NH COVID-19 Update: 105 New Positive Cases; 2.4% Positivity Rate

CONCORD, NH — A combination of a drop in the collection of tests but the discovery of another 105 positive test results led the COVID-19 positivity rate in New Hampshire to spike to 2.4 percent — or the highest rate since early August.

The state collected specimens for 3,541 polymerase chain reaction tests — about 6,000 to 8,000 tests below recent normal testing levels. Part of the reason for the lower test collections was only 29 specimens collected at University of New Hampshire whereas most days, 3,000 to 4,000 tests daily were coming out of the university system. Other labs also posted fewer tests than normal. There are 173 tests pending, officials said.

Of the 105 positive results, 86 were discovered by PCR test while 19 were via antigen test. Ten were children while nearly two-thirds were female. Twenty-five cases reside in Rockingham County, 16 live in Hillsborough County outside of Manchester and Nashua, 15 live in Merrimack County, and six live in Nashua.

"The county of residence is being determined for five new cases," the State Joint Information Center said. "Community-based transmission continues to occur in the state and has been identified in all counties."

Currently, there are more than 1,400 COVID-19 current diagnoses in the state with 11,320 accumulatively cases and 41 people receiving more extensive care in a hospital. Another 9,430 have recovered from the virus, according to health officials.

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The state said Monday that 348,198 residents have been tested via 626,532 PCR tests with 32,225 people tested via antibody test. Public health officials are monitoring approximately 4,750 people.

About 45 COVID-19 cases are connected to New Hampshire K-12 schools.

Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua has reported its third case; the Derry Village School has its first case; the Ellis Elementary School in Fremont has its fifth case; the Franklin Middle School has its first positive test result; the Hampstead Middle School reported its first case; the John H. Fuller Elementary School has its first infection; the Londonderry Senior High School has its seventh case; Mount Prospect Academy in Plymouth has 20 active positive test results and one recovery; Pittsfield Elementary School has its first case; Plymouth Regional High School has its third positive test result; and the Founders Academy Charter School (H) has its first case.

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Stop 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.
• When you can't practice 6 feet of social distancing, wear a face covering.
• Anyone who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic and underlying health conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers should work from home as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that the virus can survive for hours or possibly days on surfaces. 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.
• Wear a face covering.
• 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.
• To access the state's COVID-19 data dashboard, click on this link here.
• To access the state's COVID-19 Interactive Map Dashboard, click on this link here.

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