NH Coronavirus Update: 56 New Positive Cases; 521 Recovered

CONCORD, NH — One new death and 56 new positive cases were announced by the state of New Hampshire Monday. The new positive cases bring the number to 1,447 people infected in the state during the pandemic. A number of the cases, according to the State Joint Information Center, were still under investigation.

However, of those with complete information, all of the new cases were adults: 64 percent were women and 34 percent men. Three of the new cases were hospitalized bringing the number to 201 who have needed hospital care in the state or about 14 percent. Seventy-eight people are currently hospitalized.

Twenty-five of the cases were from Hillsborough County while nine were from Rockingham County and one in Merrimack County. Seventeen new cases live in Strafford County.

Part of the increase in the numbers from Strafford County were due to patients testing positive at the Bellamy Fields assisted living facility, according to Foster's Daily Democrat, which has reported that 33 of its 41 resident are positive after a state rapid response was sent to the facility recently.

Two of the 56 new cases have no identified risk factors while most of remaining cases have either traveled or been in close contact with people who were infected.

A woman who was 60 years of age or older from Rockingham County also died due to complications from the virus, according to the state. Officials offered their sympathies to family and friends. She brings the death count to 42 in New Hampshire.

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Of the 1,447 identified cases, 521 or about 36 percent have recovered while 884 are still actively positive. Approximately 2,400 are under public health monitoring.

According to the state, 12,848 people have tested negative for the virus at both state and commercial labs. Of all the testing, 6,671 were performed at the state labs. Another 244 are awaiting results. It is unknown how many commercial lab tests are pending.

State Receives Half Of $1.25B CARES Act Funds

The state of New Hampshire has officially received half of its $1.25 billion share of the CARES Act funds, according to U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan.

"This significant injection of federal funding will support the state's efforts to provide frontline workers and communities with resources to slow the spread of this virus and save lives, as well as maintain essential services and support small businesses and workers," Hassan said. "As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause unprecedented and devastating impacts on Granite Staters and small businesses, I will keep pushing the administration to deliver the federal funding included in the bipartisan CARES Act without delay, including the rest of the $1.25 billion allocated for New Hampshire. I will also continue to work with Governor Sununu and the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation to secure additional funding and flexibility to help our state confront this devastating virus."

Hassan said she was working with others, including Shaheen, Mike Rounds, and Angus King, all former governors, to get the federal government to give states flexibility to use the funds to "mitigating the short- and long-term economic impacts of this crisis" — including making up for financial impacts due to COVID-19.

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"Our health care providers and public safety personnel on the frontlines, small businesses employing Granite Staters, non-profits providing critical services for our communities and hundreds of thousands of working families are bearing the brunt of this economic crisis," Shaheen said. "This initial funding should be put to good use to help them weather this storm, but much more is needed to support Granite Staters as we endure this public health and economic emergency. New Hampshire families are relying on leaders to meet this challenge head on, work together and get the job done, and that’s precisely what I’ll fight to see through. More funding will be made available to our state through the CARES Act, but our work in Congress doesn’t end there. I’m working across the aisle and with state and local officials to ensure Congress responds to the needs in our state as we fight — and overcome — this crisis together."

Seacoast Mask Makers Deliver 30K Masks

During the last month, Seacoast Mask Makers, a "brigade of sewists, more than 2,000 strong, from professionals to hobbyists to individuals who picked up or dusted off a machine in relation to our shared cause," created more than 30,000 masks for 185 organizations on the Seacoast.

"Our focus on servicing organizations helps us to get more masks to individuals on the front lines providing health care, hospice, elder care, correctional, and first response services," the org said in a news release. "In addition, we’ve provided masks to restaurants, retailers, delivery services and other essential businesses to distribute to their workers."

Some of the organizations receiving masks include Atlantic Taxi LLC, Edgewood Centre, Portsmouth Housing Authority, Wentworth Senior Living, all of Portsmouth, as well as others.

Any organization in need of masks can enter a request in the org's intake form.

NH Business Get $2B IN PPP Loans

While the $350 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans has been exhausted, banks in New Hampshire were able to help thousands of businesses fend off layoffs.

According to the NH Bankers Association, the Small Business Administration issued 11,582 loans at more than $2 billion. Thirty of the 37 banks in the association issued more than 7,400 loans at a value of more than $1.52 billion. The loans saved more than 38,000 jobs, according to the businesses.

"While federal guidance was often slow and confusing, our banks have worked through nights and weekends to help Granite State businesses stay afloat," said Kristy Merrill, the president of the association. "Due to the later application period for sole proprietors and independent contractors, our banks are finding the smallest of the small businesses are impacted by the depletion of PPP funds. The demand for this successful program has been overwhelming and there is more work to be done. We urge swift action by Congress to provide much needed relief."

GOFERR Stakeholder Advisory Board Meets Tuesday

At 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jerry Little, the executive director of the Governor’s Office For Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR), will hold a meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Board via teleconference.

Call-in: 800-356-8278; PIN: 194655

All members of the GOFERR Stakeholder Advisory Board have been invited to participate in Monday's call.

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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