NH State Representative Steven Smith

What’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

UNITY — 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

Jett Larrimore Named to UVM Dean’s List

Jett Larrimore, Class of 2022, has been named to the dean’s list for the spring 2020 semester at the University of Vermont. Larrimore from Lempster, NH, is in the College of Arts and Sciences .

To be named to the dean’s list, students must have a grade-point average of 3.0 or better and rank in the top 20 percent of their class in their respective college or school.

Spring 2020 Honor Society Inductees and Award Recipients

2020 marks the 11th annual Vermont Technical College Honors Celebration, a chance to celebrate our students academic success. These students have demonstrated the hard work, commitment and dedication needed to succeed in rigorous programs, and soon will be leaders in their professions. They are joining a history of students recognized for excelling academically, and are being recognized by professional societies. Congratulations to:

Brianna Smith
Charlestown, NH

Elizabeth McHugh
Charlestown, NH

Jane Beck Named to President’s List at Bob Jones University

Jane Beck, a Senior Elementary Education major from Charlestown, was among approximately 800 Bob Jones University students named to the Spring 2020 President’s List.

The President’s List recognizes students who earn a 3.75 or higher grade point average for the semester.

University of New Hampshire Announces May 2020 Graduates

The following students graduated from the University of New Hampshire in Durham Saturday, May 16, 2020, during a virtual celebration. Students who received the honor of summa cum laude graduated with a GPA of 3.85-4.0; students who received the honor of magna cum laude graduated with a GPA of 3.65-3.84; and students who received the honor of cum laude graduated with a GPA of 3.50-3.64. Students are only graduated after the Registrar’s Office has certified that all degree requirements have been successfully completed. A traditional, in-person commencement ceremony will be scheduled at a future date yet to be determined.

County Budget

The Sullivan County Delegation will convene on Thursday, May 28 at 6PM to pre-approve FY21 budget requests, set elected officials compensation, and discuss FY21 Sullivan County meeting dates.  Other County business may be conducted at this time.

As noted previously, and reiterated here in this notice, we invite the general public to listen in on these meetings – see notice for call-in information. Sullivan County Notices

Conformity has a lot of aspects

Our numbers are relatively low and we are grateful. Most people have done their best to comply with what are very unusual restrictions. It is possible that we are in the shape we’re in because of the efforts at distancing and sanitation. The truth is, we’ll never know. I know people who are doing 80% of the things they should be. That is better than zero. Some wear a mask religiously but rarely wash their hands. Some wash constantly and never touch their faces, but don’t wear a mask. So, you never really know how much someone is doing, despite first impressions. Let’s continue to do the best that we can and not pick on others. ~ Steve

“No, we’re not asking consumers to pick up the phone and you know, we don’t have ‘snitch lines’ and all that — I don’t believe in that.”
— Gov. Chris Sununu on whether citizens should call and report businesses violating the COVID-19 lockdown.

Positive News About Positive Test Rates

Patricia Tilley, deputy director of the state Division of Public Health Services, said during a presentation Tuesday to the Governor’s Economic Reopening Task Force that the low rate of positive tests as overall testing expands is one of the most important findings by DHHS thus far.

Currently, the positivity rate is about 5 percent and it has been going down as we have increased daily testing now to over about 2,000 people a day. “We want to make sure we are testing a broad spectrum of individuals,” Tilley said, “but we are very encouraged by that number of positively that goes down.”

Work-share programs help some businesses avoid layoffs

“More than 38 million Americans have filed for unemployment since March, though the passage of the CARES Act has for now helped alleviate some of the financial fallout. But buried in the landmark legislation, there is also financial support for work-share programs in some states that allow businesses to avoid laying off any employees at all. NewsHour Weekend’s Christopher Booker reports” PBS – Christopher Booker

Click to access covid-19-update-05262020.pdf