New Hampshire's First Coronavirus Case Reported In Grafton County

CONCORD, NH — Officials announced Monday they had confirmed New Hampshire's first person who has contracted the new coronavirus. The person who tested positive is an adult located in Grafton County. They contracted the virus while traveling in Italy.

The announcement was made before state and federal officials met with the New Hampshire Hospital Association and other medical officials and professionals to brief and coordinate the state's response to COVID-19.

Jake Leon of he New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services said the person who contracted the virus was the fourth person in the state to receive the test.

"The sample is being sent to the CDC to confirm our result," he said.

The person is an employee at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center who returned from vacationing in Italy last week.

Three other people in the state have been tested for COVID-19 after experiencing symptoms — specifically, fever and respiratory symptoms — two weeks after returning from overseas trips in affected areas like China and Italy. All three, however, tested negative.

Students from the Kearsarge Regional High School in Merrimack County and Winnacunnet High School in Rockingham County have self-quarantined themselves since they traveled through Italy recently.

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Neither the state nor the federal government is requiring or recommending individuals who have traveled to countries other than China self-quarantine themselves but given the changing situation, Chan said this could change, as the Center for Disease Control adapts its response and traveler monitoring procedures.

Monday's meeting was put together by state and federal officials including Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, Gov. Chris Sununu, and U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas and Ann McLane Kuster so officials could share information about resources and updates. The New Hampshire Department of Education has also issued advisories to school administrators and nurses to keep them up-to-date with information on how to keep children healthy and prevent transmission in the classroom.

COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past.

Guidance to schools can be found here: dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/documents/2019-coronavirus-schools-02292020.pdf.

Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available here: dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/documents/2019-coronavirus-self-observation-guidelines.pdf.

From the CDC:

Current symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Read about COVID-19 Symptoms.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spreading from person-to-person. Someone who is actively sick with COVID-19 can spread the illness to others. That is why CDC recommends that these patients be isolated either in the hospital or at home (depending on how sick they are) until they are better and no longer pose a risk of infecting others.

There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. However, as a reminder, CDC always recommends everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
• CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.
• Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. The use of facemasks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. You should only wear a mask if a health care professional recommends it. A face mask should be used by people who have COVID-19 and are showing symptoms. This is to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks also is crucial for health workers and other people who are taking care of someone infected with COVID-19 in close settings (at home or in a health care facility).

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