COVID-19 Related Deaths Reach 600 In New Hampshire: Update

CONCORD, NH — Another 10 New Hampshire residents have died from or due to complications of COVID-19 bringing the total fatality count in the state to 600 on Saturday, according to State Joint Information Center.

Nine of the new fatalities were connected to long-term care settings, according to the state's data dashboard. Nine were also 80 years of age or older while one was between 70 and 79. Three of the deaths were men who lived in Belknap County, three were women who lived in Hillsborough County, and three women and a man were residents of Rockingham County before they passed.

State health officials also reported 791 new positive coronavirus test results for a daily positivity rate on polymerase chain reaction tests to 4.6 percent. The weekly positivity average on all tests is 8.5 percent.

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Of the new cases, 93 were children and the genders were equal at 50 percent each. The county of residency is still being determined for 35 new cases but the bulk of the new cases, 234, live in Rockingham County while another 209 reside in Hillsborough County outside of Nashua, 74 live in Merrimack County, and 59 live in Nashua.

The latest active case count map in New Hampshire published Dec. 12. Source: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

Most of the new patients contracted the virus due to contact with infected people or because they were connected to an outbreak setting.

Saturday's new positive test result count passed another milestone — 30,000 accumulative patients, 30,244, to be exact, while about 76 percent of the infected, 23,046, have recovered from the sickness.

The state said 247 people were in the hospital receiving more extensive care.

There were 82 active cases in K-12 schools and seven at universities and colleges. There were no new cases reported in school settings in Patch communities in New Hampshire on Saturday.

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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.

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