NH State Representative Steven Smith

Monday June 15 -a new scenario

Posted on June 15, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

NH reports 21 new COVID-19 cases, two more deaths

By Paul Feely New Hampshire Union Leader

State health officials on Sunday announced 21 new positive cases and two additional deaths due to COVID-19, putting the death toll at 320 in New Hampshire.

The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said eight of the new cases involved residents of Manchester, putting the total number of cases in the Queen City at 1,399. There have been a total of 5,318 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in the Granite State. Read more at https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/nh-reports-21-new-covid-19-cases-two-more-deaths/article_e3311429-e2c9-5d11-ad86-198dc8f9377a.html

Point: Technology Can’t Replace In-Person Jury Trials, but It May Help During a Pandemic

Posted to Technology June 12, 2020 by Anna Offit

It is essential that courts develop plans to adapt jury trials to our current public health crisis.

Thousands of defendants are currently in limbo around the country awaiting trial as COVID-19 has kept jurors out of court. The use of video technology to facilitate remote jury trials, however, must be implemented with caution.

At a time when virtual court proceedings are becoming the norm in North Texas, Collin County became the first in the United States to experiment with virtual jury trials last week. The judge who oversaw the county’s first non-binding summary jury trial commented in an interview that its success “showed us jurors can appear remotely.” Read more at https://www.insidesources.com/technology-cant-replace-in-person-jury-trials-but-it-may-help-during-a-pandemic/

NH restaurants prepare to resume indoor dining Monday

https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-restaurants-prepare-to-resume-indoor-dining-monday/32862012

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – June 14, 2020

On Sunday, June 14, 2020, DHHS announced 21 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 5,318 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 three individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 57% being female and 43% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (9), Rockingham (3), and Strafford (1) counties, and in the city of Manchester (8). Please note that the previous day’s update reported the number of tests conducted at the NH Public Health Laboratories (PHL) on June 12, rather than the number of persons whose specimens were tested. The PHL testing data has been updated below.

Hospitalizations

There were no new hospitalized cases identified for a total of 513 (10%) of 5,318 cases.

Community Based Transmission

None of the new cases had unidentified risk factors.

Deaths

DHHS has also announced 2 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

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

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

Belknap 74
Carroll 49
Cheshire 60
Coos 6
Grafton 76
Hillsborough – Other 1,002
Hillsborough – Manchester 1399
Hillsborough – Nashua 541
Merrimack 391
Rockingham 1412
Strafford 278
Sullivan 25
County TBD 5

Click to access covid-19-update-06142020.pdf

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Sunday June 14

Posted on June 14, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Relax a Little

There is actually not much to report today, and that feels good. NH has gone through a painful, but careful process and we are looking forward to an easing of the restrictions this week. I was out yesterday on a trail. We’ve seen people being respectful of each others’ space and keeping their distance. As long as we don’t just drop all our precautions, I’m hopeful that we are on a path back to a less restricted life. It is beautiful out today, go do something, but be careful out there. We don’t want to end up like Arizona or Florida. ~ Steve

Phoenix-area restaurants are closing, again, citing COVID-19 exposures

Josh Frigerio, Posted at 6:48 PM, Jun 13, 2020 and last updated 12:41 AM, Jun 14, 2020
PHOENIX — Almost a month since Arizona’s stay-at-home order was lifted, more than a handful of restaurants, at least one brewpub, and a comic shop in the Phoenix area have reported potential COVID-19 exposures.

As a result, some businesses have temporarily closed, again, sometimes for a few days, one for two weeks, and others until they feel it is safe to reopen again. Others have undergone deep cleanings, according to posts on their Facebook pages.

https://www.abc15.com/entertainment/events/phoenix-area-restaurants-are-closing-again-citing-covid-19-exposures

With 2,581 new coronavirus cases, Florida hits a record high for the third day in a row

Florida’s Department of Health on Saturday morning reported a new daily record high of 2,581 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 — surpassing the previous high by 679. The previous high was hit on Friday. And the high before that was hit on Thursday.

That puts the state’s total number of confirmed cases at 73,552 since the pandemic began in March.

Forty-eight new deaths were also announced, raising the statewide death toll to 2,925.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article243513417.html

Health care workers ask state officials about mask wearing, reopening risk

https://www.wmur.com/article/health-care-workers-ask-state-officials-about-mask-wearing-reopening-risk/32843096

Millions of dollars in new funding announced for broadband access, housing assistance

Governor says money comes from federal relief funds

https://www.wmur.com/article/millions-of-dollars-in-new-funding-announced-for-broadband-access-housing-assistance/32843221

Click to access covid-19-update-06132020.pdf

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Update for June 13 – Renters and Businesses

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Summary

There is a lot of information for how to transition from stay at home. This includes the lifting of eviction moratoriums, business opening dates, and more. ~ Steve

New case count keeps declining but number of deaths keeps rising

https://www.concordmonitor.com/covid-coronavirus-nh-new-hampshire-34735856

New Hampshire to go from stay-at-home to ‘safer’ at home

“Gov. Chris Sununu is allowing New Hampshire’s stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic to expire on Monday, June 15, and transition to a “safer at home” advisory with no social gathering limitations or distinctions between essential and nonessential businesses.

“We feel very confident in taking some additional steps forward,” Sununu said at a news conference Thursday.”

https://apnews.com/6f8fc55e1c57595a48e0af4459b6ed59

Stay-at-home order to expire next week; gyms, pools, bowling alleys set to reopen

“Gov. Chris Sununu is lifting the state’s stay-at-home order and allowing most businesses to reopen with restrictions by the end of the month, while still urging Granite Staters to wear masks and maintain social distancing during what he called New Hampshire’s new normal.”

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-coronavirus-update-june-11-2020/32837341

All NH businesses now have date to reopen

“As Gov. Chris Sununu ended the ban on gatherings of more than 10, he also announced his stay-at-home order will expire Monday, meaning all employers can now require anyone to return to work.

Sununu said Thursday he studied setting a new limit on gathering sizes, but decided any other number would be “arbitrary” as long as people are heeding the state’s advice to wear a mask while in public and to maintain social distance.”

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/all-nh-businesses-now-have-date-to-reopen/article_558bfac2-5c67-5163-9fa3-7d7fcb426d9f.html?block_id=853108

7 new deaths attributed to COVID-19 in NH; 34 cases announced

“Seven new deaths in New Hampshire attributed to COVID-19, the diseased caused by the novel coronavirus, were announced on Thursday afternoon.

Lori Shibinette, the commissioner of the state Department of Health and Human Services, announced that all seven deaths were connected to long-term care facilities.”

https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-coronavirus-data-update-june-11-2020/32842411

Fund to aid NH renters launched as eviction, foreclosure moratorium is lifted

“Gov. Chris Sununu on Thursday yesterday announced that the moratorium on initiating eviction and foreclosure proceedings will be lifted July 1, and at the same time he allocated $35 million in federal CARES Act funding to help households suffering from foregone revenue or increased expenses to pay past-due rent.”

https://www.nhbr.com/fund-to-aid-nh-renters-launched-as-eviction-foreclosure-moratorium-is-lifted/

New Hampshire Nonprofit Grants

The New Hampshire Nonprofit Emergency Relief Fund was established by Governor Chris Sununu through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR). The State of New Hampshire will award grants from the allocated $60 million to help nonprofit organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority, have partnered to administer this program.

To learn more, there is a webinar available on Monday – https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7882796190594518284