NH Coronavirus Update: 2,300 Under Public Health Monitoring

CONCORD, NH — New Hampshire Health and Human Services announced another day of much lower positive testing reports of the new coronavirus compared to last week as well as recovery notifications — but also five new additional deaths. On Wednesday, another 41 new positives tests were reported bringing the state's total up to 788 cases. Some of those cases are still under investigation.

But the breakdown of those new positive cases with completed investigations include 51 percent men, 46 percent women, and one girl. Ten of the new positive cases are in the hospital bringing the number of cases needing hospital care to 118 or around 15 percent.

The State Joint Information Center announced that 17 of the new cases have "no identified risk factors" whereas most of the remaining cases either traveled recently or were in close conduct with patients who tested positive.

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"DHHS has also announced five additional deaths related to COVID-19," the report stated. "These were two males and two females all 60 years of age or older from Hillsborough County and one male who was 60 years of age or older from Merrimack County. We offer our sympathies to the family and friends."

About 29 percent — 227 patients — have recovered from the virus, according to the state. Around 2,300 people are under public health monitoring. The NH Public Health Laboratories have 143 tests outstanding — with an unknown number of tests are private labs.

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The number of people testing negative for the new coronavirus is up to 8,763. Those tests were performed at the state lab, LabCorp, Quest, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and those sent to CDC prior to NH PHL testing capacity. The state lab handled 4,476 of those tests.

Lori Shibinette, the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, speaks about five new deaths in the state due to COVID-19, including four at nursing homes.

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.

ALSO READ:

• NH Health Commissioner: 5 New Coronavirus Deaths Announced
• NH Coronavirus: 91% Negative: False Tests, Flaws, Something Else?
• NH Coronavirus Update: 4 More Deaths, 32 New Cases Announced
• Concord Coronavirus: Testing Site Closed Due To 'Lack Of Volume'
• NH Experts To Governor: Increase Coronavirus Testing, Treatment, Tracking

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