NH State Representative Steven Smith

New Stats

There is a new methodology in tracking and reporting cases which will temporarily inflate numbers. Positive antigen tests are now being counted towards the total case number since the person at some had COVID. This is from a fellow Representative and friend who is also a doctor and brilliant at statistical analysis:

“Public Health is changing its daily NH DHHS COVID-19 Update report as it was pointed out to them that their methodology was making NH look very bad in reports that rely on the Covid Tracking Project for data input, such as Johns Hopkins and rt.live.This was obviously concerning right before the election.Technical details are available at the linked website.Briefly, the Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) line was being used as a denominator in calculations of percent positivity of tests divided by people tested.As we have a surveillance strategy in places like UNH that retests people that had previously tested negative, this was not increasing the numbers of people tested for the first time, resulting in anomalously high numbers.As an interim, they deleted the Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) line.I believe we will be seeing a Testing Encounters line, which is the new preferred way of reporting, and will result in more favorable reporting about NH.” ~ Dr. Bill Marsh

The best advice is to wait a few weeks into the new methodology to see what the trends actually are, and also watch the two week average since that will have a smoothing effect on anomalies. ~ Steve

NH update: State adds results of antigen testing, raising numbers

COVID-19 positives from a different type of diagnostic test will now be included in New Hampshire’s case counts, state health officials have announced. Along with new positive tests reported Friday, this change has adjusted the state’s total number of cases confirmed to date upward to 8,534. This is up 217 over Thursday’s reported total of 8,317.

“We had previously reported only positive cases confirmed by a PCR test, per national guidance, with antigen positives considered suspect cases of COVID-19,” N.H. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Jake Leon explained in an email Friday evening. “With the State’s decision to now report positive antigen tests, that adjusted all data including hospitalizations and deaths, not just cases.” More at https://www.sentinelsource.com/news/health/nh-update-state-adds-results-of-antigen-testing-raising-numbers/article_67298f8c-9bec-520d-add9-5e8a77be4c28.html

N.H. COVID update: Sharp rise in new cases over the weekend; almost 500 people have the disease

The slow rise in new COVID-19 cases that New Hampshire has seen recently became noticeably faster over the weekend.

The state reported 218 new cases from Friday through Sunday, the most we’ve seen in three consecutive days since June 4-6.

This raised the statewide two-week average to 44, the highest in three and a half months.

While that figure remains well below the level of 54, or four new cases per 100,000 people each day, which the Monitor is using as a measure of whether the pandemic is under control, the average has risen sharply since schools and colleges reopened. More at https://www.concordmonitor.com/covid-coronavirus-nh-new-hampshire-36637426

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

(data updated as of October 4, 2020 – 9:00 AM)

Number of Persons with COVID-19 1	8,645
Recovered	7,710 (89%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19	443 (5%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases	492
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19	743 (9%)
Current Hospitalizations	23
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL	47,613
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL3	1.004
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time)	2,750

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.

On Sunday, October 4, 2020, DHHS announced 53 new positive test results for COVID-19. There are now 492 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. Today’s results include 33 people that tested positive by PCR test and 20 that tested positive by antigen test. 

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 six individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 45% being female and 55% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (16), Rockingham (11), Merrimack (5), Strafford (5), Belknap (2), and Grafton (1) counties, and in the cities of Nashua (9) and Manchester (3). The county of residence is being determined for one new case.

October 2, 2020, Newport, NH:   Sullivan County was recently notified it has been awarded $1,703,524 from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to eliminate lead-based paint hazards for low income families.  The County was one of 15 first-time recipients of this funding.  In all, there were 44 grants approved and a total of nearly $165 million. 

The funding is comprised of two sources:  $1,303,524 is for lead hazards and $400,000 is from the “healthy homes” program which will provide flexibility to address other health & safety deficiencies that are unrelated to lead hazards.  The County will have 42 months to do the work. 

According to Sullivan County Manager Derek Ferland, “This is outstanding news for Sullivan County and we look forward to making a positive impact in our communities by protecting families—especially those with young children.  The City of Claremont has demonstrated tremendous leadership on this issue and we are pleased to partner with them to obtain these resources.” 

This grant caps off a multi-year effort of a partnership comprised of the Claremont Lead Action Team, the Greater Sullivan County Regional Public Health Network, and Sullivan County.  This group has been working together to develop new approaches to combat childhood lead poisoning and improve the county’s housing stock.  A planning grant that was awarded to Dartmouth-Hitchcock from the Environmental Public Health Tracking Program of NH Department of Health and Human Services helped the team evaluate existing lead abatement programs.  As a result of that effort, the group determined a large HUD grant was the best way to make meaningful progress to eradicate lead hazards. 

