Oct 30 Update – Restaurant Contact Tracing

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

NH DHHS Announces Potential Community Exposures Connected to Positive Case of COVID-19 at a Restaurant in Atkinson
October 27, 2020 – DHHS is investigating potential community exposures related to a person with confirmed COVID-19 at Merrill’s Tavern at Atkinson Resort & Country Club located at 85 Country Club Drive, Atkinson, NH 03811.

NH DHHS Announces Potential Community Exposures Connected to Positive Cases of COVID-19 at Multiple Establishments
October 24, 2020 – DHHS has identified potential community exposure related to multiple establishments in multiple locations throughout the state. Individuals may have been exposed to COVID-19 if they went to the following establishments during the days identified below, and should seek testing

NH DHHS Announces Potential Community Exposures Connected to Positive Cases of COVID-19 at Multiple Restaurants
October 23, 2020 – DHHS has identified potential community exposure related to multiple food and beverage establishments in multiple locations throughout the state. Individuals may have been exposed to COVID-19 if they went to the following establishments during the days identified below, and should seek testin

4 more COVID-19 deaths announced as community transmission increases, health officials say

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-coronavirus-update-october-29-2020/34520096

Quarantines at Manchester middle school force return to remote learning through Nov. 16

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/quarantines-at-manchester-middle-school-force-return-to-remote-learning-through-nov-16/article_b67abf5d-be1c-525d-83f2-5dffe7faf717.html

Refinery plans to produce fuel from paper, lumber mill waste

https://apnews.com/article/new-hampshire-portsmouth-maine-bangor-biofuels-b82f7e9a1afb5b57425e71ed0b782466

Time for voters to start delivering their absentee ballots themselves

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news/elections/time-for-voters-to-start-delivering-their-absentee-ballots-themselves/article_cfaeeb9a-1a17-11eb-90bb-e36d7b2fa6b0.html

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

(data updated as of October 29, 2020 – 9:00 AM)

Number of Persons with COVID-19 110,768
Recovered9,180 (85%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19482 (4%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases1,106
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19775 (7%)
Current Hospitalizations30
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)2338,508
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody Laboratory Tests232,108
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL51,803
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL3318
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time)4,600

1 Includes specimens positive at any laboratory and those confirmed by CDC confirmatory testing.
2 Includes specimens tested at the NH Public Health Laboratories (PHL), LabCorp, Quest, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Mako, certain hospital laboratories, the University of New Hampshire and their contracted laboratory, and those sent to CDC prior to NH PHL testing capacity.
3 Includes specimens received and awaiting testing at NH PHL. Does not include tests pending at commercial laboratories.

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – October 29, 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 Thursday, October 29, 2020, DHHS announced 131 new positive test results for COVID-19, for a daily PCR test positivity rate of 1.1%. Today’s results include 103 people who tested positive by PCR test and 28 who tested positive by antigen test. There are now 1,106 current COVID-19 cases 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 twenty individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 52% being female and 48% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (21), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (20), Merrimack (20), Grafton (18), Coos (15), Strafford (9), Sullivan (4), Belknap (3), Cheshire (3), and Carroll (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (9) and Nashua (6). The county of residence is being determined for two new cases.

No new hospitalized cases were reported. There are currently 30 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. This census may include out of state residents hospitalized in NH and/or individuals readmitted to the hospital, therefore increases in the daily hospital census may not always equal the number of new hospitalizations reported in a given day. Three of the new cases had no identified risk factors. Community- based transmission continues to occur in the State and has been identified in all counties. Of those with complete risk information, most of the cases are either associated with an outbreak setting or had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

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

  • 4 female residents of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older

In New Hampshire since the start of the pandemic, there have been a total of 10,768 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed with 775 (7%) of those having been hospitalized.

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Information for NH Residents on the Health Insurance Marketplace and Open Enrollment for the 2021 Plan Year

Posted on October 29, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Concord, NH – Today, Insurance Commissioner Chris Nicolopoulos spoke on a media call coordinated by Covering New Hampshire to share information about the Health Insurance Marketplace and Open Enrollment for the approximately 41,000 state residents who will purchase health insurance in the individual market for 2021 coverage. Open enrollment in the individual Health Insurance Marketplace will run from November 1 to December 15.

“Individual market members are likely to see large decreases in their premiums this year due to the approval of New Hampshire’s 1332 waiver,” said Insurance Commissioner Chris Nicolopoulos. “Those qualifying for financial assistance will continue to receive support when signing up through HealthCare.gov.” 

“New Hampshire insurance companies are offering significantly lower average premium rates for the third year in a row,” stated Governor Chris Sununu. “Everyone who is purchasing a health insurance plan for 2021 should shop around, just as they would for any other big purchase, even if they like the plan they have now. There may be another plan out there that’s more affordable or that has a better network of health care providers.”

Health Insurance Plans:

In 2021, three insurance companies will offer individual plans on the New Hampshire Marketplace: Anthem, Ambetter from NH Healthy Families, and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

For your coverage to begin on January 1, 2021, you will need to enroll by December 15, 2020. You can enroll in an individual insurance plan outside of the open enrollment period only if you qualify for a special enrollment period of 60 days following qualifying life events. You will need to pay your first premium by your insurance company’s due date before your 2021 coverage will take effect.

Where to Find Help:

If you want to receive federal financial assistance to pay for a plan, you will need to enroll through the Marketplace (HealthCare.gov). An insurance agent or enrollment assister can help you with this process. If you are enrolled in Marketplace coverage for 2020, you will receive renewal information from your insurance company and the Marketplace. Even if you liked your plan for 2020, it is important to update your application for subsidy eligibility purposes and to look at your options for 2021 because plan benefits and networks change from year to year.

