COVID Summary for May 30

Phased Approach

There are a couple of reasons for a phased reopening approach. I don’t think it is a great secret that many people have not taken this seriously. Shopping has continued for many people without restriction. Barbecues and yard sales have been going on. The restrictions in place do eliminate many big draws that move groups of people from one town to another, so the effect of the smaller events is minimized… unless everyone does it. Other states have gone as far to have stores like Walmart rope off everything but the grocery section. Let’s face it, buying a game or tv is not “essential”. We haven’t needed that because for the most part, people have respected the restrictions.

When Will We Know If Reopening States Has Worked or Backfired?Male_Cook_Food_Mask_1296x728-header-1

Not being able to track conformance makes it difficult to forecast problem areas. The phased approach allows us to identify changes that affect case spread.We need to know if a specific reopening category caused an increase. States that opened early, or in a less organized fashion are already dealing with this. The hope is that our approach will avoid that. Some States Are Learning What Happens to COVID-19 Cases If You Reopen Too Early

~Steve

Governor Sununu: Stay at Home 2.0: Additional Guidance Released:

As part of Stay at Home 2.0, Governor Sununu issued guidance on the following areas: 

There are new schedules for reopening in select areas. The first thing to understand is that all facilities and businesses have some universal guidelines to follow. They can be found at Stay at Home – Universal Guidelines

Governor Sununu Issues Emergency Order #49

Emergency Order #49: An order extending Emergency Order #40 (An order extending and modifying Emergency Order #17 (Closure of non-essential businesses and requiring Granite Staters to stay at home))

https://www.governor.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt336/files/documents/emergency-order-49.pdf

Governor Sununu said the current stay-at-home order, set to expire at the end of May, will be extended to at least June 15. It will be reevaluated at that time, and a new order might be issued then.

New guidelines to let houses of worship open more broadly will be limited to 40% capacity, and families must remain at least 6 feet apart.

New rules were also announced about hotels and lodging, hotels, motels and B&Bs can start taking reservations immediately from in-state residents for lodging beginning June 5. Anyone traveling from out of state must sign a document affirming that they have remained in their home for at least 14 days before arriving in New Hampshire. Day camps can resume operations beginning June 22, day camp staff members are encouraged to wear cloth face coverings whenever possible, though there is no face mask requirement for young children. The Governor said guidelines for overnight camps are still being developed.

The New Hampshire Division of Motor Vehicles will resume road tests for eligible applicants starting Monday, June 1.

Prior to scheduling a road test, applicants must complete all driver licensing requirements, including successfully passing a knowledge test. Go to www.nh.gov/dmv to request a road test.

Economic Re-Opening Task Force Scheduled Meetings

  • Monday, June 1, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
  • Call-in: 1-800-356-8278 or 1-857-444-0744
  • Pin: 194499 or 600744

For Public Comments session to request to speak, press 5*

If anybody has a problem getting on the call, please call 603-271-0670 or email at hilary.ryan@livefree.nh.gov

Task Force Public Comments Email; nhreopen@nheconomy.com

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – May 29, 2020

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued the following update on the new coronavirus, COVID-19.
On Friday, May 29, 2020, DHHS announced 107 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 4,492 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 74% being
female and 26% being male. The new cases reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (16), Rockingham (7), Strafford (4), Sullivan (2), Cheshire (2), Merrimack (2), and Belknap (1) counties, and in the cities of Nashua (40) and Manchester (32). The county of residence is being determined for one new case. Two new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 440 (10%) of 4,492 cases. Eleven of the new cases have no identified risk factors.

Community-based transmission continues to occur in the State and has been
identified in all counties. Most of the remaining cases have either had travel to domestic or international locations or have had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. DHHS has announced six additional deaths related to COVID-19. We offer our sympathies to the family and friends.
• 4 male residents of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older
• 2 female residents of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older

Click to access covid-19-update-05292020.pdf

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Last day for relief fund

Today is the last day to submit the Main Street Relief Fund Prequalification Application

Prequalification Form for the Main Street Relief Fund must be completed by Friday May 29, 2020. Follow the link to the form;

https://new-hampshire.secure.force.com/support/GOV_GOFERR_Business_Survey

Business Idea And Vision, Businessman Holding Light Bulb, ConcepExpect the COVID-19 Crisis to Unleash Rush of Innovation

