Active Coronavirus Cases: 10,138 Infections In New Hampshire

CONCORD, NH — For the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, New Hampshire has more than 10,000 active infections, according to the latest data published by state health officials.

As of Friday, 10,138 people had active positive infections — about 6 percent of the total accumulative cases, which were just shy of 175,000 in the state. During the past seven days, 8,882 new infections were reported including 188 who lived in long-term care settings and 273 healthcare workers. About 29 percent of the cases were 19 years of age or younger.

Hospitalizations were at 466 — a dip down from 478 earlier in the week, the most ever.

While the state does not have official information on "breakthrough cases," people who received COVID-19 shots but still became infected, and hospitalizations, a number of hospitals are independently reporting the data. According to a report published Friday, breakthrough cases made up between 14 and 38 percent of hospitalizations in some hospitals with a few reporting only unvaccinated patients in hospitals.

Patch and other news outlets have made public records requests for breakthrough case data but state health officials said they do not have the information available.

The latest active case count from communities in southern New Hampshire. Source: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

During the past seven days, 42 people died due to or connected to COVID-19. Eighteen of the deaths were 80 years of age or older while 11 were between 70 and 79. Another nine deaths were 60- to 69-years-old while three were in the 50 to 59 age bracket and one was between 40 and 49.

Three of the deaths — a woman from Merrimack County and two women from Rockingham County, who were all 80 or older, died during the first two weeks of November but were only recently confirmed to be related to COVID-19, according to the state.

There have been 1,781 fatalities in New Hampshire or about 1.02 percent of all infections.

Health officials reported about 61.4 percent of residents have had COVID-19 shots while around 502,000 residents have chosen not to receive shots.

The state reported 810 “onsite active cases.” Onsite active cases are confirmed infections that are connected to the school setting. They do not include students or staff who are infected by way of out-of-school activities. They include 24 are Concord High School; 15 at Exeter High School; 14 at Merrimack High School; 12 at Amherst Street School in Nashua; 11 at Windham Academy Public Charter School; 10 at Nashua High School North and James Mastricola Upper Elementary School in Merrimack; nine at Pennichuck Middle School in Nashua; eight at Souhegan Coop High School in Amherst and Rundlett Middle School in Concord; seven at Golden Brook Elementary School in Windham; six at the Merrimack Middle School; and five at the Woodbury Middle School in Salem, Thorntons Ferry School in Merrimack, Salem High School, Reeds Ferry School in Merrimack, the Mill Brook Primary School in Concord, and the Dr. Norman W. Crisp School in Nashua. There are several other schools were between four and a single case.

Colleges and universities in New Hampshire have 192 onsite active cases including 76 at UNH in Durham, 37 at Keene State College, 20 at Dartmouth College in Hanover, and 19 each at SNHU in Manchester and Plymouth State University. A number of colleges have fewer than 10 cases.

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COVID-19 Info For NH

COVID-19 is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which was first discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The virus is spread through the transfer of microscopic respiratory droplets, usually by coughing, sneezing, or exposure to others who are sick, whether they show symptoms or not.

Since the discovery of the first case in New Hampshire in March 2020, there have been a number of recommendations and changes to recommendations on how to prevent the virus and disease. The latest New Hampshire Universal Best Practices for the public, businesses, and schools can be found linked here, in PDF format. For resources in NH, including vaccine, testing, and treatment information, visit the state's resources and guidance page, linked here.

Basic health concepts to reduce the risk of infection include ensuring social distancing (staying 3 to 6 feet away from other people); washing hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol; wearing a facemask in indoor public spaces or outdoor spaces with large crowds; avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and sneezing into a sleeve or tissue that is disposed of later; avoid sharing dishes, glasses, bedding, and other household items when sick; clean or disinfect high-touch surfaces; avoid public transportation when sick; and work remotely, if possible.

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