COVID Summary for 3/30

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

DHHS map now shows municipalities

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 30, 2020
 
On Monday, March 30, 2020, DHHS announced 56 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 314 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. The new cases are 35 adult females and 21 adult males. The new cases reside in Rockingham (16), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (5), Strafford (5), Grafton (5), Merrimack (4), and Belknap (3) counties, and in the cities of Nashua (12) and Manchester (6).
According to a statement yesterday from state epidemiologist Dr. Chan yesterday, 46 people in New Hampshire have recovered.
Hospitalizations
Four of the new cases were hospitalized for their illness; thus far, 45 patients of the 314 positive cases (14%) have been hospitalized.
Community Based Transmission
Thirty-four 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.
Total number of cases with no identified risk factors is now more than 114 which is 36% of total positive tests.
New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report

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

NH Persons with COVID-191 314
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 3 (1%)
Hospitalizations 45 (14%)
Persons Tested Negative at Selected Laboratories 5,412
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 3,171
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 65
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 1100
Regional Information (total positive test results)
 
NH: 314
MA: 5,752
ME: 275
VT: 256
CT: 2,571
RI: 408
NY: 66,497
March 30 Map
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New Hampshire Boosts Unemployment Benefits, Federal Government To Pay

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

New Hampshire Boosts Unemployment Benefits,
Federal Government To Pay
For Immediate Release:
March 30, 2020

Contact:
Ben Vihstadt 603-271-2121
Concord, NH — Today, following the critical efforts and guidance of the New Hampshire Department of Employment Security, Governor Chris Sununu signed the Relief for Workers Affected by Coronavirus [CARES] Act agreement which provides New Hampshire with 100 percent funding from the U.S. Department of Labor to support benefit payments to people receiving unemployment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are making every effort to provide assistance to families who are out of work during this time so that they can focus on what is most important – caring for their families and protecting their health by staying home,” said Governor Sununu. “Over the past few weeks, New Hampshire’s Department of Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis and Deputy Commissioner Richard Lavers have been working closely with my office and our federal partners to address some of the most pressing issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  By signing this agreement today on behalf of the state of New Hampshire, the U.S. Department of Labor will fund the growing number of unemployment recipients in our state and help the unemployment trust fund to remain solvent through this crisis.”

The Federal CARES Act provides the following enhancements to the benefits available under Governor Sununu’s Emergency Order #5:

  • Granite Staters affected by COVID-19 currently drawing from the State’s Unemployment Insurance fund will in many instances be shifted to the Federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. We are still awaiting Federal guidance on this and will provide more detail as received.  All claimants will not need to take any new, additional actions, and should continue to file as they have been through the standard state mechanism.
  • For those eligible under Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, there will be an increase of the minimum weekly benefit amount from $32/week to $168/week, which includes people earning less than $15,500 during their base period.
  • An additional $600 per week to be added to an individuals weekly benefits for all weeks claimed starting this week — 100% federally funded.
  • Extends the length of time a person can receive benefits by 13 weeks, totaling 39 weeks — 100% federally funded.

The Department of Employment Security has been hard at work in anticipation of these changes in order to be able to pay these additional benefits as soon as possible.

Please review the department’s website at WWW.NHES.NH.GOV for updates as to when to expect to start receiving these benefits. Individuals can file for benefits by going to the department’s website or by calling the Unemployment Assistance hotline at (603) 271-7700.

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Governor Chris Sununu Announces Extension of Business Tax, Interest and Dividend Payment Deadlines

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Governor Chris Sununu Announces Extension of Business Tax, Interest and Dividend Payment Deadlines

For Immediate Release:
March 30, 2020

Contact:
Ben Vihstadt
Benjamin.Vihstadt@nh.gov
603-271-2121

Concord, NH – Today, Governor Chris Sununu announced that the State will be extending business tax payment deadlines to June 15 for 98% of New Hampshire small businesses. The State will also be extending interest and dividend payment deadlines to June 15 for 98% of interest and dividend taxpayers.

Additional information from the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration can be found here and here.

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