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- Written by Patrick R. McElhiney
- Category: Articles
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued the following update for March 18, 2020, on the new coronavirus, COVID-19. DHHS will continue to issue COVID-19 updates each day to provide media and the public with current information about the State’s efforts.
What’s New
· New Positive Cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire
On Wednesday, March 18, 2020, DHHS announced 13 new positive test results for COVID-19. The new cases are all in adults, including six males and seven females. Persons are from the counties of Hillsborough (4), Rockingham (3), Carroll (3), Belknap (2), and Merrimack (1); the four individuals from Hillsborough County all reside in Manchester. New individuals from Carroll and Merrimack counties have no identified risk factors, indicating additional areas in New Hampshire experiencing community-based transmission of COVID-19. Community-based transmission has been identified in the following counties: Rockingham, Grafton, Merrimack, and Carroll. There have been 39 total cases of COVID-19 identified in New Hampshire. Two patients are hospitalized and they are in stable condition; the remaining people are isolating at home.
· Governor Sununu Issues Three Emergency Orders to Provide Relief
On March 18, Governor Sununu issued Emergency Orders 6, 7, and 8, as part of the state's efforts to respond to COVID-19.
Emergency Order #6: Temporary authorization for take-out or delivery beer or wine. All restaurants, diners, bars, saloons, private clubs or any other establishment that have both a restaurant license and on premise license from the New Hampshire liquor commission shall be temporarily authorized to allow for takeout or delivery of beer or wine.
Emergency Order #7: Temporary modification of data and privacy governance plans.
Emergency Order #8: Temporary expansion of access to Telehealth Services to protect the public and health care providers.
New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report
(updated March 18, 2020, 9:00 AM)
|
NH Persons with COVID-191 |
39 |
|
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL2 |
231 |
|
Total Persons Tested at NH PHL3 |
891 |
|
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) |
550 |
1Includes specimens presumptive-positive at any laboratory and those confirmed by CDC confirmatory testing.
2Includes specimens received and awaiting testing at NH Public Health Laboratories (PHL). Does not include tests pending at commercial laboratories.
3Includes specimens sent to CDC prior to NH PHL testing capacity.
Previous Updates
· New Positive Cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire
· Governor Sununu Issues Three Emergency Orders To Provide Relief
NH DHHS Daily Update on COVID-19 Archive
For more information, please visit the DHHS COVID-19 webpage at www.nh.gov/covid19.
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- Written by Patrick R. McElhiney
- Category: Articles
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has issued the following update for March 17, 2020, on the new coronavirus, COVID-19. DHHS will continue to issue COVID-19 updates each day to provide media and the public with current information about the State’s efforts.
What’s New
· New Positive Cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire
On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, DHHS announced nine new positive test results for COVID-19. The new cases are all in adults, including five males and four females. Persons are from the counties of Rockingham (4), Hillsborough (3), and Grafton (2). Several individuals from Rockingham and Grafton counties have no identified risk factors, indicating that New Hampshire is experiencing community-based transmission of COVID-19. In total, 26 cases of COVID-19 have now been identified. All patients are isolating at home and have not required hospitalization.
· Governor Sununu Issues Three Emergency Orders To Provide Relief
Governor Chris Sununu issued Emergency Orders 3, 4, 5 on March 17 to provide relief for Granite Staters affected by COVID-19.
Emergency Order #3: All providers of electric, gas, water, telephone, cable, VOIP, internet service, and deliverable fuel services will be prohibited from disconnecting or discontinuing service for non-payments for the duration of the State of Emergency.
Emergency Order #4: Landlords will not be allowed to start eviction proceedings for those unable to pay due to their financial situations. To do so would be against the law. All judicial and non-judicial foreclosure actions will also be prohibited during the state of emergency.
Emergency Order #5: Individuals who are unable to work or who have reduced hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic will have immediate access to unemployment benefits. Anyone in the following situations will now be eligible for state unemployment: If your employer temporarily closes due to COVID-19; Individuals that need to self-quarantine or are directed to quarantine at the instruction of a health care provider, employer or government official; Individuals that need to care for a family member that has COVID-19 or is under quarantine; Individuals that need to care for a dependent because of school closures, child care facility closures or other similar types of care programs; Self-employed individuals that are temporarily unable to operate their business because of any of the above listed situations will also be eligible. Please visit www.nhes.nh.gov or call 603-271-7770 for more information.
New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report
(updated March 17, 2020, 9:00 AM)
|
NH Persons with COVID-191 |
26 |
|
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL2 |
208 |
|
Total Persons Tested at NH PHL3 |
742 |
|
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) |
475 |
1Includes specimens presumptive-positive at any laboratory and those confirmed by CDC confirmatory testing.
2Includes specimens received and awaiting testing at NH Public Health Laboratories (PHL).
3Includes specimens sent to CDC prior t NH PHL testing capacity.
Previous Updates
· NH DHHS Announces Four New Presumptive Positive Test Results for COVID-19
· Public Health Laboratories COVID-19 testing update
· DHHS guidance to medical providers to coordinate testing with commercial laboratories
NH DHHS Daily Update on COVID-19 Archive
For more information, please visit the DHHS COVID-19 webpage at www.nh.gov/covid19.
