NH State Representative Steven Smith

ADA – 30 years – July 24 Update

Posted on July 24, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Executive Order 59

Pursuant to Section 18 of Executive Order 2020-04 as extended by Executive Orders 2020-05, 2020-06, 2020-08, 2020-09, 2020-10, 2020-14, and 2020-15, it is hereby ordered, effective immediately, that:
1. Any statutory or administrative rules in regards to requiring a wet signature are
temporarily stayed until 90 days following the termination of the public health
emergency. After exhausting alternative means, the Commissioner of the Department of
Health and Human Services may authorize the acceptance of verbal authorizations that
are contemporaneously documented. The Department shall create guidance on the
process and acceptance of verbal authorizations.
2. The statutory and administrative provisions in RSA 167:6, IX, RSA 167:3-c, XIl(c)-(d), and N.H. Admin. R. He-C 5003, requiring the Department to establish and collect premiums for the MEAD program is hereby waived effective March 1, 2020 and to resume billing the month following the month the National Public Health Emergency terminates.

Happy Birthday ADA – 30 years

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. The ADA is one of America’s most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life — to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in State and local government programs and services. Modeled after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin – and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 — the ADA is an “equal opportunity” law for people with disabilities.

“Judy Heumann remembers the day she went to register for kindergarten in 1952. She’d gotten dressed up and her mother had pulled her wheelchair up a flight of stairs before the principal intervened. Her disability, he said, meant she was not allowed to attend the school. Heumann had polio as a child, and it left her legs paralyzed and limited her use of her hands and arms. Throughout her time in the educational system, and after she graduated and became a teacher and activist, she had to fight for access at every turn.” More at https://time.com/5870468/americans-with-disabilities-act-coronavirus/

More COVID-19 testing capacity headed to states, Sununu says

https://www.wmur.com/article/more-covid-19-testing-capacity-headed-to-states-sununu-says/33409152

3 more people, including 1 resident of long-term care facility, die of COVID-19 in NH

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-coronavirus-update-july-23-2020/33404224

Health care providers could face challenges as pandemic continues during flu season

https://www.wmur.com/article/health-care-providers-could-face-challenges-as-pandemic-continues-during-flu-season/33409009

Non-COVID 19 patients to get hospital visitor

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/non-covid-19-patients-to-get-hospital-visitor/article_d44b5cc8-fdf9-5c48-b0f0-15d97c4d63b3.html?block_id=897573

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – July 23rd, 2020

On Thursday, July 23, 2020, DHHS announced 25 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,318 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 76% being female and 24% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (7), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (6), Carroll (1), Grafton (1), and Merrimack (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (8) and Nashua (1).

Hospitalizations

One new hospitalized case was identified for a total of 681 (11%) of 6,318 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Eight of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

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

• 2 male residents of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older

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

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

Belknap 98
Carroll 77
Cheshire 80
Coos 14
Grafton 98
Hillsborough – Other 1,189
Hillsborough – Manchester 1683
Hillsborough – Nashua 718
Merrimack 444
Rockingham 1569
Strafford 310
Sullivan 38

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

(data updated July 23, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 6,318
Recovered 5,345 (85%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 405 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 568
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 681 (11%)
Current Hospitalizations 26

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 149,792
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
Laboratory Tests 25,979
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 35,636
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 932
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 3,425

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: 6,318 positive test results 405 deaths (1 week ago: 6,139 positive test results 395 deaths) (+179/+10)

MA: 114,647 positive test results 8484 deaths (1 week ago: 112,581 positive test results 8380 deaths) (+2066/+104)

ME: 3,737 positive test results 118 deaths (1 week ago: 3,598 positive test results 114 deaths)

VT: 1,377 positive test results 56 deaths (1 week ago: 1,325 positive test results 56 deaths)

CT: 48,232 positive test results 4,410 deaths (1 week ago: 47,750 positive test results 4,389 deaths)

RI: 18,148 positive test results 1,001 deaths (1 week ago: 17,711 positive test results 988 deaths)

NY: 414,405 positive test results 32,270 deaths (1 week ago: 409,476 positive test results 32,133 deaths) (+4,929/+137)

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July 23 Update – Vaccines and Beef

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

USDA Provides Update on Investigation Following 2019 Tyson Beef Plant Closure and COVID-19 Pandemic

(Washington, D.C., July 22, 2020) – As part of its commitment to ensuring fair and competitive markets for the livestock, meat and poultry industries, today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a report on its ongoing boxed beef and fed cattle price spread investigation.

“The closure of the Tyson beef packing plant in Holcomb, Kansas, after a fire at the facility, and the COVID-19 pandemic clearly disrupted the markets and processing systems responsible for the production and sale of U.S. beef,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “The report examines these economic disruptions and the significant increase in the spread between boxed beef and fed cattle prices that resulted from them. While we’re pleased to provide this update, we assure producers that our work continues in order to determine if there are any violations of the Packers and Stockyards Act. If any unfair practices are detected, we will take quick enforcement action.”

Background:

The report, prepared by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in coordination with the Office of the Chief Economist, summarizes market conditions, fed cattle prices, boxed beef values and the spread before and after the fire and plant closure at the Tyson Holcomb plant, and before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

US secures 100 million doses of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine candidate

The U.S. government announced Wednesday it has reached a deal to gain access to at least 100 million doses of a Pfizer coronavirus vaccine candidate if it proves to be safe and effective.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Defense announced the agreement with Pfizer for the large-scale production of over 100 million doses following the vaccine’s successful manufacture. Upon receipt of the first 100 million doses, the U.S. will pay the drugmaker $1.95 billion. More at https://abcnews.go.com/Business/us-secures-100-million-doses-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine/story?id=71916842

2 more COVID-19 deaths announced in NH

https://www.wmur.com/article/2-more-covid-19-deaths-announced-in-nh/33397732

Health officials say they’re working to shift more testing in-state

https://www.wmur.com/article/health-officials-say-theyre-working-to-shift-more-testing-in-state/33396945

Education commissioner answers questions about school reopening plan

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-education-commissioner-answers-questions-about-school-reopening-plan-july-22-2020/33391111

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – July 22nd, 2020

On Wednesday, July 22, 2020, DHHS announced 36 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,295 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 42% being female and 58% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (6), Rockingham (6), Carroll (3), Strafford (3), Merrimack (2), and Belknap (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (8) and Nashua (7).