Aug 27 Update

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

NH DHHS Announces Potential Community Exposures Connected To Positive Cases Of COVID-19 At Sturgis, SD, Motorcycle Rally – August 26, 2020

The NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is notifying residents about potential exposures related to the Sturgis, SD, Motorcycle Rally held August 7-16. There have been more than 100 confirmed cases associated with the Sturgis event, including six New Hampshire residents.

DHHS recommends that all NH residents who traveled to Sturgis for the motorcycle rally get tested for COVID-19. They should also quarantine and monitor for symptoms for 14 days upon their return to NH, even if they test negative. Per the State’s travel guidance pdf file, all individuals traveling anywhere outside New England are reminded to quarantine for 14 days.

Read the Guidance for Self-Quarantine pdf file.

The South Dakota Department of Health has issued public notifications regarding potential exposures at multiple locations in Sturgis from August 11-17. Because there are multiple locations in Sturgis with potential community exposure and the number of confirmed cases associated with the event will continue to increase, anyone who attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally may have been exposed and potentially contracted COVID-19.

Rapid $5 coronavirus test doesn’t need specialty equipment

“The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized the first rapid coronavirus test that doesn’t need any special computer equipment to get results.

The 15-minute test from Abbott Laboratories will sell for $5, giving it a competitive edge over similar tests that need to be popped into a small machine. The size of a credit card, the self-contained test is based on the same technology used to test for the flu, strep throat and other infections.

It’s the latest cheaper, simpler test to hit the U.S. market, providing new options to expand testing as schools and businesses struggle to reopen and flu season approaches. The FDA also recently greenlighted a saliva test from Yale University that bypasses some of the supplies that have led to testing bottlenecks.”

https://www.wjcl.com/article/coronavirus-august-27/33815655

More Than 74,000 U.S. Children Have Tested Positive for Coronavirus in the Last 2 Weeks

More than 74,000 children have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks, an increase of 21 percent since Aug. 6, according to a new report.

Between Aug. 6 and Aug. 20, there were 74,160 new cases of COVID-19 in children across the U.S., for a total of 442,785 cases since the start of the pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association reported. More at https://people.com/health/more-than-74000-us-children-tested-positive-coronavirus-last-2-weeks/

GOFERR board recommends purchase of 25 new rapid antigen test machines to help schools

https://www.wmur.com/article/goferr-board-recommends-purchase-of-25-new-rapid-antigen-test-machines-to-help-schools/33812760

Plymouth police work to educate community about mask ordinance; warnings issued

https://www.wmur.com/article/plymouth-new-hampshire-police-work-to-educate-community-coronavirus-mask-ordinance-warnings-issued/33811157

State plans rapid testing of students for COVID-19

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/state-plans-rapid-testing-of-students-for-covid-19/article_c3ac793e-367d-5e81-95b0-26a968b89fb9.html?block_id=897573

Crowded maskless party leads to UNH warning

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/crowded-maskless-party-leads-to-unh-warning/article_1f20be75-aec5-5165-bf08-346ab4044664.html?block_id=897573

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 26th, 2020

On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, DHHS announced 8 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 7,159 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 is one individual under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 88% being female and 12% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (3), Coos (1), and Rockingham (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (2) and Nashua (1).

Hospitalizations

No new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 713 (10%) of 7,159 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Three of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

DHHS has also announced one additional death related to COVID-19.

  • 1 female resident of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

  • Belknap 122
  • Carroll 100
  • Cheshire 123
  • Coos 18
  • Grafton 110
  • Hillsborough – Other 1,290
  • Hillsborough – Manchester 1891
  • Hillsborough – Nashua 811
  • Merrimack 494
  • Rockingham 1777
  • Strafford 377
  • Sullivan 46

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

(data updated August 26th, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-19 7,159

  • Recovered 6,510 (91%)
  • Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 430 (6%)
  • Total Current COVID-19 Cases 219
  • Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 713 (10%)
  • Current Hospitalizations 8

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 201,835
  • Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
  • Laboratory Tests 29,414
  • Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 41,631
  • Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 661
  • Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 1,900

Number of Specimens Tested by Date of Report to NH DHHS

Information above, and archived daily updates are available here: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/news/updates.htm

Regional Information (total positive test results, deaths)

Look-back period is 1 week.

