NH Coronavirus: Remote Learning Extends To The End Of School Year

CONCORD, NH — Gov. Chris Sununu announced Thursday that schools in New Hampshire will remain closed through the end of the year. Remote learning, he said, needed to be kept in place due to asymptomatic transmission being so prevalent. Sununu thanked Frank Edelblut, the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education, as well as parents, teachers, and administrators for helping New Hampshire "set itself apart" when compared to other states and proving the "gold standard" of Granite State schools.

Students and parents alike have "embraced it" and "thank you, for making it a success in the state," Sununu said.

Summer school programs will be expanded to make sure students catch up on studies they may have missed and to help those who have fallen through the cracks. After that, Sununu said, "we'll see what September looks like."

Graduation is not going to look like it did for students of the past, he added, saying "the new norms" would be changing "all along the way."

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A letter, which can be found here, was issued to educational leaders around the state during the press conference.

Edelblut also sent a letter to educators and administrators during the press conference thanking them for their work. He also exhorted them to ensure students don't think that just because they aren't in a school building that summer vacation had started.

"When we began the shift to remote instruction in March, we knew this would be a difficult task," he said. "It turns out this is a marathon, not a sprint. Now that we know we will not be moving back into school buildings this year, it is vital that we run through the finish line. It's important that we keep (students) engaged in their learning. School is still in session. Because of the tremendous work you've already done in response to this unprecedented disruption, I know you are up to the challenge."

Lori Shibinette, the commissioner for the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, also announced that the state had 71 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the state to 1,211 cases as well as two more deaths. Sununu said despite what officials had hoped, infection rates were not going down.

Shibinette stated there were three more outbreaks at long-term care facilities —at the Institute of Professional Practice in Concord, Bellamy Fields in Dover, and The Residences at Salem Woods in Salem, affecting numerous residents and staffers. The mobile response clinic, unveiled earlier this week, is responding to facilities to take tests if staffers are not able to perform the gathering of specimens themselves.

Health officials were seeing regular patterns of asymptomatic infections in the facilities, Shibinette said. She emphasized the facilities needed to send employees home if they were sick and also quarantine new residents. One of the state's new Abbott machines, for point-of-service testing, with a 5-minute turnaround test time, will be deployed to assist "vulnerable populations" — but the state would need more supplies from federal partners.

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"Our hearts go out to the families," Sununu said after Shibinette's presentation.

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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Editor's note: I was director of communications for the New Hampshire Department of Education between April 13, 2018, and April 16, 2019.

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