NH State Representative Steven Smith

June 25 Update – Slow and steady

Posted on June 25, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Governors Office For Economic Relief and Recovery

GOFERR administers many relief programs and grants. They also work on other issues and you can participate. If you want information from GOFERR, you can submit inquiries at https://new-hampshire.secure.force.com/support/GOV_GOFERR_Inquiry

Virus Cases Are Soaring in Texas

New cases, hospitalizations and the percentage of positive tests have been on the rise for weeks, indicators that the coronavirus is spreading rapidly. Since late May, the average number of newly reported cases each day has more than doubled to about 3,500, up from 1,500. That is not just the result of more testing: The percentage of tests coming back positive has soared from 4.5 percent to about 9 percent. Hospitalizations are also on the rise. Texas has surpassed more than 100,000 cases, joining a small club of only six other states to do so — New York, California, New Jersey, Illinois, Massachusetts and Florida. Read more at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/24/us/coronavirus-texas-abbott-masks.html

4 more COVID-19 deaths reported in NH as current hospitalizations hit new low

https://www.wmur.com/article/4-more-covid-19-deaths-reported-in-nh-as-current-hospitalizations-hit-new-low/32962730

Emergency department says fewer patients coming in due to COVID-19 fears

https://www.wmur.com/article/emergency-department-says-fewer-patients-coming-in-due-to-covid-19-fears/32963503

Health officials say time isn’t right to allow hairstylists in long-term care facilities

https://www.wmur.com/article/health-officials-say-time-isnt-right-to-allow-hairstylists-in-long-term-care-facilities/32962159

Plymouth State University students return to classes Aug. 24

https://www.unionleader.com/news/education/plymouth-state-university-students-return-to-classes-aug-24/article_37e01361-09e7-5fed-98f2-e060f7765404.html?block_id=897573

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – June 24, 2020

On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, DHHS announced 27 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 5,598 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 is one individual under the age of 18 and the rest are adults, with 70% being female and 30% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (5), Cheshire (2), Merrimack (2), Grafton (1), Rockingham (1), Strafford (1), and Sullivan (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (11) and Nashua (2). The county of residence is being determined for one new case

Hospitalizations

No new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 558 (10%) of 5,598 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Two of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

DHHS has also announced 4 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

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

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

Belknap 78
Carroll 52
Cheshire 66
Coos 6
Grafton 77
Hillsborough – Other 1,089
Hillsborough – Manchester 1489
Hillsborough – Nashua 585
Merrimack 400
Rockingham 1443
Strafford 286
Sullivan 25
County TBD 2

Map of Current Positive Cases

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

(data updated June 24, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 5,598
Recovered 4,358 (78%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 347 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 893
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 558 (10%)
Current Hospitalizations 49

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 111,566
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
Laboratory Tests 18,082
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 31,386
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 155
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: 5,598 positive test results 347 deaths (1 week ago: 5,436 positive test results 330 deaths) (+162/+17)

MA: 107,611 positive test results 7,937 deaths (1 week ago: 106,151 positive test results 7733 deaths) (+1460/+204)

ME: 3,017 positive test results 103 deaths (1 week ago: 2,836 positive test results 102 deaths)

VT: 1,184 positive test results 56 deaths (1 week ago: 1130 positive test results 55 deaths)

CT: 45,913 positive test results 4,287 deaths (1 week ago: 45,429 positive test results 4219 deaths)

RI: 16,606 positive test results 912 deaths (1 week ago: 16,213 positive test results 876 deaths)

NY: 394,430 positive test results 31,001 deaths (1 week ago: 389,910 positive test results 30,722 deaths) (+4,520/+279)

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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).