Nashua's Mayor Contracts New Coronavirus

CONCORD, NH — Nashua's mayor has contracted the new coronavirus after a cluster of infections were reported from Nashua City Hall, according to city health officials.

Mayor Jim Donchess and two other city hall employees contracted COVID-19 sometime before Sept. 7. City hall employees were notified about the three positive test results Monday.

According to Flavia Martin, the city of Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services communicable disease program coordinator, all proper protocols are being followed by officials to preserve the health of all employees as well as the general public.

"We have identified a cluster of COVID-19 illness which has been attributed to a specific congregate activity," she said. "At this time, we are not experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 at Nashua City Hall. We will continue to monitor the situation and make appropriate recommendations as the situation evolves."

A cluster of cases is two or three; an outbreak is more than three cases in a single area or environment. It is unknown how long the mayor has been infected or how often he receives a test.

The city of Nashua has been under a mandatory face mask-cloth covering order since May and has seen lower and lower cases, not unlike the rest of the state, with minor issues, around the city. During an interview in late July, Donchess said he was appreciative of the community for being very responsive to the mandate.

Public health nurses in Nashua have conducted contact tracing investigations and Martin said Thursday the mayor and the two other patients would be self-isolated for 10 days. All close contacts have been notified and advised to self-quarantine for two weeks and get tested.

Other Health Info

The city of Nashua provided the following health information Thursday for residents:

COVID-19 can be spread from person to person very easily through respiratory droplets. It is possible for an infected individual to transmit this disease without showing any symptoms. The best means of preventing the spread of a virus within a community is by practicing the following:

• Stay home if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of respiratory illness;
• Wash your hands often with running water and soap for at least 20 seconds;
• Minimize close personal contact with individuals in a public environment by avoiding large gatherings and practicing social distancing through maintaining a distance of at least six feet from others;
• Wear a face covering to protect others from your respiratory droplets in situations where you are unable to maintain social distancing;
• Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands;
• Cover your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using standard cleaning products, according to the product’s manufacturer label. Surfaces should be allowed to air dry.

We want the public to know that our personal decisions impact our loved ones, friends and co-workers. Wearing a face covering in public is a key component to preventing the spread of COVID-19. The purpose of face coverings is to keep respiratory droplets from reaching others to aid with source control, which evidence shows reduces the likelihood of transmitting the virus. Face coverings can protect others in case the wearer is spreading the virus without knowing that they are infectious.

If you are experiencing ANY symptoms of illness, such as new onset of sore throat, congestion, runny nose, headache, muscle ache, fatigue, new loss of taste or smell, fever, cough, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, we advise you to please stay at home and contact your health care provider. You can also schedule a free COVID-19 test at the Nashua DPHCS COVID-19 Testing Clinics held every Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Elm Street Parking Garage. To schedule an appointment, complete the online form at bit.ly/NashuaCOVIDTestingForm or call the Nashua COVID-19 Hotline at 603-589-3456. For additional COVID-19 testing options, visit nashuanh.gov/1383/Testing.

For more information regarding COVID-19, visit the city of Nashua website at nashuanh.gov/COVID19. For additional information and resources, visit the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) online at nh.gov/covid19.

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