Unemployment

I have been fielding a lot of questions about UI and folks still having trouble or not getting paid. Yesterday, I experimented by listening to a call in with someone who had some issues. The wait time for someone to answer the phone was under ten minutes. The staff who answered were great and able to work through the issue. If you have a problem, please do try calling again, he load has abated and your odds are better. The number to call is:

• Unemployment Assistance Hotline at 603-271-7700
• Monday through Friday 8 am to 8 pm
• Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 5 pm

Governor Sununu Issues Emergency Order #40

Governor Chris Sununu announced he is implementing a new, modified Stay-at-Home Order. Stay at Home 2.0 is in effect until May 31st. The state is taking steps to reopen the economy in a smart, phased approach that is supported by facts, science and data.

Each of the decisions and guidance documents below have been reviewed by State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan and his team at the New Hampshire’s Public Health Department.

“The people of New Hampshire have taken this epidemic incredibly seriously,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “We have all played a small part in flattening the curve and slowing the spread of COVID19. We all know you are healthier at home, and that continues to be true, but we are also taking steps to reopen our economy in a smart, step-by-step approach that is supported by facts, science and data.”

Universal Guidance is being issued for any business that is currently open, or will soon be opening, under these next steps. This universal guidance will serve as the bare minimum standards which businesses must meet to maintain or begin operations. For specific industries with specific operational procedures, industry specific guidance for certain sectors can be found below.

All applicable industries are able to start opening up in incremental phases as determined by Public Health.

An order extending and modifying Emergency Order #17 (Closure of non-essential businesses and requiring Granite Staters to stay at home)

Follow the link to the order;

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/emergency-orders/documents/emergency-order-40.pdf

Governor Sununu Announces Stay at Home 2.0 which will stay in effect until May 31st.

Follow the links to the Guidance documents;

Universal Guidance

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200501-universal.pdf

Public and Private Campgrounds Guidance

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200105-campgrounds.pdf

New Hampshire State Park Guidance

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200501-state-parks.pdf

Manufacturing Guidance

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200501-manufacturing.pdf

Industries that can begin to phase-in services on May 4, 2020:

Certain Health Care Services Guidance

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200501-hospitals.pdf

Industries that begin to phase-in, or expand services on May 11, 2020:

Retail Store Guidance

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200501-retail.pdf

Drive-in Movie Theater Guidance

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200105-drive-in-theaters.pdf

Public and Private Golf Course Guidance

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200501-golf.pdf

Barbers and Hair Salon Guidance

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200105-barber-hair-salons.pdf

Industries that can begin to phase-in, or expand services on May 18, 2020:

Restaurant Guidance

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/stay-at-home/documents/20200501-restaurants.pdf

A copy of the Governor’s presentation can be found here.

https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/press-2020/documents/20200501-stay-at-home.pdf

Governor’s Economic Re-opening Task Force

• Monday, May 4th
• 1:30pm-3:30pm
• Call-in: 1-800-356-8278 or 1-857-444-0744
• Pin: 194499 or 600744 or 125563
• Task Force Website

• Crisis Standards of Care State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee
• Explanation of Public Health Monitoring and Movement Restriction Terms 
• Emergency Responders Unprotected Exposure Guidance 

Today, Executive orders to allow the reopening of businesses with conditions and guidelines were implemented. These are the new guidelines and timelines:

Updated rules and reopening

Today, Governor Chris Sununu will hold a press conference at 3:00 PM to provide an update on the state’s response to COVID-19. I expect that there will be information regarding modifying the stay at home order and updates from GOFERR about getting things moving again responsibly.

Proposed rules for all businesses

Economic Re-Opening Task Force

Meeting Minutes/Recordings/Presentations

• April 30, 2020 Meeting  Minutes  | Recording
• April 30, 2020 Public Comments  Minutes | Recording
• April 29, 2020 Meeting   Minutes | Recording
• April 28, 2020 Meeting   Mintues | Recording  |  Educational Services Presentation | Cosmetology & Barbering Presentation
• April 27, 2020 Meeting   Minutes | Recording  | New Hampshire State Parks Presentation | New Hampshire State Parks Operating Plans & Procedures | New Hampshire Campground Owners Association Presentation | Reopening Attractions Guidelines Presentation | New Hampshire Golf Association Presentation | New Hampshire Dental Hygienist Association | ADA COVID19 Understanding Masks | ADA Interim Mask and Face Shield Guidelines | Return to Work Toolkit | Economic Impacts of Dentistry
• April 24, 2020 Meeting   Minutes | Recording  | Retail Trade and Manufacturing Presentations
• April 23, 2020 Meeting   Minutes | Recording  | NHLRA Presentation
• April 22, 2020 Meeting   Minutes | Recording

3-Part video: Employment official Richard Lavers answers viewer questions

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – April 30, 2020 

On Thursday, April 30, 2020, DHHS announced 96 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 2,146 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 is one individual under the age of 18 and the rest are adults, with 67% being female and 33% being male. The new cases reside in Merrimack (32), Rockingham (23), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (18), Grafton (2), Strafford (2), Belknap (1), and Sullivan (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (9) and Nashua (7). The county of residence is being determined for one new case.

Hospitalizations

 

Three new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 262 (12%) of 2,146 cases. Current hospitalizations stand at 112.

Community Based Transmission

Three of the new cases have no identified risk factors.

Deaths

 

DHHS has also announced 6 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

• Two female residents of Hillsborough County, who were 60 years of age or older

• Two male residents of Rockingham County, who were both 60 years of age older

• One female resident of Rockingham County, who was 60 years of age older

• One female resident of Strafford County, who was 60 years of age older

Cases by County

Belknap 34

Carroll 31

Cheshire 40

Coos 2

Grafton 50

Hillsborough – Other 316

Hillsborough – Manchester 455

Hillsborough – Nashua 193

Merrimack 177

Rockingham 692

Strafford 141

Sullivan 12

County TBD 3

New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report

(data updated April 30, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 2,146

Recovered 980 (46%)

Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 72 (3%)

Total Current COVID-19 Cases 1,094

Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 262 (12%)

Current Hospitalizations 112

Persons Tested Negative at Selected Laboratories 19,903

Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 9,468

Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 302

Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 2,700

Number of Specimens Tested by Date of Report to NH DHHS

Information above, and archived daily updates are available here: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/news/updates.htm

 

Regional Information (total positive test results, deaths)

Look-back period is now 1 week.

 

NH: 2146 positive test results 72 deaths  (1 week ago: 1,670 positive test results 51 deaths) (+476 / +21)

MA: 62,205 positive test results 3562 deaths (1 week ago: 46,023 positive test results 2360 deaths) (+16182 / +1202)

ME: 1,095 positive test results 53 deaths (1 week ago: 937 positive test results 44 deaths)

VT: 866 positive test results 49 deaths (1 week ago: 825 positive test results 43 deaths )

CT: 27,700 positive test results 2257 deaths (1 week ago: 23,100 positive test results 1639 deaths)

RI: 8,621 positive test results 266 deaths (1 week ago: 6,256  positive test results 189 deaths )

NY:  309,696 positive test results 23,616 deaths (1 week ago: 263,460 positive test results 15,740 deaths)