NH Coronavirus Update: 77 New Cases Announced; 4 Are Children

CONCORD, NH — Nearly 1,900 people in New Hampshire have contracted the new coronavirus since the start of the outbreak in early March, according to figures released by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Sunday.

The state added 77 more positive test results for COVID-19 bringing the state's total infected count to 1,864 patients. Of the new cases, only four required hospitalization. Currently, 101 are hospitalized while 242 or about 13 percent have needed hospital care.

Four of the new cases were children, the State Joint Information Center said, while 68 percent were women and 32 percent men. Some of the investigatory processes for the cases have not been completed.

The state said 779 or 42 percent have recovered from the virus while 17,860 have tested negative. Currently, tests are being performed in state labs as well as commercial labs at LabCorp, Quest, and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. About 270 people have tests pending.

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Around 2,225 Granite Staters are under public health monitoring.

The majority of the new cases — 41 — live in Hillsborough County while 24 reside in Rockingham County. Three new patients live in Merrimack County. The state is still attempting to find residency information for three new cases and two older cases.

"Nine of the new cases have no identified risk factors," the state said. "Community-based transmission continues to increase in the state and has been identified in all counties with cases. Most of the remaining cases have either had travel to domestic or international locations or have had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis."

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While a high-resolution copy of an updated map of cases in New Hampshire was not available at post time, according to the latest data, Milford became the 18th community in the state to report more than 20 positive cases of the new coronavirus.

Stopping The Spread Of COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus 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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