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- Written by Patrick R. McElhiney
- Category: Articles
BEDFORD, NH – Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains congratulates state Rep. Cassandra Levesque on being named one of WZID’s 20 Outstanding Women for 2020. The radio station honor is awarded to those who go above and beyond to make their communities a better place to live.
Levesque, 20, of Barrington, who is also a Gold Award Girl Scout, was nominated by the Girl Scout council serving New Hampshire and Vermont for her tireless work on behalf of New Hampshire’s young women and the mentorship of our youngest citizens.
“Juliette Gordon Low once said ‘Girl Scouting is not just knowing, but doing...not doing, but being,’” said Levesque. “I have long ago taken those words to heart, and they guide me in my daily journey. Girl Scouts helped me decide who I was, how I saw the world and gave me the confidence and courage to step into the roles that I have taken on recently. We never know where the path of our lives will take us, but I am sure that I will always have my Girl Scout sisters by my side no matter where I go or what I do, and for that support, that acceptance, I am so very grateful. I am very honored and humbled to be chosen as a 2020 Outstanding Woman by WZID.”
She earned Girl Scouting’s highest honor, the Girl Scout Gold Award, in 2017 for her work to raise the minimum age for marriage in New Hampshire. She wanted to raise the age from 13 for girls and 14 for boys, to 18 but compromised to get legislation passed in 2018 to raise the age to 16 for both. Her Gold Award project, “Let a Child be a Child,” is founded on her belief that child marriage is a human rights violation.
When that legislation was signed into law, Levesque was about to enter college and was offered full four-year tuition at Southern New Hampshire University in recognition of her leadership. She now studies political science there through their online programs.
Because of that experience, Levesque was inspired to run for office, becoming one of the state’s youngest representatives, advocating for her community of Barrington and the people of New Hampshire. She is continuing her fight in the New Hampshire Legislature to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18.
She also mentors some of the youngest members of her community as a Girl Scout Brownie troop leader.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable. The Gold Award is earned by girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing sustainable solutions to local, national, and global challenges. Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains offers girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont the opportunity to change the world for the better, as Cassandra Levesque has, through Girl Scouting - the world’s largest leadership development program for girls.
Levesque’s profile and on-air interview can be found at https://wzid.com/outstanding-women/cassandra-levesque/
About Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is recognized throughout New Hampshire and Vermont as a leading expert on girls. Our Girl Scout Leadership Experience is a one-of-a-kind leadership development program for girls with proven results. It is based on time-tested methods and research-backed programming that helps girls take the lead—in their own lives and in the world. Through our exciting and challenging programs, Girl Scouts not only participate but also take the lead in a range of activities—from kayaking, archery, and camping, to coding, robotics, financial literacy training, and beyond! Serving more than 10,000 girls throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, girls discover the fun, friendship, and power of girls together. Visit www.girlscoutsgwm.org.
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- Written by Patrick R. McElhiney
- Category: Articles
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced nine new positive test results for COVID-19, the disease caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus. The new confirmed cases of COVID-19 are all in adults, including five males and four females. Persons are from the counties of Rockingham (4), Hillsborough (3), and Grafton (2). Several individuals from Rockingham and Grafton counties have no identified risk factors indicating that New Hampshire is experiencing community-based transmission of COVID-19. In total, 26 cases of COVID-19 have now been identified. All patients are isolating at home and have not required hospitalization.
“The increasing number of cases and new evidence of community-based transmission raises concern that the COVID-19 outbreak is intensifying in New Hampshire,” said State Epidemiologist, Dr. Benjamin Chan. “The State has put into place measures to help prevent larger scale transmission at schools and larger gatherings; however, it is critical for everybody to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 and practice social distancing. We know that this novel coronavirus can be spread very easily through close contact, and the virus can be spread even when people are only having very mild early symptoms of illness.”
Symptoms of COVID-19 most often include fever and respiratory symptoms, such as cough. However, early mild symptoms can include fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and chills. Fever may not develop until several days into illness, or not at all, but people can still transmit the novel coronavirus. People that are concerned about COVID-19 should discuss their symptoms and any risk factors by phone with their healthcare provider before presenting for testing.
We recommend that testing be performed in individuals with more serious illness (e.g. hospitalized patients), healthcare providers, and individuals who have contact to more vulnerable persons or large groups of people. But as COVID-19 becomes more common in our communities, confirming infection for every patient presenting with fever and respiratory symptoms becomes impractical and does not change how a person’s illness is managed. Further, presenting for testing potentially exposes the public, healthcare workers, and vulnerable persons to COVID-19. For most people with this infection, symptoms will be mild and easily managed at home, as you would for flu. Anyone who develops symptoms should stay home and self-isolate. Additionally, we must preserve our limited personal protective equipment and specimen collection supplies for our healthcare system to be able to care for the minority of patients who develop severe COVID-19 illness over the coming months.
Given the increasing spread of COVID-19 worldwide and in the United States, all people should take the following precautions to protect themselves and help prevent further community spread:
· Stay home and avoid public places when sick (i.e. social distancing)
· Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing=
· Wash hands frequently
· Avoid being within 6 feet (close contact) of a person who is sick
· Avoid sharing drinks, smoking/vaping devices, or other utensils or objects that may transmit saliva
· Disinfect frequently touched surfaces
For more information on COVID-19 in NH, please visit www.nh.gov/covid19. For the latest information from the CDC, please visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/.
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