NH Coronavirus Update: Fed Funding Proposed; Tests For 7 Pending

CONCORD, NH — Nearly $5 million in federal funds could be coming to New Hampshire to help the state offset the initial cost of the new coronavirus. The money is part of an $8.3 billion national effort to address costs associated with dealing with the COVID-19 virus. U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan worked on the agreement with Shaheen calling it "the product of a good-faith, bipartisan effort to respond" to the virus and mitigate its spread.

Hassan said the Senators were working to ensure "a coordinated, well-resourced response across all levels of government to protect public health and safety."

Gov. Chris Sununu commended the Division of Public Health, which he said was working "around the clock to ensure New Hampshire remains on top of this developing situation." He also called on Congress to send the appropriate to President Donald Trump "immediately" so "New Hampshire has all resources available to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak."

Lori Shibinette, the new commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, has declared a "public health incident" in the state which allows officials to use "trained volunteers to assist in the ongoing response" and to create a plan to coordinate those volunteers, officials at hospitals and healthcare providers, "to develop a robust response in case there is a future need to increase capacity for testing and surveillance efforts throughout the state."

Updates From The State

Part of the coordinated response has been a new daily update issued by the department so the public and the press knows what is being done by officials — including how they are working to keep the virus from spreading after two state residents in Grafton County contracted the virus.

One of those individuals, a Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center employee, who recently returned from traveling in Italy, has been placed in confinement after ignoring requests by the state to self-isolate and infecting a man while attending a private party at The Engine Room in White River Junction, Vermont, on Feb. 28, according to officials.

"People ... identified to be a close contact to the person who had a presumptive positive test for COVID-19 have been contacted and asked to self-quarantine and monitor for development of symptoms of infection," according to the state. "Any other patrons of The Engine Room have been determined to be low risk for COVID-19 and are not being asked to quarantine or have testing for COVID-19."

Health and Human Services sent the two presumptive positive tests to the Centers for Disease Control to be double-checked. Currently, seven other people are being tested. Ten others have tested negative in the state, according to officials.

Certain Travelers Should Self-Isolate

Officials are also suggesting New Hampshire residents follow the CDC's guidelines for self-isolation if they have traveled to Level 2 and Level 3 Alert countries.

Level 3 countries include China, Iran, Italy, and South Korea. Travelers to Japan, a Level 2 country, are being advised to monitor their health and limit interaction with others after 14 days of returning to the United States.

CDC officials have been monitoring COVID-19 since mid-January when officials began screening people arriving to the United States from Wuhan, China, about two weeks after health officials in that country warned of a "pneumonia outbreak" in the city.

At the end of January, a public health emergency was declared and foreign travelers from China were banned from coming to the United States by Trump. A complete travel ban with Iran was also issued last month as well as travel warnings to the other countries.

More travel bans are expected, including along the southern border with Mexico, where hundreds of Chinese nationals are caught by U.S. Customs and Border Protection each year crossing into the country, according to press reports.

What Is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past.

Like all respiratory illnesses, it is spread through respiratory droplets, meaning residents should take the same precautions as those recommended to prevent the spread of influenza. This means staying at home and avoiding public places when sick (i.e., "social distancing"); covering the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing; washing hands frequently; avoiding being within 6 feet (close contact) of a person who is sick; avoiding sharing drinks, smoking/vaping devices or other utensils or objects that may transmit saliva; and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

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:

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• Presumptive Positive Coronavirus Test In NH Prompts Investigation
• New Hampshire's First Coronavirus Case Reported In Grafton County
• What is coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)? CDC pdf
• Media Facing Challenges In Covering Coronavirus Outbreak
• DHHS: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Worker Is 1st To Test Positive in NH for COVID-19
• An Outbreak Of Coronavirus Misinformation: AP Fact Check
• Officials Say Fourth Granite Stater Tested For Coronavirus
• NH Students Just Back From European Trip Will Stay Home Over Coronavirus Fears
• 'Certainly Possible' N.H. Sees Coronavirus Spread: State Doctor
• State Says 2 With 2019 Novel Coronavirus Symptoms Test Negative
• 2 In NH Who Returned From China Have Coronavirus Symptoms

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