NH Coronavirus: Outbreak Announced At Easterseals Facility

CONCORD, NH — State health officials are concerned about community-based transmission and asymptomatic positive cases infecting others in New Hampshire especially after the announcement of an outbreak at an Easterseals facility. Gammon Academy in Manchester is a residential care and education facility for those with learning disabilities. Lori Shibinette, the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, said the outbreak resulted in students and staffers being infected.

Before the news conference with Gov. Chris Sununu, Shibinette, and Dr. Benjamin Chan, Nancy Rollins, the chief operating officer of Easterseals NH, VT, ME, and Farnum, issued a release stating 36 clients and students were infected and the majority of cases were asymptomatic.

"We continue to follow all CDC and Bureau of Infectious Disease Control guidelines for managing those residents who are affected," she said. "Our dedicated staff, equipped with PPE, continue to provide the care we have come to expect.

Rollins said the academy would continue to operation because clients had "no other option or accommodations available to them" and continue to remain under supervised care.

"Easterseals NH has always and continues to follow all CDC and Bureau of Infectious Disease Control guidelines for our residents and the staff who have committed to remain on the job and serve those who rely on us most," she said. "We cannot thank our selfless employees enough, who are part of our front line, for the work they continue to do, despite these challenging times."

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Chan, the state epidemiologist, also announced three more deaths including two at long-term residential facilities in Manchester and Salem — bringing the state's count to 37. The death from the facilities were "devastating," he said. Chan said 12,852 people have been tested in New Hampshire with 174 tests pending at the state's labs. There have been 1,287 people who have tested positive in the state. There were also 76 new cases during the last 24 hours. So far, 190 patients have been hospitalized.

As state officials increase testing with vulnerable and at-risk communities, Chan said, the numbers were expected to rise.

"This is not something that should raise concerns or alarms," he added, "but it's a reflection of our attempt to try and bring the COVID-19 outbreak in New Hampshire under control so that we can start to see a decrease in community transmission."

Chan said public health officials were using "contract tracing" and had "many active investigations" of people who were exposed to the virus but didn't have symptoms. The department was also looking to "ramp up internal resources" to increase the investigatory processes. Officials would continue to report the progress of COVID-19 investigations, he said.

"There is evidence that social distancing measures is having an effect," Chan said, with hospitalizations stabilizing and the expected infection curve not increasing drastically.

As in prior updates, Chan again stressed the importance of social distancing — staying at least 6 feet from other people — and wearing a mask when in public and around others, staying home with the exception of necessary trips, and wash hands and preserve hygiene,

Sununu announced a new $2 million mental health grant the state had received and five new hospitals that were receiving funds from the state's $50 million hospital relief fund. The facilities receiving the zero interest loans are Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin; Cottage Hospital in Woodsville; Exeter Hospital; Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook; and Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster.

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Sununu was asked about his call with President Donald Trump, other governors, and the coronavirus task force Thursday and said he appreciated the federal guidance related to a tiered approach to reopening the economy. The state, however, hadn't seen a downturn in COVID-19 cases yet; infections were still at a plateau. Friday's announcement of 76 new cases was not the state's worst day but it was still too high to loosen the emergency orders in place.

On the Easterseals case, Sununu's take was both a positive and negative. It was negative because it was a dangerous situation for clients, he said. At the same time, the discovery of asymptomatic cases may lead to antibody testing and immunity to the virus from the employees, which the governor found "interesting."

Stop The Spread Of COVID-19!

COVID-19, not unlike the flu and other respiratory illnesses, 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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