NH: 7,159 positive test results 430 deaths  (1 week ago: 7,036 positive test results 427 deaths) (+123/+3)

MA: 126,756  positive test results 8987 deaths (1 week ago: 124,415  positive test results 8876 deaths) (+2341/+111)

ME: 4,389 positive test results 132 deaths (1 week ago: 4,234 positive test results 127 deaths)

VT: 1,577 positive test results 58 deaths (1 week ago: 1,533 positive test results 58 deaths)

CT:  52,220  positive test results 4,463 deaths (1 week ago: 51,314  positive test results 4,457 deaths)

RI: 21,454 positive test results 1041 deaths (1 week ago: 20,795 positive test results 1027 deaths)

NY:  436,063 positive test results 32,499 deaths (1 week ago: 431,924 positive test results 32,451 deaths) (+4,139/+48)

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Dog Day, Huey Lewis, Football – Aug 26

Posted on August 26, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Today is Dog Day

National Dog Day, created in 2004, is celebrated August 26. Its founder is animal advocate Colleen Paige. The day is meant to celebrate all kinds of dogs, whether they’re purebred American Kennel Club types, family mutts or foster dogs, according to NationalDogDay.com.

 

Island outbreaks

“U.S. islands in the Caribbean and the Pacific — which largely avoided early coronavirus outbreaks — are emerging as new hot spots. Hawaii now ranks among the states where new cases are growing fastest, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is halting tourism for a month.

The U.S. Virgin Islands is halting tourism for a month, hoping against hope to keep out new cases of the coronavirus. Puerto Rico’s Senate is closed after several high-ranking officials came down with Covid-19. Hawaii is facing a surge in new infections. Guam is enduring its most restrictive lockdown since the pandemic began.” More at NY Times

Weare teacher appears in Huey Lewis music video featuring frontline workers

Weare elementary school teacher Linda Gosselin has been a fan of the rock band Huey Lewis & the News since college. Last spring, when she saw the band was calling for frontline workers to submit video clips of themselves holding up a lyric card for an upcoming music video, she jumped at the chance. Concord Monitor

Gov. Sununu makes plea to incoming college students, large parties can spread COVID-19

https://www.wmur.com/article/gov-sununu-makes-plea-to-incoming-college-students-large-parties-can-spread-covid-19/33799359

Exeter and Salem school boards vote to approve play for all fall sports, with guidelines

https://www.wmur.com/article/exeter-and-salem-school-boards-vote-to-approve-play-for-all-fall-sports-with-guidelines/33800808

Bedford High football season ‘highly likely’ if players agree to fully remote schooling

https://www.unionleader.com/sports/highschool/bedford-high-football-season-highly-likely-if-players-agree-to-fully-remote-schooling/article_8b0bd81a-92c7-5734-8290-292c947d0264.html?block_id=664693

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 25th, 2020

On Tuesday, August 25, 2020, DHHS announced 16 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 7,150 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 three individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 31% being female and 69% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (4), Cheshire (2), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (2), Strafford (2), Sullivan (2), Merrimack (1), and Carroll (1) counties, and in the city of Nashua (2).

Hospitalizations

One new hospitalized case was identified for a total of 713 (10%) of 7,150 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Six of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

No additional deaths reported by DHHS. 

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

  • Belknap 122
  • Carroll 100
  • Cheshire 121
  • Coos 17
  • Grafton 109
  • Hillsborough – Other 1,287
  • Hillsborough – Manchester 1890
  • Hillsborough – Nashua 810
  • Merrimack 495
  • Rockingham 1775
  • Strafford 378
  • Sullivan 46

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

(data updated August 24th, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 7,150

  • Recovered 6,484 (91%)
  • Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 429 (6%)
  • Total Current COVID-19 Cases 237
  • Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 713 (10%)
  • Current Hospitalizations 8

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

  • Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 199,871
  • Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
  • Laboratory Tests 29,322
  • Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 41,552
  • Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 1,161
  • Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 1,950

Number of Specimens Tested by Date of Report to NH DHHS

Information above, and archived daily updates are available here: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/news/updates.htm

Regional Information (total positive test results, deaths)

Look-back period is 1 week.

