Oct 23 Update – School kids, Europe, Remdesivir

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Schoolchildren Seem Unlikely to Fuel Coronavirus Surges, Scientists Say

Researchers once feared that school reopenings might spread the virus through communities. But so far there is little evidence that it’s happening.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/health/coronavirus-schools-children.html

82 new COVID-19 cases reported in NH, though positivity rate remains low

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-coronavirus-update-october-22-2020/32674304

Investigation shows 39 COVID-19 cases linked to Nashua church outbreak

https://www.wmur.com/article/investigation-shows-39-covid-19-cases-linked-to-nashua-church-outbreak/34455026

The Food and Drug Administration formally approved remdesivir as the first drug to treat Covid-19.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/22/us/remdesivir-fda-approved.html

New state hockey guidance expected to include recommendation for testing

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-state-hockey-guidance-expected-to-include-recommendation-for-testing/34456862

Hospitalizations in Europe are rising steadily.

LONDON — Poland has turned its largest stadium into an emergency field hospital. The numbers of Covid-19 patients in Belgium and Britain have doubled in two weeks. And doctors and nurses in the Czech Republic are falling ill at an alarming rate. More at https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/22/world/europe/europe-hospitals-covid.html

Antigen testing: All about the rapid test NH now uses in its COVID counts

https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/local/antigen-testing-all-about-the-rapid-test-nh-now-uses-in-its-covid-counts/article_a6161208-f618-5676-b5d1-4c30af09d559.html

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – October 22nd, 2020 

On Thursday, October 22, 2020, DHHS announced 82 new positive test results for COVID-19, for a daily PCR test positivity rate of 0.8%. Today’s results include 58 people who tested positive by PCR test and 24 who tested positive by antigen test. There are now 832 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 twelve individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 56% being female and 44% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (28), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (14), Merrimack (7), Strafford (6), Coos (2), Grafton (2), Sullivan (2), Belknap (1), and Cheshire (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (8) and Nashua (8). The county of residence is being determined for three new cases.

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

  • Belknap 202
  • Carroll 137
  • Cheshire 178
  • Coos 36
  • Grafton 189
  • Hillsborough – Other 1,782
  • Hillsborough – Manchester 2316
  • Hillsborough – Nashua 1,130
  • Merrimack 814
  • Rockingham 2,452
  • Strafford 671
  • Sullivan 72

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

(data updated as of October 22, 2020 – 9:00 AM)

Number of Persons with COVID-19 19,994
Recovered8,692 (87%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19470 (5%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases832
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19765 (8%)
Current Hospitalizations18
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)2323,173
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody Laboratory Tests231,879
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL50,751
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL3417
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time)4,200

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.

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NH Insurance Department Releases New Medicare Supplement Shopping Tool

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith
NH Insurance Department Releases New Medicare Supplement Shopping Tool
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Insurance Department released a free interactive resource to help consumers shopping for Medicare Supplement (MediGap) plans. The dashboard allows viewers to compare the monthly premium cost of Medicare Supplement plans based on their gender, age, plan type, and preferred company.

The new interactive dashboard will allow consumers and those assisting consumers to find and compare rates quickly and easily. Users can also download a PDF version of the dashboard information or email the Department with feedback. The Department will continue to offer a static version of the Medicare Supplement Rate Guide.

“I am very pleased that the Department is offering this tool to help people shopping for Medicare Supplement plans,” said Insurance Commissioner Chris Nicolopoulos. “It can feel overwhelming to choose a plan when there are so many options. I hope that consumers, insurance agents, and Medicare specialists will find this resource helpful.”A Medicare Supplement insurance policy helps pay some of the health care costs that Medicare Part A and B do not cover, such as copayments, coinsurance and deductibles. The rates quoted in the guide and dashboard are available during a person’s initial open enrollment or guaranteed issue periods only. The Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period is the 6-month period that begins the month an individual turns 65 and have both Medicare Part A and Part B. Any individuals changing plans or interested in obtaining a renewal rate with a specific company should contact that company directly.

For assistance with Medicare enrollment, contact an insurance agent, call a ServiceLink Resource Center at 1-866-634-9412, or visit Medicare.gov. 
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 at1‐800‐ 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 22 Update – We are fortunate

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

As you go through these items, see the map graphic of current cases below. In this area, there is no place I would rather be. We have been very fortunate. ~ Steve

1 more COVID-19 death announced in New Hampshire; 92 more cases confirmed

https://www.wmur.com/article/1-more-covid-19-deaths-announced-in-new-hampshire-92-more-cases-confirmed/34442672

New state hockey guidelines due Thursday

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-state-hockey-guidelines-due-thursday/34442589

Hospitals prepare for surge in COVID-19 cases

https://www.concordmonitor.com/Upper-Valley-hospitals-prepare-for-increase-in-COVID-19-cases-36902661

7 N.H. Counties Now On Vermont’s COVID-19 Restricted Travel List

https://www.nhpr.org/post/update-7-nh-counties-now-vermonts-covid-19-restricted-travel-list

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

(data updated as of October 21, 2020 – 9:00 AM)

Number of Persons with COVID-19 19,917
Recovered8,650 (87%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19469 (5%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases798
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19763 (8%)
Current Hospitalizations14
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)2318,292
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody Laboratory Tests231,852
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL50,262
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL3616
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time)4,075

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

(data updated October 21st, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 9,917

  • Recovered 8,650 (87%)
  • Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 469 (5%)
  • Total Current COVID-19 Cases798
  • Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 763 (8%)
  • Current Hospitalizations 14

Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 50,262

Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 616

Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 4,075

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

  • Belknap 202
  • Carroll 137
  • Cheshire 176
  • Coos 34
  • Grafton 187
  • Hillsborough – Other 1,766
  • Hillsborough – Manchester 2308
  • Hillsborough – Nashua 1,122
  • Merrimack 807
  • Rockingham 2,426
  • Strafford 665
  • Sullivan 70

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – October 21st, 2020 

On Wednesday, October 21, 2020, DHHS announced 92 new positive test results for COVID-19, for a daily PCR test positivity rate of 1.2%. Today’s results include 52 people who tested positive by PCR test and 40 who tested positive by antigen test. There are now 798 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 eight individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 51% being female and 49% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (22), Merrimack (19), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (15), Belknap (7), Strafford (7), Grafton (2), Sullivan (2), and Carroll (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (10) and Nashua (2). The county of residence is being determined for five new cases.

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