Over 80 percent of homes in Sullivan County were built prior to 1978, which was the year lead-based paint was banned in the United States.  

Sullivan County’s staff will lead the next steps which include hiring a program manager and certified lead inspector to oversee the program.  Once on board, they will process applications and coordinate with qualified contractors to do the work.  In the meantime, interested homeowners, landlords, tenants, or contractors should contact Sullivan County. 

Press Release Contact:

Derek Ferland, County Manager

manager@sullivancountynh.gov   603-863-2560

Coronavirus Update: N.H. Reports 2 More Deaths, 2 New Outbreaks at Nursing Homes

The state has announced two additional deaths due to the coronavirus. Dr. Beth Daly says the two residents were from one of the state’s long-term care facilities. New Hampshire has had 441 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

Health officials also report 52 new infections, bringing the total confirmed cases to 8,317 since March.

Health Commissioner Lori Shibinette also announced two new outbreaks at long-term care facilities: Bedford Hills Center and Warde Health Center in Windham. More at https://www.nhpr.org/post/coronavirus-update-nh-reports-2-more-deaths-2-new-outbreaks-nursing-homes

Governor extends emergency order until Nov. 15

Gov. Chris Sununu issued an emergency order last night to extend COVID-19 emergency orders for public health guidance and “safer at home” guidance until Nov. 15.

The order reads, in part: “New Hampshire State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan has determined that, while New Hampshire’s mitigation strategy has been effective in controlling the spread of COVID-19, community mitigation has been and continues to be critically important …”

Relaxing mitigation efforts and emergency orders “risks additional COVID-19 outbreaks,” reads the emergency order, Sununu’s 70th in connection with the coronavirus pandemic.

Wisconsin Is Frazzled by Surging Virus Cases and Growing Campaign Frenzy

“Daily statewide deaths because of the coronavirus hit a record on Wednesday when officials reported that 26 people had succumbed to the virus. On Thursday, hospitalizations were at a high since the pandemic began, and more than 3,000 new cases were reported, another record.” More at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/us/wisconsin-coronavirus-election.html

Unless you’re Linus awaiting the Great Pumpkin, Halloween will require some changes this year

“You don’t need to worry about catching COVID-19 from wrapped candy, although as always you should avoid unwrapped candy.

Halloween costume masks won’t protect you from airborne coronavirus; wear a cloth mask for that.

There’s no way to keep out-of-towners from attending your town’s trick-or-treat event.

If you do have neighborhood trick-or-treat, create one-way routes like in grocery stores to minimize families congregating at a house.” More at https://www.concordmonitor.com/halloween-new-hampshire-covid-coronavirus-36553041

Coronavirus-related deaths in nursing homes prompt lawsuits and questions about who’s responsible

“There’s no comprehensive database of case filings. But a COVID-19 complaint tracker posted on the website of the law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth shows 55 wrongful death lawsuits filed against long-term care facilities around the country as of early September. More suits are on the way, with plaintiffs attorneys in Florida, Massachusetts and other states that have mandatory presuit screening periods saying they are investigating and preparing to file cases.

Whether it’s a flood or a moderate flow, these cases will present unprecedented questions for judges, juries and arbitrators. They will have to decide whether and how to apportion responsibility for the deaths of the nation’s most medically vulnerable population among long-term care operators who were scrambling in the midst of the chaos and confusion during the worst public health emergency in a century.” More at https://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/coronavirus-related-deaths-in-nursing-homes-seed-lawsuits-and-questions-about-whos-responsible?

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

(data updated as of October 1, 9:00 AM)

NThe New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued thefollowing update on the new coronavirus, COVID-19.
On Thursday, October 1, 2020, DHHS announced 52 new positive test results for COVID- 19. There have now been 8,317 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 two 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 (13), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (11), Strafford (5), Merrimack (4), Belknap (1), Carroll (1), and Grafton (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (8) and Nashua (6). The county of residence is being determined
for two new cases.
No new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 738 (9%) of 8,317 cases. Fifteen 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 have either had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis or have recently traveled.
DHHS has also announced two additional deaths related to COVID-19. We offer our sympathies to the family and friends.
 2 male residents of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older

Number of Persons with COVID-19 1	8,317
Recovered	7,534 (91%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19	441 (5%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases	342
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19	738 (9%)
Current Hospitalizations	15
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)2	275,834
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody Laboratory Tests2	31,156
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL	47,188
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL3	1,589
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time)	2,750

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.