An Elderly Woman Dies; 29 New COVID-19 Cases In NH: Update

CONCORD, NH — For the first time in nine days, the state of New Hampshire reported a new coronavirus fatality.

On Sunday, state health officials said a woman from Hillsborough County, who was 80 years of age or older, and connected to a long-term care setting, died. She became the 433rd fatality in the state. About 6 percent of all COVID-19 infections have died.

"We offer our sympathies to the family and friends," the State Joint Information Center said.

Another 29 new positive test results were also reported Sunday including three children. Of the new cases, 55 percent were women. Nine of the new cases reside in Rockingham County while six live in Manchester. Four live in Hillsborough County outside of Manchester and Nashua. Three cases live in Merrimack County and one lives in Nashua.

One of the new 29 cases required hospitalization bringing the total current case count to 10 and accumulative case count to 718 hospitalizations or about 10 percent of all cases.

Three of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

The state's data dashboard also reported on its new school section that the recent spike in infections in Durham were connected to the University of New Hampshire. UNH is reporting 33 active cases of COVID-19 as well as 17 recoveries. The state's data dashboard also reported 27 cases of the new coronavirus in the town of Durham.

The state collected 3,846 polymerase chain reaction tests and 35 antibody lab tests Saturday. The total number of PCR tests since January is 350,528 on 220,662 Granite Staters with 30,153 New Hampshire residents taking antibody lab tests.

Approximately 1,650 people are under public health monitoring.

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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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