Deadly Day For COVID-19 In New Hampshire: 9 Die In 24 Hours

CONCORD, NH — Nine more people in New Hampshire have died related to COVID-19, according to state health officials.

The five woman and four men were all 60 years of age or older with six living in Hillsborough County, two in Belknap County, and one in Rockingham County. In New Hampshire, 537 residents or 2 percent of infected cases have died. The nine deaths Wednesday were the highest number of fatalities announced by state health officials since early June.

After more than 7,100 people were tested via polymerase chain reaction specimens Tuesday, another 566 positive test results were announced. The daily PCR rate was 6.1 percent with some of Tuesday's positive cases still under investigation and 1,738 tests pending.

"Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates," the State Joint Information Center said.

About 29 percent of the New Hampshire population have been tested.

Those patients with completed investigations include 66 children while a little more than half were female. Most of the new cases were reported from Rockingham County — 139, while 128 live in Hillsborough County outside of Nashua, 82 reside in Merrimack County, and 33 live in Nashua.

The state is attempting to identify the residency of 38 new cases.

Most of the patients either had close contact with a person who was a confirmed diagnosis or were associated with an outbreak setting, the state said.

The state said 162 people were hospitalized and receiving more extensive care with about 4 percent of all coronavirus cases requiring hospital care. Recoveries are back up to 77 percent of patients — 17,101, while 8,325 are under public health monitoring.

The latest current case map of southern New Hampshire. Source: NH DHHS.

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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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