More Deaths, More Positive COVID-19 Cases In New Hampshire

CONCORD, NH — Two more New Hampshire residents have died related to COVID-19, according to state officials.

The residents were women, both 60 years of age or older, with one living in Hillsborough County and the other residing in Merrimack County.

The State Joint Information Center announced another 279 new positive test results, including 18 children, after nearly 8,100 people were tested Monday. About 200 of the tests were polymerase chain reaction tests. Another 667 test results are pending for a 2 percent positivity rate.

More than half the new positive patients were female while 69 reside in Rockingham County, 36 live in Hillsborough County outside of Manchester and Nashua, 26 reside in Merrimack County, and 20 live in Nashua. The state is still investigating seven cases.

Hospitalizations rose to 77 with about 5 percent of all cases requiring more extensive care while 11,250 have recovered from the virus. About 6,175 people are being monitored by health officials.

In New Hampshire, 109 cases are connected to K-12 schools. New cases include one at the MicroSociety Academy Charter School in Nashua and one at the Abbot-Downing Elementary School in Concord.

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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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