununu pivoted a bit on the question and said the key to the state's success was good management, limited government, local control, and individual rights, where people could make decisions directly connected to themselves. He reiterated that he would not support broad based taxes and that taxes should not be raised on businesses that were having difficulties.

Shibinette was asked about whether people who attended rallies and protests should get tested due to potential COVID-19 exposure and she said anyone who thinks they have been exposed to the virus or have symptoms should get tested.

Currently, Shibinette said, state health officials were still working under the assumption that all 278 people who have died during the pandemic had underlying or chronic health conditions and no one has died due to the new coronavirus alone.

When asked why there was a surge in testing Wednesday, the most in nearly two weeks, Shibinette said the testing fluctuates daily based on a lot of factors including staffing, data entry, and amount of people needing or wanting a test. She said, right now, there was plenty of testing capacity in New Hampshire, which is why the ASAP program was created. Shibinette said there was still a degree of community transmission.

When asked about how long-term care workers had gotten sick, she said it was random but, in some cases, it was exposure due to family members being exposed and asymptomatic transmission.

Sununu was asked why he had not spoken out with the same force and vigor when cops were being murdered during riots and protests as he spoke out when George Floyd was killed. He countered that he had been speaking out about all the issues and would be taking future steps after hearing from the community leaders and others about how to improve police standards and training — something he called "antiquated" and need to be updated. "It's not just a law enforcement issue; it's our culture," Sununu said.

Data from ASAP will be included with the regular data, according to Shibinette when she was asked about it.

Sununu said there would be future guidance about other attractions like scenic railroads but the auto road at Mount Washington was open. He commended Canobie Lake Park for making a very good presentation to the reopening committee but they have not been given the green light to open. The governor is hopeful that numbers will drop enough in Massachusetts that more places can open up but some, he said, might be closed for the rest of the year. They were all trying, Sununu added, to make sure some of those "key summer weekends" but allow for reopenings.

What about visiting nursing homes? Community pools? And outdoor gyms? Other states, Sununu said, were eyeing opening visitation to nursing homes, something he called important, but testing would be an issue. On pools, that was up to the local communities. If they could limit capacity to under 10, they could open, Sununu said. On gyms, he said New Hampshire had great facilities but it was "an inherent challenge" to open right now. No other states have opened gyms, Sununu added.

On state prison and jail testing, Shibinette said the state would be focused on retesting nursing homes, to make sure the new surveillance program was working, and then, would move onto assisting living facilities and then prisons and jails. Health officials were focused on higher at-risk groups. She would not rule out, however, other populations like homeless shelters, unsheltered homeless, and congregate housing.

Sununu was asked if the restrictions on gatherings of 10 or more would be lifted next week and he said he was unsure.

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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