NH State Representative Steven Smith

New Hampshire GAP Fund – Apply Now

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

New Hampshire GAP Fund application is now open

The General Assistance & Preservation Fund has been established to assist for-profit and nonprofit businesses and organizations that have not been able to qualify for funding through the state’s Main Street Relief Fund (MSRF), the Non-Profit Emergency Relief Fund (NERF), or the Self Employed Livelihood Fund (SELF).

Concord, NH — The Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery announces that the New Hampshire General Assistance & Preservation Fund (NH GAP Fund) application is now open.

The application period for the GAP Fund will run from July 21, 2020 – August 4, 2020.
For Profit Businesses and Nonprofit Organizations must apply online, here.

Eligible applicants include for-profit and nonprofit businesses and organizations that have not been able to qualify for funding through the state’s Main Street Relief Fund (MSRF), the Non-Profit Emergency Relief Fund (NERF), or the Self Employed Livelihood Fund (SELF).

For more information about the NH GAP Fund and eligibility please visit: www.goferr.nh.gov/GAP

Instructional Webinars:

Instructional webinars are being offered to review the GAP Fund application process and are highly recommended to any prospective applicant and available on the following dates. Interested applicants must register by clicking on the link below:

July 24, 2020 at 10 AM: https://nhbfa_gap-session1.eventbrite.com
July 28, 2020 at 2 PM: https://nhbfa_gap-session2.eventbrite.com

Applicant Contact:

Businesses and nonprofit organizations that require assistance with their application submission may email info@nhbfa.com and will be contacted by the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority Staff shortly thereafter.

NH looks to build up local COVID-19 testing capacity as demand soars across country

https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-looks-to-build-up-local-covid-19-testing-capacity-as-demand-soars-across-country/33384545

As parents have doubts, Sununu says schools will have resources to stay safe

https://www.wmur.com/article/as-parents-have-doubts-sununu-says-schools-will-have-resources-to-stay-safe/33384708

Edelblut says return to statewide remote learning not likely

https://www.concordmonitor.com/Edelblut-says-return-to-statewide-remote-learning-not-likely-35323988

In Bedford, parents push for full-time classroom instruction this fall

https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/in-bedford-parents-push-for-full-time-classroom-instruction-this-fall/article_ceeaa283-305c-59a5-a7ce-bd8997b6e8c3.html?block_id=664693

Sununu announces mask-wearing campaign, lawmakers OK mandate

https://apnews.com/35d440f804b243d0f4728b45192c902e

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – July 21st, 2020

On Tuesday, July 21, 2020, DHHS announced 16 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,262 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, all are adults with 38% being female and 62% being male. The new cases reside in Carroll (2), Belknap (1), Coos (1), Merrimack (1), and Strafford (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (6) and Nashua (4).

Hospitalizations

Four new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 677 (11%) of 6,262 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Eight of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

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

• 1 male resident 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 97
Carroll 73
Cheshire 80
Coos 14
Grafton 99
Hillsborough – Other 1,178
Hillsborough – Manchester 1668
Hillsborough – Nashua 711
Merrimack 441
Rockingham 1556
Strafford 307
Sullivan 38

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

(data updated July 21, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 6,262
Recovered 5,316 (85%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 400 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 546
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 677 (11%)
Current Hospitalizations 23

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 145,538
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
Laboratory Tests 25,611
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 34,962
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 484
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 3,400

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: 6,262 positive test results 400 deaths (1 week ago: 6,091 positive test results 392 deaths) (+181/+7)

MA: 114,033 positive test results 8450 deaths (1 week ago: 112,130 positive test results 8340 deaths) (+1962/+103)

ME: 3,723 positive test results 118 deaths (1 week ago: 3,566 positive test results 114 deaths)

VT: 1,366 positive test results 56 deaths (1 week ago: 1,305 positive test results 56 deaths)

CT: 48,096 positive test results 4,406 deaths (1 week ago: 47,530 positive test results 4,372 deaths)

RI: 17,986 positive test results 996 deaths (1 week ago: 17,588 positive test results 985 deaths)

NY: 412,889 positive test results 32,218 deaths (1 week ago: 407,875 positive test results 32,092 deaths) (+5,072/+128)

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SNAP Online Purchases and July 21 Updates

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

NH joins pilot for online SNAP Purchasing

If you are home bound, have transportation issues, or just don’t want to go the store, you can now use SNAP to buy groceries online. It is important to remember that SNAP can still only be used for eligible groceries. That also means that any delivery charges are not SNAP eligible and must be paid separately. Read the details at https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/online-purchasing-pilot

State offers guidance to school nurses for handling COVID-19 in students, staff

https://www.wmur.com/article/state-offers-guidance-to-school-nurses-for-handling-covid-19-in-students-staff/33372404

DOE publishes stakeholder surveys

Listening to NH on how to go back to school safely

CONCORD- The New Hampshire Department of Education has published the results of four stakeholder surveys conducted as part of the School Transition, Reopening, and Redesign Task Force (STRRT).

“Through its Stakeholder Surveys, STRRT listened to the concerns of more than 56,000 Granite Staters, including roughly half of our state’s educators,” said Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut. “This feedback helped the taskforce craft its recommendations on how to safely return to school in September.”

The Stakeholder Survey results are posted in interactive spreadsheets on the STRRT home page and includes results from:
•   Instructional Staff Survey (11,808 responses)
•   School or District Leader Survey (1,041 responses)
•   Student Wellness Provider Survey (1,234 responses)
•   Parent Survey (41,910 responses)

School Transition Reopening and Redesign Taskforce

The School Transition Reopening and Redesign Taskforce (STRRT) is being constituted to provide recommendations to the Governor, the Department of Education, and local school districts about the return to school as the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic subside.

STRRT Back to School Survey

As part of our School Transition Reopening and Redesign Taskforce (STRRT) work that is looking at how we will begin in September, we sought input from teachers, parents, and education leaders across the state. We want to be responsive to your ideas, observations, and concerns. More than 54,000 Granite Staters submitted their opinions. Thank you!

Interactive Survey Results

Instructional Staff Survey (11,808 responses)
School or District Leader Survey (1,041 responses)
Parent Survey (41,910 responses)
Student Wellness Provider Survey (1,234 responses)

https://www.education.nh.gov/who-we-are/commissioner/school-transition-reopening-redesign-taskforce

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – July 20th, 2020

On Monday, July 20, 2020, DHHS announced 46 new positive test results for COVID-19, 17 of which were associated with a long term care facility experiencing an outbreak. DHHS will provide an outbreaks update in Tuesday’s update. There have now been 6,249 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 61% being female and 39% being male. The new cases reside Rockingham (6), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (2), and Merrimack (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (21) and Nashua (16).