NH Coronavirus: 1,491 Positive; 2,450 In Public Health Monitoring

CONCORD, NH — The state of New Hampshire is attempting to determine where 14 positive test results for the new coronavirus cases live, according to the latest information announced by the State Joint Information Center.

Twelve of those 14 cases were part of the 44 new cases infected with the virus as of Tuesday. Since the pandemic began seven weeks ago, 1,491 people have been identified as infected — with 903 active cases. Thirty-seven percent of the positive cases, 546, have recovered.

Investigations were still being performed on several of the new cases but of those with completed information, 55 percent were women and 45 percent men. Five are in the hospital — bringing the number of people needing hospital care to 206 or about 14 percent of all cases. Ninety-four people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state.

Fourteen of the new patients live in Manchester while five live in Merrimack County, four in Nashua, four in Rockingham County, and two live in Hillsborough County communities.

"Three of the new cases have no identified risk factors," according to the state. "Community-based transmission continues to occur throughout the state and has been identified in all counties with cases. The remaining cases have either had travel to domestic or international locations or have had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis."

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No new deaths were announced Tuesday.

Approximately 2,450 people are under public health monitoring while 13,550, about 89 percent of all tests — with 225 tests pending — have tested negative at the NH Public Health Laboratories, LabCorp, Quest, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and those sent to CDC prior to state testing capacity. An unknown amount of tests are pending at commercial labs while 6,874 specimens have been tested at the state's labs.

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Stopping 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.
• Anybody who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspect COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic medical conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers need to move to telework as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that this virus can survive for hours or possibly even a few days on surfaces, so 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 when sick (i.e., social distancing).
• 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.

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