NH Coronavirus Update: First Death Announced; 101 Infected

CONCORD, NH — Officials have announced the state’s first death due to the new coronavirus, a Hillsborough County man over age 60 with numerous health complications. Monday’s announcement came as officials said the number of residents has jumped to 101 since Sunday.

In light of New Hampshire's first COVID-19 death, Gov. Chris Sununu urged everyone who was 60 and older to "stay at home" and for community members to "come together as a state" to assist others, including the elderly, who may not be able to go out to a store to buy essentials.

Sununu on Monday also banned gatherings of 10 people or more in the state, an action based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

"These are challenging times (but) we're really in this together," Sununu said. "(And) with community responsibility, we can be held accountable to each other and make smart decisions."

However, about an hour before the news conference, the mayors of the two largest cities, Joyce Craig of Manchester and Jim Donchess of Nashua, both Democrats, joined District 2 Executive Councilor Andru Volinsky of Concord, another Democrat, who is running for governor in 2020, in calling on Sununu to shut down the state. Craig and Donchess said the governor should direct residents who are not involved in essential services or processes to stay in their homes. Volinsky has twice pointed to the actions of Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in Massachusetts — and pressed Sununu, who is also a Republican, to do the same.

"I once again urge Governor Sununu to issue a shelter-in-place directive (or stay-at-home order, as some states have called such a policy)," Volinsky said. "Because we do not currently have enough protective equipment to test across our state, a shelter-in-place directive is now the only available option to prevent more extensive community spread. The order should provide 24 hour notice, and should be issued now. All non-essential state employees should also be sent home with pay and benefits."

Despite calls to lockdown the state, Sununu said he was not going to order a shelter-in-place. He said New Hampshire was taking "a more regional approach" when compared to other states. He added that he had been in touch with Baker and Gov. Phil Scott, another Republican, from Vermont, about the coronavirus situation.

Sununu said many residents and businesses were already "stepping up" to make sure customers were safe. These actions, he said, were going to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Sununu stressed the need for residents to practice social distancing due to COVID-19 — "we truly cannot repeat this enough" — along with common sense and smart decision-making when it comes to personal actions and activity.

"The days and weeks ahead are going to be very important … and further action may be necessary," he said.

More than 2,400 have been tested in the state with around 870 tests pending, according to Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist. No other data was available at post time.

Chan said while many are exhibiting mild symptoms, people who are 60 and older are at greater risk for catching the virus, even if they don't have symptoms or are healthy.

Chan said if residents in high-risk categories also had medical conditions, it makes it more difficult to fight the coronavirus.

He also said health officials wished the Hillsborough County man's family their best during this difficult time.

Frank Edelblut, the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education, said the move to remote learning appeared to be running smoothly with the state's educators working hard to make the process work.

Richard Lavers, deputy commissioner of New Hampshire Employment Security, said despite the surge in unemployment filings, the fund was solvent. Department employees were answering numerous calls assisting people with the process. Those residents who qualify for unemployment are having funds deposited directly into bank accounts, he said.

More testing sites are also opening up around the state with testing capacity is expected to triple this week, Sununu said.

Any state employee who can work from home has been directed to do so, by commissioners, Sununu said, with departments being offered "flexibility" to make this work.

"So far, it's working very, very well," he said. "We hope those in the private sector will mimic this approach."

On whether remote learning would be extended past the early April date, the governor said officials would look at it in a couple of weeks. It is possible, he added.

"This crisis is not going to go away," Sununu said. "We're not promising anything right now."

Edelblut said the department and school administrators will re-evaluating the remote learning process in the near future.

Sununu, at the end of the news conference, thanked everyone for all that they were doing and said it was amazing to see people working together during these difficult times.

"We are asking for a lot," Sununu said. "And we appreciate it. We want to thank everyone (for acting proactively) and stepping up to do what they can to help people in the state."

What You Can Do To Stop The Spread

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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Editor's note: I was director of communications for the New Hampshire Department of Education between April 13, 2018, and April 16, 2019.

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