NH Health Commissioner: 5 New Coronavirus Deaths Announced

CONCORD, NH — Numerous new coronavirus deaths have been reported at New Hampshire's home health care and nursing home facilities in the state, according to the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Lori Shibinette announced Wednesday that deaths were reported at the Hanover Hill Health Care in Manchester and The Huntington at Nashua. Hanover Hill reported five confirmed deaths due to the new coronavirus or due to complications from the virus while four have died at The Huntington.

Another 37 residents there have also tested positive along with 13 staffers.

At The Huntington, 19 residents have confirmed positive along with 11 staffers.

The Crotched Mountain Residential Care Facility also reported one death along with 11 staffers and three residents who tested positive.

More than 10 other facilities in the state, Shibinette said, have "isolated incidents with their residents or staffs" but "I'm not going to report on those facilities." She said it was something similar to a flu outbreak at those facilities. The orgs, Shibinette said, were being "very transparent" and had drafted review letters to residents and families, as well as employees, about the health of workers and residents.

Sununu also said the last few days of lower positive tests of COVID-19 was below the high-water mark during the past few days. He called the numbers "incredibly encouraging" but added that he was not sure "where we are in the model."

Sununu added later though, "A couple of good data points don't (show) a trend."

The governor also said a rumor and misinformation about homeless people who test positive being moved into a location in Laconia, as a safe space to quarantine, was not confirmed and no decision had been made. Transparency, he said, "is a hallmark of my administration" during this crisis. The state will meet and coordinate with local officials and evaluate all locations before decisions will be made, with public involvement.

According to the state, more than 67,000 total unemployment payments, about $19 million, have been made since the emergency order. About 30,000 or $8 million were issued during this last week. Sununu said he "appreciated citizens patience" with the process and thanked Employment Security for "doing a great job" helping those out of work.

"It's truly a staggering number of individuals," Sununu.

The governor, with a bit of terseness in his voice, also announced that while the state had received the new Abbott testing machines from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, officials didn't receive enough cartridges.

Only about 15 percent of the cartridges can be used for testing after a number of sample runs are performed to align the machine. Sununu said he would "keep putting pressure on Washington" to supply more cartridges while also saying that he understood that some states needed them more. But it was not acceptable to get such a few number of cartridges because the state would not be able to use the machines for even a fraction of tests needed, he said.

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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.

ALSO READ:

• NH Coronavirus: 91% Negative: False Tests, Flaws, Something Else?
• NH Coronavirus Update: 4 More Deaths, 32 New Cases Announced
• Concord Coronavirus: Testing Site Closed Due To 'Lack Of Volume'
• NH Experts To Governor: Increase Coronavirus Testing, Treatment, Tracking
• State Prison Worker Tests Positive For Coronavirus

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