COVID Summary for 3/25

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 25, 2020

On Wednesday, March 25, 2020, DHHS announced 29 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 137 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. The new cases are 12 adult males, 16 adult females, and one female under age 18. The new cases reside in Rockingham (14), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (8), Strafford (2), Belknap (1), Grafton (1), and Merrimack (1) counties, and in the City of Manchester (2). Six of the new cases are currently hospitalized; thus far, 19 patients of the 137 positive cases (14%) have been hospitalized.

Community-Based Transmission

Thirteen of the new cases have no identified risk factors. Community-based transmission continues to increase in the State and has been identified in the majority of counties. The remaining new cases have either had travel to domestic or international locations or have had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

House Republican Leader Response to House Democrats’ Politicization of Stay-At-Home Order

House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) issued the following statement in response to House Democrats’ letter to Governor Sununu urging him to issue a mandatory lock down order.

“The Governor has advised Granite Staters to stay at home for weeks – especially older adults and those with higher risk factors,” Hinch said. “It’s discouraging to see that New Hampshire Democrats have chosen to play politics rather than spend their time working collaboratively with Governor Sununu and public health officials at DHHS to protect New Hampshire families. Governor Sununu has demonstrated leadership every step of the way during this crisis, and I am not going to sit around second guessing him, nor should others.”

“The fact of the matter is that not even Massachusetts has issued a mandatory stay at home order. There is nothing stopping Massachusetts residents from taking public transportation, going about their necessary business outside, or traveling to other states.”

UL: 29 new COVID-19 cases reported; models show up to 50 percent NH infection rate

Excerpt from article:

State officials are quietly developing projections of how many people in New Hampshire will eventually become infected with COVID-19, with one hospital epidemiologist predicting the number could reach 50%.

“Based on preliminary figures, we are planning for an additional 1,700 to 1,900 surge beds statewide. That estimate is based on what hospitals anticipate they will need in the weeks ahead,” said Jake Leon, director of communications with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

Leon said it is still too early to know what the ultimate need will be, but the additional beds will be a good start. Health officials will continue to look at the most recent data models and work with hospitals to reevaluate their needs and address any potential surge in patients, he said.

UL: Tax filing delay likely

Excerpt from article:

In other matters, Sununu said he is considering an order that would postpone the deadline to file state tax returns, including for residents with enough unearned income to pay New Hampshire’s 5 percent tax on interest and dividends.

President Trump has pushed back the deadline to file federal income taxes from April 15 to July 15.

Sununu said he plans to meet soon with Revenue Commissioner Lindsey Stepp and Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald.

“I think we will be able to do something on that front,” Sununu said.