You can buy a plan outside of the federal Marketplace – through an insurance agent or directly from an insurance company – and it will cover the same essential services as a Marketplace plan.

Federal Assistance Based on Income Levels Is Available for 2021:

Depending on your income level, you may qualify for financial assistance for paying premiums and/or out-of-pocket costs for a health insurance plan bought through the Marketplace. All of these subsidies are available for 2021 plans, as long as you sign up during open enrollment.

When you complete an application on HealthCare.gov, you will be prompted to enter your “tax household” size and financial information. After completing the application, you will be notified if you qualify for financial assistance for a Marketplace plan or for coverage through the New Hampshire Granite Advantage Program.

Buyer Beware:

Consumers are encouraged to exercise caution and ask questions before purchasing a health plan from any company other than the three that are offering ACA-compliant health plans on and off HealthCare.gov: Ambetter, Anthem and Harvard Pilgrim. The Department strongly urges consumers to read all of their plan documents before enrolling in a plan. If you are unsure about the insurance company or agent you are dealing with, stop before signing any paperwork or writing a check and call the Insurance Department to confirm the company or agent offering the coverage is legitimate and licensed in the state.

The Department wants to ensure that consumers fully understand what is and is not covered before enrolling in a plan. There are coverage options available in New Hampshire other than the ACA-compliant plans sold on or off HealthCare.gov, but they do not cover all the benefits of ACA-compliant plans.

More information on 2021 plans:

•             Visit the Insurance Department’s website for additional resources: https://www.nh.gov/insurance/consumers/mp_plans.htm

•             The Find Local Help tool on HealthCare.gov can help you find free help with picking a plan and enrollment.

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 www.nh.gov/insurance.

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Oct 28 Update – Voting, Tuckaway Tavern, Funding

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith
Epsom Town Clerk Laura Scearbo loads absentee votes back into a file cabinet at the town offices on Thursday, October 15, 2020.

Vote

It’s too late to mail in an absentee ballot but you can still hand it in

“It’s too late to mail in your absentee ballot and be certain that it will get counted on Election Day, but it’s not too late to vote early in New Hampshire. You just have to hand in the ballot yourself.

You’ll be in good company because lots of people are voting early, partly because changes to election laws prompted by COVID-19 mean that anybody can do it.”  More at https://www.concordmonitor.com/absentee-ballot-update-electi-36997595

Governor Chris Sununu Issues Emergency Order #71

Concord, NH — Today, Governor Chris Sununu issued Emergency Order #71 as part of the state’s efforts to respond to COVID-19.

A copy of Emergency Order #71 can be found here .pdf Icon.

This order absolves school districts from requirements impossible to meet because of COVID restrictions that would have required the state to withhold the Nov. 1 payments from the Dept. of Education.

New Hampshire records third-highest single-day total of new COVID-19 cases; test positivity rate still low

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-records-third-highest-single-day-total-of-new-covid-19-cases-test-positivity-rate-still-low/34499081

Popular Raymond restaurant closed for next 10 days due to employee COVID-19 cases

https://www.wmur.com/article/tuckaway-tavern-closed-coronavirus-october-27-2020/34493772

Of NH’s $1.2 billion COVID-19 cash, all but $38 million committed

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/of-nhs-1-2-billion-covid-19-cash-all-but-38-million-committed/article_d51c4a4d-329b-5ab1-9741-523d1e99deb8.html

As N.H. Sees New 7-Day High In COVID Cases, Manchester Testing Sites Are ‘Maxed Out’

https://www.nhpr.org/post/nh-sees-new-7-day-high-covid-cases-manchester-testing-sites-are-maxed-out#stream/0

N.H. Restaurants Seek Solutions As Cold Weather Approaches, Potentially Ending Outdoor Dining

https://www.nhpr.org/post/nh-restaurants-seek-solutions-cold-weather-approaches-potentially-ending-outdoor-dining#stream/0

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

(data updated as of October 27, 2020 – 9:00 AM)

Number of Persons with COVID-19 110,531
Recovered8,989 (86%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19475 (5%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases1,067
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19771 (7%)
Current Hospitalizations31
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)2334,409
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody Laboratory Tests232,004
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL51,301
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL3373
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time)4,600

1 Includes specimens positive at any laboratory and those confirmed by CDC confirmatory testing.
2 Includes specimens tested at the NH Public Health Laboratories (PHL), LabCorp, Quest, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Mako, certain hospital laboratories, the University of New Hampshire and their contracted laboratory, and those sent to CDC prior to NH PHL testing capacity.
3 Includes specimens received and awaiting testing at NH PHL. Does not include tests pending at commercial laboratories.

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – October 27, 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 Tuesday, October 27, 2020, DHHS announced 140 new positive test results for COVID-19, for a daily PCR test positivity rate of 0.9%. Today’s results include 112 people who tested positive by PCR test and 28 who tested positive by antigen test. There are now 1,067 current COVID-19 cases 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 fourteen individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 43% being female and 57% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (39), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (19), Strafford (15), Merrimack (13), Grafton (10), Belknap (4), Coos (4), Cheshire (3), Carroll (2), and Sullivan (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (12) and Nashua (12). The county of residence is being determined for six new cases.

Three new hospitalized cases were reported. There are currently 31 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. This census may include out of state residents hospitalized in NH and/or individuals readmitted to the hospital, therefore increases in the daily hospital census may not always equal the number of new hospitalizations reported in a given day. Community-based transmission continues to occur in the State and has been identified in all counties. Of those with complete risk information, most of the cases have either had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis or have recently traveled.

In New Hampshire since the start of the pandemic, there have been a total of 10,531 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed with 771 (7%) of those having been hospitalized.

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