NH State Representative Steven Smith

August 3 Update

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Communities Across N.H. Weigh Mask Ordinances This Week

Several New Hampshire towns will vote this week on whether to require residents to wear face masks in public. The votes come as New Hampshire remains the only state in the region without a statewide mask mandate. See NHPR

Science and Practices to Keep Workers Safe

Project ECHO at Dartmouth-Hitchcock (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) transforms the way education and knowledge are delivered. This telementoring model uses video-conferencing technology to connect participants with experts at Dartmouth-Hitchcock. ECHO® sessions use case-based learning to provide education.

As employers begin returning to more normal operations, Project ECHO has some excellent resources for businesses and employers to access.

A recording on “Science and Practices to Keep Workers Safe” can be accessed with this link: https://med.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/past-echo-materials.html

Plane with hundreds of thousands of pieces of PPE for VA facilities arrives in NH

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

Another shipment of personal protective equipment touched down in Manchester on Saturday, and much of it is destined for Veterans Affairs facilities across the country.

The chartered FedEx Boeing 777-200 is the largest cargo plane to ever land at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, and it was carrying critical supplies to keep people safe.

It’s becoming almost a weekly occurrence: a planeload of personal protective equipment delivered to New Hampshire from China. To date, more than 1,200 tons of PPE has been secured by inventor Dean Kamen, made possible through partnerships in the public and private sectors.

“Once we started getting all this really high-quality stuff really coming in, instead of being done with it as a one-shot deal, more and more folks around the U.S. that are in desperate need started calling us,” Kamen said.

This was the 15th shipment of PPE to the airport and the 10th dedicated to VA facilities.

https://www.wmur.com/article/another-plane-with-ppe-for-va-facilities-arrives-in-nh/33489307

NH Department of Revenue Honored

The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration (NHDRA) recently received the 2020 Federation of Tax Administrators (FTA) Award for its strategic approach to public outreach. NHDRA developed and coordinated a 12-month communications plan, which is customized annually, to deliver its core messages to its key stakeholders.

Business NH Magazine

Survey shows slight preference for bringing students back to class

https://www.unionleader.com/news/politics/city_hall/survey-shows-slight-preference-for-bringing-students-back-to-class/article_5669c117-51e4-5dbc-9fbd-030fa1923302.html

DHHS issues alert over possible COVID-19 exposure at Tuckaway Tavern

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/dhhs-issues-alert-over-possible-covid-19-exposure-at-tuckaway-tavern/article_39799728-a5ba-5d73-8af8-34ef53dba6ed.html?block_id=897573

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 3rd, 2020

On Sunday, August 2, 2020, DHHS announced 21 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,634 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 62% being female and 38% being male. The new cases reside in Belknap (4), Rockingham (4), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (3), and Strafford (2) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (4) and Nashua (4).

Hospitalizations

One new hospitalized case was identified for a total of 696 (10%) of 6,634 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Six of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

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

1 male resident of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

Belknap 109
Carroll 89
Cheshire 90
Coos 16
Grafton 103
Hillsborough – Other 1,226
Hillsborough – Manchester 1792
Hillsborough – Nashua 749
Merrimack 458
Rockingham 1632
Strafford 330
Sullivan 40

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

(data updated August 3, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 6,634

Recovered 5,820 (88%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 417 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 397
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 696 (10%)
Current Hospitalizations 24

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 162,622
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
Laboratory Tests 27,251
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 36,882
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 344
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 3,025

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: 6,634 positive test results 417 deaths (1 week ago: 6,436 positive test results 409 deaths) (+198/+8)

MA: 118,458 positive test results 8638 deaths (1 week ago: 115,637 positive test results 8529 deaths) (+2821/+109)

ME: 3,958 positive test results 123 deaths (1 week ago: 3,814 positive test results 119 deaths)

VT: 1,426 positive test results 57 deaths (1 week ago: 1,400 positive test results 56 deaths)

CT: 49,810 positive test results 4,432 deaths (1 week ago: 48,776 positive test results 4,413 deaths)

RI: 19,022 positive test results 1007 deaths (1 week ago: 18,224 positive test results 1002 deaths)

NY: 421,008 positive test results 32,401 deaths (1 week ago: 416,443 positive test results 32,305 deaths) (+4,565/+96)

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

July 31 Update – New Relief Programs

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

GOFERR has a variety of assistance programs. The latest is a housing assistance program. The goal is to keep people from being displaced due to the economic circumstances we are in. As the Legislature’s Representative to the Interagency Council on Homelessness, I have heard so many stories where people are on a razor thin margin of housing security. Once that passes, it is a long struggle to regain it. Apply for everything you think you may be eligible for. Apply at https://www.goferr.nh.gov/apply ~ Steve

New Hampshire General Assistance & Preservation (GAP) Fund

The New Hampshire General Assistance & Preservation Fund [GAP Fund] will provide financial relief to New Hampshire businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by COVID-19, but unable to access support from other existing state and federal programs.

