Governor Chris Sununu Issues State of Emergency Extension,
4 New Emergency Orders

Governor Chris Sununu issued Executive Order 2020-08, extending the State of Emergency declared in Executive Order 2020-04 for an additional period of 21 days.

Governor Sununu also issued Exhibit D to Emergency Order #29, along with Emergency Orders 34-36 as part of the state’s efforts to respond to COVID-19.

• Executive Order 2020-08: Second Extension of State of Emergency Declared in Executive Order 2020-04
• Exhibit D to Emergency Order #29
• Emergency Order #34: Further temporary requirements regarding health insurer coverage of health care services related to the coronavirus
• Emergency Order #35: An order temporarily waiving the 28-day separation period before a retired public employee can return to work on a part-time basis
• Emergency Order #36: Ensuring Worker’s Compensation coverage of New Hampshire first responders exposed to COVID-19

Governor’s Economic Re-opening Task Force

• Monday, April 27th, 2:00-5:00PM
• The task force will discuss arts, entertainment, recreation and healthcare & social assistance.
• Call-in: 1-800-356-8278
• Pin: 194499 or 600744

GOFERR Meeting of the Bipartisan Legislative Advisory Board

• Monday, April 27, 2020
• 1:00 PM
• Call-in: 800-356-8278
• PIN: 389388
• Click here for link to agenda

Food Assistance Programs Provide Critical Relief and Boost the Economy

I know a lot of you are frustrated with the logjam at NH Employment Security. It is important to remember that they are trying to get their system to issue payments to folks who don’t normally qualify, responding on the fly to new rules, and dealing with this:

Google says state-backed hackers increasing coronavirus phishing attacks

(Reuters) – Security experts at Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google have identified more than a dozen government-backed hacking groups using the COVID-19 pandemic as cover for phishing and malware attempts.

Google said on Wednesday its Threat Analysis Group found hackers targeting international health organizations, including activity corroborating a Reuters report from early April that the World Health Organization was targeted.

WHO and other organizations, at the center of a global effort to contain the coronavirus, have come under a sustained digital bombardment by hackers seeking information about the outbreak.

Google said it has detected 18 million malware and phishing Gmail messages per day related to the coronavirus outbreak.

“One notable campaign attempted to target personal accounts of U.S. government employees with phishing lures using American fast food franchises and COVID-19 messaging,” Google said in a blog post.

Some messages also offered free meals and coupons in response to COVID-19, others suggested recipients visit sites disguised as online ordering and delivery options, according to the blog post.

Google said it was working to identify and prevent threats, using a combination of internal investigative tools, information sharing with industry partners and law enforcement, as well as leads and intelligence from third-party researchers.

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – April 24, 2020

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued the following update on the new coronavirus, COVID-19.

On Friday, April 24, 2020, DHHS announced 53 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 1,720 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, all are adults with 52% being female and 48% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (15), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (9), Strafford (3), Merrimack (2), Belknap (2), Grafton (1), and Sullivan (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (15) and Nashua (5).

Six new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 224 (13%) of 1,720 cases. Five of the new cases have no identified risk factors. Community-based transmission continues to increase in the State and has been identified in all counties with cases. Most of the remaining cases have either had travel to domestic or international locations or have had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

DHHS has also announced two additional deaths related to COVID-19. We offer our sympathies to the family and friends.

• • One male resident of Strafford County, who was 60 years of age or older
  • One male resident of Rockingham County, who was 60 years of age or older

Current Situation in New Hampshire