Sept. 15 Update

Posted on September 15, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

NH offers new Covid-19 business resource

Answers to most widely asked questions on operational guidance now provided online

  NHBR Staff

The New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs has updated the Covid-19 resources available to New Hampshire businesses on its website, NHeconomy.com/covid.

The agency said it has added a Frequently Asked Questions page that contains answers to dozens questions raised over the past few months regarding Covid-19 response guidance and restrictions.

The agency said it has received over 10,000 inquiries and/or comments since the start of the pandemic in March. More at https://www.nhbr.com/nh-offers-new-covid-19-business-resource/

Company drills deeper wells as drought continues in NH

https://www.wmur.com/article/company-drills-deeper-wells-as-drought-continues-in-nh/34018065

Education campaigns underway for tourists planning trips to NH this fall, winter

https://www.wmur.com/article/education-campaigns-underway-for-tourists-planning-trips-to-nh-this-fall-winter/34019433

Psychotherapist discusses back-to-school anxiety amid COVID-19 pandemic

https://www.wmur.com/article/psychotherapist-discusses-back-to-school-anxiety-amid-covid-19-pandemic/34019498

14 Manchester students test positive for COVID-19

https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/14-manchester-students-test-positive-for-covid-19/article_0e9be935-912b-576a-a428-d21be9d211e2.html?block_id=897573

How pandemic could affect NH’s fall, winter tourism

https://www.unionleader.com/nh/travel/how-pandemic-could-affect-nhs-fall-winter-tourism/article_f7c37a7b-be6f-5d0c-800e-477d8f374721.html?block_id=897573

2 COVID-19 cases shut down Barrington Elementary for a week

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/2-covid-19-cases-shut-down-barrington-elementary-for-a-week/article_b141beb6-15d4-5525-94cf-cb541b0fd31c.html?block_id=897573

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

(data updated as of September 14, 2020, 9:00 AM)

Number of Persons with COVID-19 1 7,714
Recovered 6,987 (91%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 436 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 291
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 721 (9%)
Current Hospitalizations 7
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)2 231,816
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody Laboratory Tests2 30,439
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 44,208
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL3 1,223
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 1,950

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, 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 Monday, September 14, 2020, DHHS announced 18 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 7,714 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 five individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 33% being female and 67% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (3), Belknap (2), Rockingham (2), Grafton (1), Merrimack (1), and Strafford (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (4) and Nashua (1). The county of residence is being determined for three new cases.

No new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 721 (9.3%) of 7,714 cases. Two 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.

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50 million reasons to log in tonight

Posted on September 14, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

County Nursing Home

Please see the information regarding whether we go forward with the bond application for the County Nursing Home at Sullivan County Nursing Home – Input Needed

The hearing is tonight at 6:30. You can participate remotely:

  • Zoom Phone: 1 312 626 6799
  • Webinar ID: 999 0892 6489
  • Password: 799639

This is not one those droning meetings where presentations are made and you struggle to stay awake for an hour. The main agenda item is Public Comment, so please do. I called this hearing for the sole purpose of getting public input. The estimated tax impact of the current proposal is around $80/yr on a $200,000 house.

If you can not participate tonight, you can email your thoughts to your local Representatives and have them present them. We need your name and the town you live in in order to add your comments to the record.

NH DHHS Announces Potential Exposures Connected to Positive Cases of COVID-19 at Theta Chi Fraternity in Durham

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is investigating a potential outbreak of COVID-19 among individuals associated with Theta Chi Fraternity, located at 5 Strafford Avenue, Durham, NH 03824. To date, 11 persons with COVID-19 have been identified who have been at the fraternity.

Any individuals who visited Theta Chi Fraternity since the end of August may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should self-observe for illness and seek testing. Guidance for selfobservation is available at:www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/documents/self-observation-covid.pdf pdf file

Students who may have been exposed can access testing through the University of New Hampshire. Persons not associated with the university can access testing through multiple testing options available throughout the State: www.nh.gov/covid19/resources-guidance/testing-guidance.htm.

For persons without health insurance or a primary care provider, testing is available and can be scheduled by calling (603) 271-5980 or through completing the online form at https://business.nh.gov/DOS_COVID19Testing.

Economic Re-Opening Task Force

When: September 17, 2020   11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Public Comments
Task Force Meeting to follow immediately after Public Comments
September 24, 2020   11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Public Comments
Task Force Meeting to follow immediately after Public Comments
Call-In Information: Call-in: 1-800-356-8278 or 1-857-444-0744
Pin: 194499
For Public Comments session to request to speak, press 5*
If anybody has a problem getting on the call, please call 603-271-0670 or email at hilary.ryan@livefree.nh.gov
Task Force Public
Comments Email:		 nhreopen@nheconomy.com
Business Help or Questions Click here for Business Help

Legislative Advisory Board

Information on the Governor’ Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery’s Legislative Advisory Board.

Governor Chris Sununu established the Legislative Advisory Board to provide the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) with accountability, transparency and integrity throughout the process of allocation and disbursement of the CARES Act funding in the State of New Hampshire.

Read Governor Sununu’s Letter .pdf Icon

Regular public meetings are held Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at 1 p.m.

Call-in: 1-800-356-8278
PIN: 389388#

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

(data updated as of September 13, 2020, 9:00 AM)

Number of Persons with COVID-19 1 7,696
Recovered 6,953 (90%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 436 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 307
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 721 (9%)
Current Hospitalizations 7
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)2 230,542
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody Laboratory Tests2 30,419
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 44,068
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL3 958
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 1,950

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, 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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New Hampshire Will Experience Continued Stability in Workers’ Compensation Market for 2021

Posted on September 14, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire workers’ compensation insurance market will continue to experience historically low rates in 2021. Today, the New Hampshire Insurance Department approved a rate proposal filed by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) that will reduce voluntary loss costs by 1.8% on average.

Loss costs in the voluntary market have decreased in each of the last eight years and 50% cumulatively over this period. The loss cost is the portion of an employer’s insurance premium that pays claims costs for work-related injuries. The loss cost is ultimately used by insurers to set rates and premiums in the voluntary market. All insurers writing voluntary workers compensation in New Hampshire are required to use the new loss costs, and are permitted to make adjustments for their own company expenses.

“It is encouraging to see continued stability in the workers’ compensation market,” said Insurance Department Commissioner Chris Nicolopoulos. “Continued low insurance rates provide stability for employers during a time of financial uncertainty for many New Hampshire businesses.”

The new rates will apply to policies effective starting on January 1, 2021.

The NCCI is a licensed rating and statistical organization that gathers data, analyzes industry trends, and prepares workers compensation rate filings for New Hampshire and many other states.

 

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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