NH State Representative Steven Smith

June 24 Update – Education and Attractions

Posted on June 24, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Education – Planning for September

The debate over how to reopen NH schools this fall is highlighting a problem that we deal with in Concord all the time. The short version is that works for Manchester does not necessarily work for Sullivan County, and vice versa.

This is from the education task force:

“Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut said the state’s tradition of local control calls for districts to have flexibility.

“We should not adopt a one-size fits all policy because that isn’t going to work,” said Carl Ladd, executive director of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association.

Amy Allen with the Manchester School District said best practices are necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 that all schools must follow.

“If some districts are allowing some things and others aren’t, I think that is going to create some problems,” Allen said.”” Education task force embraces ‘hybrid’ school instruction this fall By Kevin Landrigan New Hampshire Union Leader

I agree with the Commissioner. While there should be universal guidelines for public health, local schools know their infrastructure and capabilities. Class size for example, is largely determined room size. The ability to work/learn remotely has a lot to do with internet availability. While CARES funding is going to be used to build out that infrastructure, estimates are that this is a ten year build and we need a plan tomorrow. Final recommendations are due June 300, so stay tuned. ~ Steve

Task force: Concerns over social distancing, hybrid learning

https://apnews.com/1d778b9212dd72a94db9fb854c1ab34b

Eased restaurant restrictions seem likely for New Hampshire’s next reopening phase

https://www.nhbr.com/eased-restaurant-restrictions-seem-likely-for-new-hampshires-next-reopening-phase/

North Country amusement parks prepare to reopen

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/north-country-amusement-parks-prepare-to-reopen/article_6dff3603-7b43-508d-a47c-67a64fa76534.html

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – June 23, 2020

On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, DHHS announced 15 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 5,571 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 53% being female and 47% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (4), Rockingham (4), and Merrimack (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (4) and Nashua (2).

Hospitalizations

No new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 558 (10%) of 5,571 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Six of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

DHHS has also announced 4 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

• 3 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 78
Carroll 52
Cheshire 64
Coos 6
Grafton 76
Hillsborough – Other 1,084
Hillsborough – Manchester 1478
Hillsborough – Nashua 583
Merrimack 398
Rockingham 1442
Strafford 285
Sullivan 24
County TBD 1

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

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

NH Persons with COVID-191 5,571
Recovered 4,316 (77%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 343 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 912
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 558 (10%)
Current Hospitalizations 51

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 110,053
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
Laboratory Tests 17,902
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 31,334
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 281
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 3,375

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: 5,571 positive test results 343 deaths (1 week ago: 5,345 positive test results 320 deaths) (+226/+23)

MA: 107,439 positive test results 7,889 deaths (1 week ago: 105,690 positive test results 7,646 deaths) (+1749/+243)

ME: 2,994 positive test results 102 deaths (1 week ago: 2,588 positive test results 99 deaths)

VT: 1,164 positive test results 56 deaths (1 week ago: 1,128 positive test results 55 deaths)

CT: 45,899 positive test results 4,277 deaths (1 week ago: 45,235 positive test results 4,204 deaths)

RI: 16,533 positive test results 906 deaths (1 week ago: 16,093 positive test results 851 deaths)

NY: 393,855 positive test results 30,970 deaths (1 week ago: 388,719 positive test results 30,645 deaths) (+5,136/+325)

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Rural Areas are better than they know

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Don’t get too mad at the next article

I have to apologize, but this article really got my back up. I was shocked, shocked, (heavy sarcasm) to hear ivory tower academics express concern about how those of us in the boonies would deal with the pandemic. They found that we care about our communities and help each other. Amazing. ~ Steve

Dartmouth report finds rural areas adapted well to pandemic

Concord Monitor – Dartmouth Report

Governor’s Orders

I was asked where the list of orders can be found. There are several resources you should see.

Safer at Home – This lists guidelines for activities that are reopening
Executive Orders – This lusts all executive orders issued by Governor Sununu in 2020
COVID – Orders – These are just the orders related to the pandemic

Economic reopening task force discusses NH phase two guidelines

https://www.wmur.com/article/economic-reopening-task-force-discusses-nh-phase-two-guidelines/32938249

15 new positive cases of COVID-19 announced in NH, second day of no new deaths reported

https://www.wmur.com/article/15-new-positive-cases-of-covid-19-announced-in-nh-second-day-of-no-new-deaths-reported/32938743

Plan advances to open restaurants for more indoor dining

https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/plan-advances-to-open-restaurants-for-more-indoor-dining/article_de6e4adc-d9fc-50fa-9fec-9fc1831cdffc.html?block_id=664693

Canobie Lake Park set to open with limited capacity in July

https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/canobie-lake-park-set-to-open-with-limited-capacity-in-july/article_004d3fc4-3854-5555-8bd8-07848a26a97c.html?block_id=897573

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – June 23, 2020

Current/Active: 929 cases, 54 hospitalizations, 339 deaths.

Totals: 5,558 positive test results, 558 hospitalizations, 4,290 recoveries, 339 deaths.

On Monday, June 22, 2020, DHHS announced 15 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 5,558 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 60% being female and 40% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (4), Rockingham (3), Merrimack (1), and Strafford (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (4) and Nashua (1). The county of residence is being determined for one new case.