New Hampshire Coronavirus Update: 44 Infected; 1,420 Tested

CONCORD, NH — Gov. Chris Sununu and other state officials held a press conference Thursday offering more information about the state of the new coronavirus. The governor said the press briefing started an hour late due to officials being on a "fairly lengthy call" with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence — receiving the latest information about the outbreak. This continues to be an incredibly, rapidly, evolving situation, Sununu said.

"(It) is making some of the decisions that we make very challenging," he said, "very tough, but we are using all the data that we have available to make those tough decisions and ensure that we are getting the services and the opportunity out to the citizens, here in New Hampshire."

The state's COVID-19 patient positives have increased to 44, according to officials, with 1,420 being tested; 631 patients are waiting for test results meaning nearly 750 have tested negative for the virus. Around 575 are under public health monitoring.

Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, said the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services state Public Health Laboratories employees were "ramping up testing" to identify as many people as possible who have the virus.

Most of the infections, Chan said, were still based on residents returning from international and domestic travel and people who were exposed to those travelers. Some amount of community-based transmission is currently occurring in some counties in the state, he said. Chan called it "a pretty low percentage" of the tests that are community-based. They are all self-isolated, he added.

As the virus spreads, Chan expected additional infections in New Hampshire which is why officials were taking steps to attempt to "flatten the curve" and the infection rate to contain the pandemic and not swamp hospitals. Currently, only two patients are hospitalized, he said. Many others are beginning to recover and shed their symptoms, Chan said.

"It is critically important for people to stay home if they are sick," Chan said. "COVID-19 is a very infectious virus. Not everyone will have a fever; or if they do have a fever, it can be delayed for several days."

Testing capacity has increased but the increase in demand has "strained" the state's testing capacity, he said. There will come a point to prioritize testing for those who are more seriously ill as well as to health care workers and nursing home employees — the workers helping to treat others — who may develop symptoms to minimize transmission, he said. Testing issues are not about not having enough tests, as some media reports have stated; it's about other limited supplies and equipment, not tests themselves, Chan said.

Residents who are sick should stay home for at least seven days and at least 72 hours after the symptoms have resolved or improved, Chan added. The potential change in timeline was recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week.

Taylor Caswell, the commissioner of the Department of Business and Economic Development, said the state now had information about small business loans available online. Businesses in the state have access to up to $2 million at a little less than 4 percent that can be spread out across 30 years. Officials believe the loans will help stem the tide of the employees being furloughed and released from jobs. They expect other loans and grant programs from the federal government in the future.

Sununu also announced a new $50 million health care fund issued by the state to assist stabilizing the costs associated with hospitals and health care centers during the crisis. The money for the hospitals is coming out of the general fund, he said.

Market Basket Offers Senior Hours

Market Basket, the largest supermarket chain in New Hampshire, is offering senior citizens exclusive shopping hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 5:30 to 7 a.m. at all of its 80 locations.

Only customers who are 60-years or older will be allowed to shop during those time periods.

Girl Scouts Suspend Some Cookie Sales

The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains has suspended all retail cookie sales as well as events until April 13. All of their properties including stores and camps are also closed to visitors. Troop meetings, community activities, council and other related programs, property rentals, and cookie booths were suspended earlier this week.

Online and Girl Scout contact sales will continue until March 30.

Girl Scouts, however, can continue participating in activities from home and troops can host virtual meetings too. Resources can be found at the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains website.

Bureau Of Family Assistance Closes Offices

The health department's Bureau Of Family Assistance is closing district offices to ensure the safety and health of both employees and clients.

"The decision to close (district offices) was not made lightly," according to a statement. "During this unprecedented pandemic, we are doing our part to protect our communities by avoiding unnecessary face-to-face interactions. DHHS is working to ensure our clients continue to get the services they need while limiting potential disruptions."

Anyone in need of assistance can apply for benefits online or schedule a telephone appointment at the NH Easy website.

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NH Fish & Game Closes Regional Offices

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's regional offices are now closed to the public, until further notice, without an appointment. Discover WILD NH Day has also been canceled. The Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland, the Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, and hatchery buildings will also remain closed to the public. The closures, in addition to the cancellation of all meetings, trainings, classes, and workshops, will run through the end of April.

Boat access sites, Wildlife Management Areas, and outdoor hatchery viewing areas, however, remain open. Hike Safe cards and information on how to contact the department during the COVID-19 outbreak can be found online at the department's website.

For those taking a break from remote learning, Fish & Game is still looking for wild turkey sighting submission for its "flock survey." Last year, turkey watchers submitted nearly 500 reports totally almost 10,000 turkeys. They will be taking survey submissions through March 31 here.

Press Freedom During Public Lockdown?

Across the country, a number of communities have begun imposing quarantines and lockdowns and a national one is quite possible.

This is why the New Hampshire Press Association has requested the governor allow members of the media to be a part of the planning process if lockdowns come to the state — in order to ensure a free and open press. The org cited the rights of a free press, cited in both the state and federal constitutions.

"In the days ahead, if it becomes apparent New Hampshire must craft (its) own 'lockdown' policy, we ask to be advised of the news media's status in advance and afforded the opportunity to help define conditions that could adversely affect the ability to do our jobs," the letter stated. "Therefore, we request that under any lockdown regulations, that New Hampshire news media be designated exempt."

Funspot Closes: First Time In 68 Years

The world's largest arcade is closing until further notice.

Funspot in Laconia let customers know in a full-page ad in Thursday's edition of the Weirs Times. It was the first time the business has closed during 68 years of being an arcade.

"In making it, we took a long, hard look at many factors," according to the Lawton Family, the owner of the company, as well as its management team, "but the main factor that influenced the final decision was the health and safety of our guests and their loved ones. We eagerly look forward to what we all hope is a quick resolution to these extraordinary challenges and to opening our doors once again to our valued guests."

What You Can Do

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. 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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