Sullivan County remains a pretty good place to be

We still have very low infection rates and resources available. You can get food locally, service for your car, and even toilet paper seems to be making a comeback. Despite our low numbers and the temptation to just go back to normal, please remember that this was never about death totals. The extreme measures in place are to maintain the viability of our health care system. Scenarios where the best outcome is for nothing notable to happen are always hard sells. Let me try to explain it this way (these are just example numbers, not actual stats):

Hospital capacity for an area – 200 beds

1. 100 people get sick at once, no problem
2. 200 people get sick at once, manageable crisis
3. 300 people get sick, 100 do not get treated. This is how the death toll can spike.

So, even though it looks like not an awful lot of people are sick, especially here in Sullivan County, remember that:

1. Very few people have been tested
2. Many people are infected but have no symptoms
3. Your sacrifice during this time as you stay home and distant matters
4. Success means that nothing extraordinary happens as we manage the spread to stay within our capacity to treat patients.

~Steve

Auto Insurance Companies Step Forward to Provide Premium Relief during COVID-19 Pandemic

CONCORD, NH – Insurance Commissioner Chris Nicolopoulos announced today that at least 23 companies selling auto insurance in New Hampshire are returning premium to their policyholders. These companies represent more than 90% of the written auto insurance premium in the state. The premium payback programs will return approximately $32 million to New Hampshire consumers either as a credit toward their next bill or as an actual cash refund.

While New Hampshire residents observe the Governor’s Stay-at-Home Order, there are fewer cars on the road and fewer car crashes. As a result, auto insurance companies have reported fewer claims than expected.

“I want to thank these companies for stepping up to assist their customers during this challenging time,” said Insurance Commissioner Chris Nicolopoulos. “This will result in fairer premium rates for consumers and lowered costs at a time when many families would greatly benefit from anything that limits their household expenses.”

“I am really pleased that these auto insurance companies have decided to pay back premium to their customers,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “I’m thankful that so many companies have decided to do the right thing for New Hampshire’s residents.”

The Department has approved premium payback programs for the following companies to date:

AAA
Allstate
American Family Insurance
Amica Mutual Insurance
The Cincinnati Insurance Companies
The Commerce Insurance Company
Concord Group Insurance
Co-operative Insurance Companies
Electric Insurance Company
Geico
Liberty Mutual
MMG Insurance
Nationwide
New England Guaranty Insurance Co.
Patriot Insurance Company
Plymouth Rock Assurance
Progressive
State Farm
The Hanover Insurance Group
The Hartford
Travelers
United Ohio Insurance Company
USAA
Vermont Mutual Insurance Group

Contact your insurance company for more specific information about their premium payback program.

The New Hampshire Insurance Department Can Help
The New Hampshire Insurance Department’s mission is to promote and protect the public good by ensuring the existence of a safe and competitive insurance marketplace through the development and enforcement of the insurance laws of the State of New Hampshire. Contact us with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your insurance coverage at
1‐800‐ 852‐3416 or (603) 271‐2261, or by email at consumerservices@ins.nh.gov. For more information, visit http://www.nh.gov/insurance.

NH DHHS Appoints State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee to Inform Clinical Care Guidelines during COVID-19

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced appointments to the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC). DHHS recently issued the NH Crisis Standards of Care (CSC) Plan, which called for the formation of the SDMAC to establish CSC Clinical Guidelines prior to a crisis period to prevent unnecessary negative outcomes.

The statewide CSC Clinical Guidelines will establish recommendations for the triage of critical health care resources and ensure that fair, respectful, effective and efficient care is provided if the COVID-19 pandemic results in patient needs that exceed hospitals’ available resources. The CSC Plan also calls for the SDMAC to identify a team of interdisciplinary subject matter experts to form a State Triage Committee (STC).

The SDMAC consists of representatives from key stakeholders such as State agency officials, legal and medical experts, risk management professionals, community representatives, ethicists, and leaders from health and medical stakeholders and associations. The authority to activate the CSC Plan by DHHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette was granted under Emergency Order #33 by Governor Chris Sununu. The SDMAC will provide guidance to health care facilities and make recommendations to Governor Sununu during the crisis period.

The SDMAC roster is available at https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/sdmac-roster.pdf.

Emergency Order #33: Activation of the New Hampshire Crisis Standards of Care Plan.

The New Hampshire Crisis Standards of Care Plan is available at https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/documents/nh-csc-plan.pdf.

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – April 25, 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 Saturday, April 25, 2020, DHHS announced 69 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 1,787 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, there are two individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 55% being female and 45% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (26), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (10), Merrimack (8), Strafford (3), Belknap (1), and Cheshire (1), counties, and in the cities of Manchester (12) and Nashua (5). The county of residence is being determined for three new cases.

Fourteen new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 238 (13%) of 1, 787 cases. Nine 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 seven additional deaths related to COVID-19. We offer our sympathies to the family and friends.

• • Three female residents of Strafford County, all 60 years of age or older
  • One male resident of Strafford County who was 60 years of age or older
  • Two female residents of Hillsborough County, both 60 years of age or older
  • One male resident of Hillsborough County who was 60 years of age or older

Current Situation in New Hampshire

New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report
(data updated April 25, 2020, 9:00 AM)

1 Includes specimens presumptive-positive at any laboratory and those confirmed by CDC confirmatory testing.
2 Number of patients currently hospitalized with COVID-19 as reported by hospitals.

3 Includes specimens tested at the NH Public Health Laboratories (PHL), LabCorp, Quest, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and those sent to CDC prior to NH PHL testing capacity.

4 Includes specimens received and awaiting testing at NH PHL. Does not include tests pending at commercial laboratories.