NH: 7,150 positive test results 429 deaths  (1 week ago: 7,017 positive test results 424 deaths) (+133/+5)

MA: 126,420  positive test results 8961 deaths (1 week ago: 124,063  positive test results 8848 deaths) (+2357/+113)

ME: 4,368 positive test results 131 deaths (1 week ago: 4,213 positive test results 127 deaths)

VT: 1,572 positive test results 58 deaths (1 week ago: 1,530 positive test results 58 deaths)

CT:  52,040  positive test results 4,463 deaths (1 week ago: 51,225  positive test results 4,456 deaths)

RI: 21,372 positive test results 1039 deaths (1 week ago: 20,692 positive test results 1024 deaths)

NY:  435,495 positive test results 32,495 deaths (1 week ago: 431,298 positive test results 32,446 deaths) (+4,197/+49)

 

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$1 billion for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith
Trump Administration Announces Additional $1 billion for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program
USDA Begins Issuing Agreements for Round Three
(Washington – Aug. 25, 2020) – Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced up to an additional $1 billion for the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The additional funding allows the program to continue critical support to farmers, distributors, and American families in need. The Farmers to Families Food Box program has provided over 70 million boxes to hungry Americans across the country.
“I’m so proud of the people of USDA for designing this program in record time. With this additional up to $1 billion in funding, the Farmers to Families Food Box Program will continue to save countless jobs, support our farmers and move food to where it’s needed most,” said Secretary Perdue. “As the President said, when a food box is delivered to a family, we show them that in this country no one is forgotten.”
Today, in a Fayetteville Observer op-ed, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump said, “As we work to achieve the Great American Comeback, The President and his Administration have stabilized our American food supply chain and protected our Nation’s families, farmers and ranchers…We are proud of the profound effect the Farmers to Families Food Box Program has had by keeping our farmers in business, empowering the food distribution industry workforce, and providing for those most in need.”
Background:
Additionally, USDA today announced it has begun issuing agreements for distribution of Food Boxes in the upcoming third round of solicitations. The first two rounds of deliveries began on May 15th and will run to August 31st. The third round will put more emphasis on food insecurity by seeking entities that provide combination boxes and requiring distributors to illustrate how they will provide coverage to areas identified as opportunity zones, detail subcontracting agreements, and address the “last mile” delivery of product into the hands of the food insecure population.
As a part of the third round, USDA continues to review proposals and make announcements of Basic Ordering Agreements (BOA). A list of current BOA holders and more information about the third round of Farmers to Families Food Box Program purchases is available at www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda/farmers-to-families-food-box.
The additional up to $1 billion funding is part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) authorization. Entities that proposed under the previous solicitation, including current vendors, must resubmit a proposal to participate in the third round.
USDA is using BOAs in order to have greater flexibility to ensure contracted entities provide adequate coverage throughout the states and territories. A basic ordering agreement is not a contract but is a written understanding, negotiated between USDA and a company. It establishes terms for future contracts during a specific period, describes what will be provided and how future orders will be priced, issued and delivered under the contract. A BOA does not authorize companies to ship products and does not guarantee future work.
In the ongoing second round of purchasing and distribution, which began July 1st and will conclude Aug. 31, 2020, USDA has purchased over $1 billion of food, extended contracts of select vendors from the first round of the program worth up to $1.27 billion and approved up to $202 million in new contracts to increase the focus on Opportunity Zones in order to direct food to reach underserved areas, places where either no boxes have yet been delivered, or where boxes are being delivered but where there is additional need.
The first round of purchases totaling up to $1.2 billion occurred from May 15 through June 30, 2020 and saw more than 35.5 million boxes delivered in the first 45 days.
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