Due Date: 08/04/2020 11:59 PM
More Information: Click here
To Apply: Click here
For questions email: NH Business Finance Authority info@nhbfa.com

Veterans Service Organization (VSO) Support Program

Funds, made available through the CARES Act, have been designated to assist 501(c)(19) or 501(c)(23) Veterans Service Organizations that have suffered from either lost revenue or unanticipated expenses as a result of COVID-19 during the time period of 3/1/20-12/30/20 as compared to 2019.

Due Date: 08/10/2020 4:00 PM
More Information: Click here.
To Apply: Click here.
For questions email: Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services veterans.goferr@nh.gov

Traditional Veteran Services Support Program

Funds, made available through the CARES Act, have been designated to assist those organizations and businesses experiencing an increased service demand or expense directly related to providing traditional services to New Hampshire Veterans as a result of COVID-19 during the time period of 3/1/20-12/30/20.

Due Date: 08/10/2020 4:00 PM
More Information: Click here.
To Apply: Click here.
For questions email: Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services veterans.goferr@nh.gov

Healthcare Provider Relief Program

The Governor has authorized the allocation and expenditure of a total of $100 million in emergency funding from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) to support Healthcare providers with COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenues from March 1, 2020 to December 30, 2020. This is the third round of available funds for New Hampshire healthcare providers.

Due Date: 8/13/2020 4:00 PM
More Information: Click here
To Apply: Click here
For questions email: healthcarerelieffund@dhhs.nh.gov

Long Term Care Provider Program

The Governor has authorized the allocation and expenditure of a total of $100 million in emergency funding from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) to support Healthcare providers with COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenues from March 1, 2020 to December 30, 2020. This is second round of available funds for New Hampshire Long Term Care Providers.

Due Date: 8/13/2020 4:00 PM
More Information: Click here
To Apply: Click here
For questions email: healthcarerelieffund@dhhs.nh.gov

New Hampshire Invest In the Future Fund – Empowering Youth Program

Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the allocation and expenditure of $2 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) to increase summer programming for middle and high school-aged children across the Granite State.

Due Date: August 17th
More Information: Click here.
To Apply: Click here.
For questions: Call: 1-855-393-1731 OR (603) 578-1386 or email NHEYP@dhhs.nh.gov

New Hampshire Housing Relief Program

Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the allocation and expenditure of $35 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) to support families or individuals in need of housing assistance as a result of COVID-19. Of the allocated $35 million, $20 million will be initially expended for rental assistance and other household-related expenses, with $15 million being held in reserve, for rent stabilization and housing support.

Due Date: Ongoing basis
More Information: Click here
To Apply: Click here
For questions: Call 2-1-1 or email dhhs.bhhs@dhhs.nh.gov

Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) Tuition Assistance Program

Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the expenditure of $6 million from the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (“flex funds”) for the CCSNH Tuition Assistance Program, which will allow CCSNH to provide assistance to New Hampshire students who have faced COVID-19 related economic impacts.

Due Date: Ongoing basis
More Information: Click here
To Apply: Click here

For questions:

Great Bay Community College – GBFinaid@ccsnh.edu
Lakes Region Community College – LRCCFinancialAid@ccsnh.edu
Manchester Community College – MCC-FA@ccsnh.edu
Nashua Community College – Nashua_Financial_Aid@ccsnh.edu
NHTI – Concord’s Community College – NHTIFinaid@ccsnh.edu
River Valley Community College – rvccfinancialaid@ccsnh.edu
White Mountains Community College – wmccfinancialaid@ccsnh.edu

Safer Scholars Campus Modification Program

Governor Chris Sununu has authorized the expenditure of $10 million from the CARES Act Coronavrius Relief Fund (“flex funds”) for the Safer Scholars Campus Modification Program to assist private, nonprofit colleges, and universities as they modify their operations in light of COVID-19 and prepare to reopen their campuses to students in the fall.

Due Date: 08/07/2020 4:00 PM
To Apply: Click here
For questions: Click here4

4 more COVID-19 deaths connected to NH long-term care facilities announced

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-coronavirus-update-july-30-2020/33472306

State, municipal government aid part of debate over next COVID-19 relief package

https://www.wmur.com/article/state-municipal-government-aid-part-of-debate-over-next-covid-19-relief-package/33474598

Rochester school district announces reopening plans

https://www.wmur.com/article/rochester-school-district-announces-reopening-plans/33476138

Nine testing sites closing in NH as hospitals pick up testing duties, NASCAR bubble

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/nine-testing-sites-closing-in-nh-as-hospitals-pick-up-testing-duties-nascar-bubble/article_bdd953f3-625d-53f8-a39e-b89ee2eee21f.html?block_id=897573

Sununu: New Hampshire Is Ready For NASCAR Event This Weekend

https://www.nhpr.org/post/sununu-new-hampshire-ready-nascar-event-weekend

Unruly tourists straining town budget during pandemic

https://apnews.com/60bd8bd7626eb87f5e1459bb8ea8c19e

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – July 30th, 2020

On Thursday, July 30, 2020, DHHS announced 33 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,544 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 four 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 (5), Rockingham (5), Merrimack (4), Belknap (2), and Carroll (2) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (12) and Nashua (1). The county of residence is being determined for two new cases.