This is a good article that offers an interesting perspective on the forced innovation occurring right now. While most are suffering in some form or another during the pandemic, it is good to look for positives. Many people are doing things now that never occurred to them, or that they thought they couldn’t do.  ~ Steve 

https://www.insidesources.com/expect-the-covid-19-crisis-to-unleash-rush-of-innovation/

Governor Sununu Forms COVID-19 Equity Response Team to develop a recommended strategy and plan to address the disproportionate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 Equity Response Team members are as follows:

  • Chair: Trinidad Tellez, MD, Director, Office of Health Equity, DHHS
  • Bobbie Bagley, MS, MPH, RN, CPH, Director, Division of Public Health & Community Services, Nashua
  • Kirsten Durzy, MPH, Equity Council lead, public health evaluation and narrative/storytelling expert, Division of Public Health Services, DHHS
  • Rogers Johnson, President, Seacoast NAACP, Chair of Governors Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion
  • Dottie Morris, PhD, Associate Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Keene State College

Response Team’s charge and mission document link below;

https://www.governor.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt336/files/documents/covid-equity-response.pdf

PPE 115,000-pound shipment of personal protective equipment arrives in NH

A plane carrying 115,000 pounds of gear landed at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport on Wednesday. The plane was filled with 249,000 gowns and 85,000 coveralls.”

Link: https://www.wmur.com/article/more-than-115-000-pounds-of-ppe-gear-arrives-in-new-hampshire/32699593

NH National Guard

President Trump announced that he will extend the National Guard’s Title 32 status.

Our NH National Guard has been on mission response from the beginning of the COVID-19 health emergency.

See the link relative to title 32. https://www.fema.gov/national-guard-title-32-status

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – May 28, 2020

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued the following update on the new coronavirus, COVID-19.

On Thursday, May 28, 2020, DHHS announced 101 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 4,386 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 two individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 71% being female and 29% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (22), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (14), Merrimack (4), Grafton (2), Strafford (2), Belknap (1), and Cheshire (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (42) and Nashua (12). The county of residence is being determined for one new case.

Twelve new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 438 (10%) of 4,386 cases. Eleven of the new cases have no identified risk factors. Community-based transmission continues to occur in the State and has been identified in all counties. Most of the remaining cases have either had travel to domestic or international locations or have had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

DHHS has also announced nine additional deaths related to COVID-19. We offer our sympathies to the family
and friends.
• 4 male residents of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older
• 2 female residents of Hillsborough County, 60 years of age and older
• 2 adult male residents of Hillsborough County, younger than 60 years of age
• 1 male resident of Rockingham County, 60 years of age and older

Click to access covid-19-update-05282020.pdf

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Should I touch that?

well-surfaces-door-jumboWhat’s the Risk of Catching Coronavirus From a Surface?

Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. “What they’re saying is that high touch surfaces like railings and doorknobs, elevator buttons are not the primary driver of the infection in the United States,” said Erin Bromage, a comparative immunologist and biology professor at the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. “But it’s still a bad idea to touch your face. If someone who is infectious coughs on their hand and shakes your hand and you rub your eyes — yes, you’re infected. Someone’s drinking from a glass, and you pick it up near the rim and later rub your eyes or mouth, you’re infected.” Read the full article at What’s the Risk of Catching Coronavirus From a Surface? and learn more about fomite transmisssion.

Sullivan County nursing home employee has COVID-19

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/sullivan-county-nursing-home-employee-has-covid-19/article_414ccc03-88c9-590d-8e30-ac1439ac62dd.html?block_id=897573

sullnursUNITY — A part-time employee working at the Sullivan County Health Care nursing home tested positive for COVID-19, according to Ted Purdy, the facility’s administrator.

“At this point we’ve identified one person, a part-time employee, who has tested positive with no symptoms,” Purdy said.

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services is following up with the employee, who is now in isolation, and contacting that employee’s family members, Purdy said. The female employee did not display any symptoms of the respiratory illness.

The test result came after nursing home administrators tested all staff and residents, Purdy said. This is the only employee who has tested positive; no resident has tested positive, according to Purdy.

N.H. launches remote filing system for restraining orders

Concord Monitor – Victims of domestic violence and stalking in New Hampshire can now apply for protective orders online, in addition to filing in person at their local courthouse.

DHHS Update

Click to access covid-19-update-05272020.pdf

 

 

 

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