New Hampshire To Close State-Run Coronavirus Testing Sites

NASHUA, NH — As positive coronavirus infections plummet again in New Hampshire, health officials have decided to close state-run COVID-19 testing sites on March 15.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services opened seven sites in Belmont, Claremont, Keene, Lincoln, Manchester, Nashua, and Newington during the fall surge of COVID-19 infections. The state opened them also due to a shortage of rapid antigen tests around the country. With positive infections decreasing, the demand for testing has, too.

Gov. Chris Sununu said the closure of the state-managed sites marked “a significant milestone” in the two-year pandemic.

“Since the very beginning of this pandemic, the state worked hard to open up access to testing,” he said. “Over the last two years, members of our National Guard, volunteers, local EMS departments, and nurses and doctors have helped stand up our state-run testing sites, and we cannot thank them enough for their tireless work.”

Tests, however, are still available at state liquor stores as well as online. Free tests, too, are still available. There are also 90 other locations around the state where residents can be tested for coronavirus.

On Tuesday, the state reported 66 new positive infections with less than 1,000 active cases.

Two years and a week ago, the state reported its first positive coronavirus result test. Since that time, nearly 300,000 people have contracted the virus with about 1 percent of all cases, 2,408, succumbing to the infection. Most of the deaths — 91.1 percent, were people 60 years of age or older. Only five people 29 or younger have died in New Hampshire. About 1.24 percent of all infections required hospitalization.

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