Spectators and photographers look across the Hudson River from Jersey City, N.J., at the Sept. 11 tribute lights in New York City on the 18th anniversary, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, of the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)
Today is Sept 11. Today is a good day to thank first responders and emergency personnel. When we run away from danger or burning buildings, they are running the other way. So today, maybe we can set aside the normal priorities of the day and find a veteran, fireman, cop, EMT, etc. to thank. When we were told we were “safe at home” and told to stay there, these folks were ordered in to work. I’m grateful that they do it. I remember that morning and going through the transition from “how did a plane go that far of course?” to “we are under attack”. I remember wondering if family and people that I know in New York were okay and having no way to find out. Most of all, I remember a day where everyday people became heroes as they found ways to help, even in the rubble and even as we watched the towers fall. On our worst day, we found our greatness and this is among the things that are important to remember and hang on to. I tried to write something better about this, but there really are no adequate words. Never forget. ~ Steve
Governor attributes increase in COVID-19 cases to testing of college students
Bus schedules, routes change as children return to class
https://www.wmur.com/article/bus-schedules-routes-change-as-children-return-to-class/33985814
NH reports no virus cases linked to Aug. 28 Trump rally
https://apnews.com/e65a4bed0c5cb2188f5c3360122fb83c
NH sees a COVID-19 uptick of late
265 University of New Hampshire system students already in quarantine
West High School student tests positive for COVID-19
New Federal $300 Payment- Payments Issued
Payments for the new $300 Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program have been issued! These payments include $300 for each week that you have filed and been found eligible for unemployment benefits and certified you are unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 starting August 1st through September 5th. This totals six weeks for which you could potentially be eligible for these $300 payments. Unfortunately, the federal program paying for these benefits has notified states that it does not have any additional funding beyond September 5th. However, if you are later found to be eligible for any weeks during this time period for which your eligibility for unemployment benefits is currently pending, you will also then receive payment of the $300 for those weeks. Please continue to monitor your correspondence for payment notices and information regarding the LWA program.
How will I know if I am getting a $300 LWA Payment?
If you have been collecting unemployment benefits from August 1st to September 5th you should have received either a determination from the department indicating you are eligible for the $300 payments or a notice indicating payments have been issued. Please continue to monitor your correspondence for payment notices and information regarding the LWA program. If you have questions please call the Hotline at 603-271-7700.
Who is considered eligible for the $300 LWA payments?
In order to qualify for this new benefit you need to be eligible for unemployment benefits from either the state or federal unemployment programs administered by the department during the period starting August 1st and ending September 5th. You will also need to have certified you are unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. If you have certified to a COVID-19 related reason on your weekly claim or responded to separate questions issued by the department and you are eligible for at least $1 in base unemployment benefits then you will be eligible for the $300 LWA payment. If you have not certified as to your unemployment being related to the COVID-19 pandemic then you are not eligible for the $300 LWA payment. If you have questions please call the Hotline at 603-271-7700.
What if I received a Denial for LWA?
First, please make sure to review all of your correspondence from the department. It is quite likely that you received a notice indicating that you were denied but have since received new correspondence from the department indicating you are eligible for the $300 LWA payments based upon additional information received by the department. If you have received a denial notice and have not received a later notice indicating you are eligible for LWA or that the LWA payment has been issued then you are likely not eligible for LWA. Please review the appeals information on your determination. Remember, if your unemployment is not due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 you are not eligible for the $300 LWA payments. Please continue to monitor your correspondence for additional information regarding the LWA program. If you have questions please call the Hotline at 603-271-7700.
How much is this new LWA benefit?
This new benefit is available through an agreement between the State of New Hampshire and FEMA and is the result of the Presidential Memorandum issued on August 8th. The department is providing $300 per week for each eligible person filing for unemployment benefits starting with the week ending August 1st through the week ending September 5th. All payments will be issued by NH Employment Security.
My weekly benefit is less than $100, will I be eligible?
