COVID-19 In New Hampshire: 2 More Elderly Residents Die

CONCORD, NH — Two more elderly residents from New Hampshire have died due to or from complications of COVID-19, according to state health officials.

Both the woman from Hillsborough County and the man from Strafford County were 80 years of age or older with one living in a long-term care setting.

"We offer our sympathies to the family and friends," Laura Montenegro, a public information officer for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, said.

Their deaths bring the fatality count to 458 or 5 percent of all cases.

Another 71 people tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday after 7,578 specimens were collected Tuesday and Monday's tests were upgraded to 9,105 tests. Only 360 test results are pending for 0.9 percent positivity rate overall.

Of the new positive test results, 14 were children and 52 percent were male. Forty of the tests were polymerase chain reaction tests while 31 were antigen tests. Nineteen reside in Rockingham County, 11 live in Hillsborough County outside of Manchester and Nashua, 11 live in Nashua, and nine live in Merrimack County.

Don't miss updates about coronavirus precautions and information in New Hampshire as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

State health officials are still investigating two of the cases while two were hospitalized. Nineteen are currently still be treated in a hospital while only three had no identified risk factors.

"Community-based transmission continues to occur in the state and has been identified in all counties," Montenegro said. "Of those with complete risk information, most of the cases have either had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis or have recently traveled."

Currently, 9,349 people have contracted COVID-19 while 8,068 have recovered from the virus. According to the state, 301,067 people have been tested with PCR tests while 513,452 PCR tests have been administered in the state.

About 3,750 people are under public health monitoring.

A few more K-12 schools in New Hampshire reported new positive cases.

They include: Another case at the Swasey Central School in Brentwood; the first case at the Hooksett Memorial School; and the first case at Bow High School.

In New Hampshire, there are 72 active cases of students or educators who caught the virus either in school or while being involved in a school activity like band or sports. Seventy-three cases have recovered from the virus.

ALSO READ:

• Concord Golf Course Customer Tests Positive For Coronavirus
• Coronavirus Life: You Can Vote Safely In Person Despite Coronavirus. Here's How.
• 10 More Children Catch COVID-19: New Hampshire Update
• Nashua Parent Voice To March On City Hall Tuesday
• 55 More COVID-19 Cases In New Hampshire; Another Death: Update

Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

• Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.
• Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.
• When you can't practice 6 feet of social distancing, wear a face covering.
• Anyone who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic and underlying health conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers should work from home as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that the virus can survive for hours or possibly days on surfaces. People should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places.
• Wear a face covering.
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.
• To access the state's COVID-19 data dashboard, click on this link here.
• To access the state's COVID-19 Interactive Map Dashboard, click on this link here.

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube channel.