NH State Representative Steven Smith | Page 70

July 30 Update – Apply for Services

Posted on July 30, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

NH EASY – You may qualify

If you have never applied for services from the state, you may want to consider trying it. With the torrent of money coming from the federal government, many thresholds for eligibility have been reduced. Many people qualify for health coverage, and there is a federal benefit that pays for SNAP benefits if you have a school age child. It only takes a few minutes to apply at nheasy.nh.gov. I mentioned this to someone who replied that they did not want any handouts. This is not a handout. It is your money, we taxed you and we took it from you. Why not get some back? You can fill out one application and it applies to all services, just check all the boxes. The worst thing that happens is nothing. ~ Steve

USDA Launches New Farmers.gov Features to Help Farmers Hire Workers

(Washington, D.C., July 27, 2020) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced new features on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers.gov website designed to help facilitate the employment of H-2A workers.

“My mission from the beginning of my time as Secretary was to make USDA the most effective, most efficient, most customer-focused department in the entire federal government – these changes to Farmers.gov are doing just that. USDA’s goal is to help farmers navigate the complex H-2A program that is administered by Department of Labor, Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department so hiring a farm worker is an easier process,” said Secretary Perdue. “President Trump knows how essential these workers are to our farmers and America’s food supply chain. We will continue working to streamline these and other processes to better serve our customers across the country.”

State epidemiologist Dr. Chan responds to viewer questions

https://www.wmur.com/article/state-epidemiologist-dr-chan-questions-coronavirus/33461331

State Epidemiologist Urges N.H. Voters, Pollworkers To Wear Masks At Fall Elections

https://www.nhpr.org/post/state-epidemiologist-urges-nh-voters-pollworkers-wear-masks-fall-elections#stream/0

Merrimack debates mask policy for local schools

https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/merrimack-debates-mask-policy-for-local-schools/article_0ce6625e-c934-5c67-a3fe-a488f9953552.html

Derry board OKs plan to reopen school facilities

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/derry-board-oks-plan-to-reopen-school-facilities/article_ec690562-4945-5fb3-8139-2678f7d7f690.html?block_id=897573

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – July 29th, 2020

On Wednesday, July 29, 2020, DHHS announced 17 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,513 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 59% being female and 41% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (5), Belknap (1), and Strafford (1), and in the cities of Manchester (9) and Nashua (1).

Hospitalizations

No new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 690 (11%) of 6,513 cases.

Community Based Transmission

One of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

DHHS has also announced two additional deaths related to COVID-19.

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

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

Belknap 102
Carroll 84
Cheshire 85
Coos 16
Grafton 103
Hillsborough – Other 1,207
Hillsborough – Manchester 1757
Hillsborough – Nashua 737
Merrimack 452
Rockingham 1609
Strafford 323
Sullivan 38

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

(data updated July 29, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 6,513
Recovered 5,710 (88%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 411 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 392
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 690 (11%)
Current Hospitalizations 22

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 157,397
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
Laboratory Tests 26,674
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 36,286
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 550
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 3,200

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: 6,513 positive test results 411 deaths (1 week ago: 6,295 positive test results 402 deaths) (+218/+9)

MA: 116,684 positive test results 8580 deaths (1 week ago: 114,320 positive test results 8468 deaths) (+2364/+112)

ME: 3,866 positive test results 121 deaths (1 week ago: 3,723 positive test results 118 deaths)

VT: 1,406 positive test results 56 deaths (1 week ago: 1,366 positive test results 56 deaths)

CT: 49,540 positive test results 4,425 deaths (1 week ago: 48,223 positive test results 4,406 deaths)

RI: 18,800 positive test results 1007 deaths (1 week ago: 18,062 positive test results 997 deaths)

NY: 418,302 positive test results 32,342 deaths (1 week ago: 413,595 positive test results 32,229 deaths) (+4,707/+113)

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

July 29 Update – Schools and NASCAR

Posted on July 29, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count

More than 1,300 Americans died from the virus yesterday, the highest one-day number since late May. More than 4,366,900 people in the United States have been infected with the coronavirus and at least 149,700 have died, according to a New York Times database. Interactive maps and detailed data can be found at NY Times – Latest Map and Case Count

Fall Mountain releases hybrid plan for the fall

LANGDON — The Fall Mountain Regional School District plans to open the 2020-2021 school year using a hybrid instructional model, with students attending classes at their school building on alternate days, according to district officials.

Fall Mountain Regional School District Superintendent Lori Landry discussed the framework of the district’s reopening plan at the Fall Mountain School Board meeting Monday night. Approximately 50 people, including school officials, parents and stakeholders, joined the meeting by Google Meet to hear the plan.

While some components of the plan are still in development, Landry said the overall framework will split students into smaller cohorts and alternate their days of attendance in their designated school in an effort to reduce occupancy in buildings and busses and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.” More at Eagle Times

USDA Announces a Third Round of Farmers to Families Food Box Program Purchases

Washington, D.C., July 27, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will launch a third round of Farmers to Families Food Box Program purchases with distributions to occur beginning by September 1 with completion by October 31, 2020. The purchases will spend the balance of $3 billion authorized for the program. So far, over 46 million Farmers to Families Food Boxes have been invoiced and delivered.

“This third round of Farmers to Families Food Box Program purchases is a testament to the great work done by vendors in support of American agriculture and the American people. It is also a testament that the program is accomplishing what we intended – supporting U.S. farmers and distributors and getting food to those who need it most. It’s a real trifecta, which is why we call it a win-win-win,” said Secretary Perdue. “The efforts of everyone involved form the backbone of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program and its goal to help fill the hunger gap in all of our communities.” More information at USDA Farmers to Families Food Box

Sununu announces scholarships from CARES Act money

https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/sununu-announces-scholarships-from-cares-act-money-including-1-5-million-for-private-schools/article_ce56b4a6-2707-5b58-ba9f-5233c683b0c8.html

NH public health officials tracking slight uptick in COVID-19 cases

https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-public-health-officials-tracking-slight-uptick-in-covid-19-cases/33449633

NH to examine ventilation systems of long-term care facilities as 59 new COVID-19 cases reported

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-coronavirus-update-date-july-28-2020/33445244

Upcoming NASCAR race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to include changes for fans and drivers

https://www.wmur.com/article/upcoming-nascar-race-at-new-hampshire-motor-speedway-to-include-changes-for-fans-and-drivers/33449297

Concord school officials detail proposal for school return

https://www.wmur.com/article/concord-school-officials-detail-proposal-for-school-return/33451265

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – July 28th, 2020

On Tuesday, July 28, 2020, DHHS announced 59 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,500 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 six individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 53% being female and 47% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (26), Carroll (3), Cheshire (3), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (3), Grafton (2), and Strafford (2) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (15) and Nashua (5).