Nearly 2,500 Test Positive In 48-Hours: NH Coronavirus Update

CONCORD, NH — Another 21 people have died during the last 48-hours in New Hampshire due to or related to COVID-19, according to state health officials.

On Saturday and Sunday, the State Joint Information Center said there have been 780 fatalities in New Hampshire since March 1 or about 2 percent of all cases. The latest deaths included a woman and two men from Belknap County, eight women and three men from Hillsborough County, three women and one man from Merrimack County, two women from Rockingham County, and another woman from Strafford County all passed away. Fifteen of the deaths lived in long-term care settings while 14 people were 80 years of age or older. Five more were between 70 and 79 while two were between 50 and 59 years of age. The state's data dashboard also listed a new fatality that was between 30 and 39 — only the eighth person in this age bracket to die during the pandemic. The fatality information of one of the patients was corrected and updated from the Wednesday and Thursday information.

During the last two days, the state also reported 2,495 new positive infections with about 725 discovered by antigen tests. The others were found via polymerase chain reaction tests. The seven-day test positivity rate is 8.7 percent.

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The new patients were reported from specimens collected across seven days: 28 cases from Dec. 27, 2020, 32 cases on Monday, 85 cases on Tuesday, 723 on Wednesday, 826 on Thursday, 633 on Friday, and 162 on Saturday. Of the new cases, 313 were children and slightly more were female than male with 778 residing in Hillsborough County outside of Nashua, 469 living in Rockingham County, 241 living in Merrimack County, and 240 living in Nashua.

There are now around 6,500 people with active cases in the state while officials are investigating the residency of 259 cases.

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

The state said 325 people were hospitalized with about 2 percent of all the 46,450 accumulative cases requiring more extensive care. Recoveries are at 39,574 or 85 percent of all cases.

Nearly 521,000 Granite Staters or more than 37 percent of residents have been tested via PCR test while about 35,000 have been tested by antibody lab tests. Nearly 1.1 million tests have been administered in New Hampshire.

Even though students have not been in school for the holiday break, there are still 55 active cases in the K-12 school setting. Patients connected to Patch communities include one new case at Nashua Children's Home, one active case connected to Souhegan High School in Amherst, two active cases at the Ross A. Lurgio Middle School in Bedford, and one case at Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua.

There are four active cases connected to colleges and universities in New Hampshire, all at UNH in Durham.

The latest active case map published Jan. 3, 2021. Source: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services

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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.
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Schools, Employers, Employees and Businesses (Can your employer force you to get the vaccine? It depends).
COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Healthcare Providers and Public Health Partners

• 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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