New 15 Minute COVID-19 Test Arrives In New Hampshire: Update

CONCORD, NH — Health officials announced Monday that rapid antigen COVID-19 tests, with the capacity to issue 25,000 per week, are now in New Hampshire.

The tests, produced by Abbott, are part of a program by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to increase testing across the country. The tests use a nasal swab and the results are ready in 15 minutes. The tests will be available at community testing sites across the state, with the focus on quick testing settings, like healthcare workers, schools, first responders, and high-risk populations, according to Gov. Chris Sununu.

"The BINAX test will allow the state to significantly ramp up testing in a targeted fashion — specifically for students and vulnerable populations," he said. "The rapid results will make decisions much easier for parents and educators."

The state is distributing the tests to 20 different sites including National Guard drive-thru locations in Concord and Londonderry.

Lori Shibinette, the commissioner of the health department, said community transmission continues to be a factor in New Hampshire — and officials do not want symptomatic individuals attending school or work and potentially exposing others.

"The BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen tests will be located in our already established community testing locations because they have procedures in place to avoid additional exposures," she said.

Frank Edelblut, the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education, said the increase testing "will greatly benefit" schools that have already worked so hard to get students back into classrooms safely.

The state is receiving materials that will allow about 400,000 tests to be conducted during the next three months.

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36 New Positive Test Results

State health officials reported Monday that 36 more people in the state, including five children, have tested positive for COVID-19.

In New Hampshire, 8,208 people have tested positive since March while 7,430 have recovered from the virus.

Twenty-two of the cases were male while 10 live in Nashua, five live in Hillsborough County outside of Manchester and Nashua, four reside in Merrimack County, and three live in Rockingham County.

One of the new cases required hospitalization while 16 people are still in the hospital. Only one new patient had no identified risk factors.

On Sunday, 5,114 polymerase chain reaction tests were collected by the state with tests on Saturday revised up to 9,464 from 7,863. In the state, 432,396 tests have been issued on 269,367 people.

Approximately 2,650 people are under public health monitoring.

GOFERR Legislative Advisory Board Meets Tuesday

The Governor's Office For Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) will hold a meeting of the Bipartisan Legislative Advisory Board at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

To call-in: 800-356-8278; PIN: 389388.

Anyone having difficulties connecting to the conference should call 603-271-7840.

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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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