Yes, based upon the emergency order issued by Governor Sununu, the minimum weekly benefit amount has been increased to $100 in order to allow all people filing for unemployment benefits to be eligible for this new $300 LWA payment as long as you are able to certify or have previously certified to being unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. While the $300 payments have been issued for those people that had a weekly benefit amount less than $100 prior to the Governor’s emergency order, the additional benefit payment to get you from your prior weekly amount to $100 will not be issued until September 17th. Please continue to monitor your correspondence for payment notices and information regarding the LWA program.
When will the $300 LWA payments be available?
New Hampshire has issued the first and only round of $300 LWA payments covering the week ending August 1st through the week ending September 5th. However, if you have been filing for benefits but there is an issue impacting your eligibility for any of these weeks then $300 LWA payments could be issued to you at a later date if and when you are determined eligible for unemployment benefits for any of these weeks. Please continue to monitor your correspondence for payment notices and information regarding the LWA program. If you have questions please call the Hotline at 603-271-7700.
Do I need to do anything in order to access the new $300 LWA benefit?
This new benefit is available for people eligible for unemployment benefits and able to certify that their unemployment is due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. You do not need to do anything different than how you have accessed unemployment benefits in the past. If you are unemployed or partially unemployed then you simply need to continue to file your weekly claim and respond to any requests for information from the department. Please continue to monitor your correspondence for payment notices and information regarding the LWA program. If you have questions please call the Hotline at 603-271-7700.
What if I am working part time but not earning too much so that I still receive a weekly benefit?
Nothing has changed regarding eligibility to file for unemployment benefits while you are working part time. You are not eligible for unemployment benefits if you are working full time. This applies equally to self-employed as well. Your work and earnings from your part time employment continue to need to be reported to the department on your weekly claim. The earnings will then be reviewed to determine whether you still qualify for an unemployment benefit for each week. If you are eligible for at least $1 in weekly benefits, then you will also be eligible for the $300 payment for those weeks occurring between week ending August 1st and week ending September 5th. If you have questions please call the Hotline at 603-271-7700.
Positive Tests Jump to 56, but Rate of Infection Remains Low
On Thursday, September 10, 2020, DHHS announced 56 new positive test results for COVID-19.
Fifteen are people under the age of 18.
No new hospitalized cases were identified, and there are currently seven COVID-19 hospitalizations in the state.
There was one fatality reported on Thursday. There have been two COVID-19 deaths since August 28.
Rate Of Positive Tests
A Dozen People Currently Have COVID in Nashua. One of Them is the Mayor.
It was big news when Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess tested positive for COVID-19 this week, but his case is actually yet another data point in the positive story of how New Hampshire is handling the virus.
Mayor Jim Donchess was told last week that an employee he’d met with had been exposed via a family member who tested positive. So the 70-year-old mayor quarantined himself and got tested. His symptoms are so minor that he didn’t know he had the virus– which is the experience of most people who test positive.
NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – Sept. 11
On Thursday, September 10, 2020, DHHS announced 56 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 7,573 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 fifteen individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with
49 % being female and 51% being male.
The new cases reside in Rockingham (12), Strafford (10), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (7), Merrimack (5), Grafton (2), and Belknap (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (10) and Nashua (8). The county of residence is being determined for one new case.
Deaths
DHHS has also announced one additional death related to COVID-19. We offer our sympathies to the family and friends.
1 female resident of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older
Cumulative Positive Tests by County
New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report
(data updated as of September 10, 2020, 9:00 AM)
| Number of Persons with COVID-19 1 | 7,573 |
|---|---|
| Recovered | 6,867 (91%) |
| Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 | 434 (6%) |
| Total Current COVID-19 Cases | 272 |
| Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 | 719 (9.5%) |
| Current Hospitalizations | 7 |
| Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)2 | 225,659 |
| Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody Laboratory Tests2 | 30,284 |
| Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL | 43,652 |
| Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL3 | 770 |
| Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) | 1,900 |
Number of Specimens Tested by Date of Report to NH DHHS
NH State Representative Steven Smith 
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