Posted on by Bonnie

COVID-19 Update 10 January 2022

When I posted the update for January 10 on Facebook, I neglected to update the link, so it still went to the January 3rd page. No one seemed to notice.

As an experiment, I’m going to keep the January 3 link for a few weeks to decide if I should keep doing the full update, or if the condensed, Facebook summary, is enough. 

Please let me know if you are reading this!

SALEM:

  • Salem since last update: 399 new cases reported since last week
  • Total: 5,389 confirmed cases in Salem.
  • We have 317 active cases. (222 last week; 349 on Thursday)
  • 1 out of every 6 Salem residents have had confirmed infections. 
  • Salem’s new cases per 100K for 14 days: 2,029 (1,260 last week)
  • Salem’s Positivity Rate for the past 2 weeks: 25.3% (29.3% last week.) 
  • Fully vaccinated Salem residents: 14,867 (49.7%). (+20 people, 0.1% in the past week)
  • Salem residents who have had at least one shot: 16,287 (54.5%). (+62 people, 0.3% in the past week.)

NEW HAMPSHIRE:

  • New cases of COVID-19 in NH this week by math (Total cases last week compared to total cases today): 19,850 (9,279 last week)
  • New cases of COVID-19 in NH this week as reported by DHHS: 19736. Last week: 8,718.
  • 1 out of every 6 NH residents has been infected. (1:7 last week)
  • Active COVID-19 cases in NH: 17,208 (8,785 last week). There were 155 active cases on June 28. Before the recent surge, we peaked one year ago, last December 27, at 6,994. Starting November 18, we have broken that record multiple times, peaking today.
  • Recovered in NH this week: 11,373 (8,785 last week.)
  • State Level of Transmission: Substantial in all counties 
  • New patients hospitalized this week because of COVID-19: 77 (72 last week)
  • Current patients hospitalized because of COVID-19: 377 (381 last week)
  • New admissions to ICU this week because of COVID-19: 11 (54 last week)
  • New deaths attributed to COVID-19 reported in NH this week: 54 (66 last week)
  • From the Vaccination Dashboard: Total NH individuals fully vaccinated: 786,092 (55.9%). (+1,748; 0.1% this week.) Total NH individuals with at least one shot: 888,948. (62.5%). (+4,707; 0.3% this week) The issues with vaccination rates as previously reported have not been resolved, and now the CDC has reporting issues as well as the State.

If you test positive using an at-home test, self-report your positive test result by calling 603-271-6996. 

Hello, Salem!

Random thoughts from this week:

  • “NH is on a decent track.” — Gov. Sununu, at conclusion of his press conference on January 6.
  • We have broken all kinds of records lately.
    • Last Monday, NH reported its 200,000th confirmed cases. (We’ve added almost 20,000 since then.)
    • We have added more than twice the number of new cases in NH this week than we added last week.
    • NH’s peak of active cases in 2020 was 6,994 cases on December 27. We broke 10,000 twice in December 2021, peaking at 10,648 on December 9. (12/10 was slightly less). And then it went down for a brief time, getting as low as 7,279 active cases on Tuesday, December 28.
    • Over the 9 days from Tuesday, Dec 28 to Thursday, Jan 6, NH’s active cases more than doubled (7,279 to 14,937) and has gone up almost 2,300 since then.
    • On Wednesday, January 5 we set a new record at 12,149. We have set new records each day since: Thursday (14,937), Friday (15,340), and today (17,208).
    • Salem hit 5,000+ total confirmed cases on Tuesday.
    • Salem’s previous peak active cases was 232 people on December 27, 2020. We passed that this past Wednesday, and set our new record of 349 active cases on Thursday, January 6, which was double what it was 9 days earlier (151 on Tuesday, 12/28)
    • These numbers – active and cumulative — do not allow for those who self-diagnosed, or who have taken at-home tests. Positivity rates, which are also skyrocketing, will be impacted by at-home tests as well.
  • Dominant variant in NH: Per the latest report I am able to find, the Delta variant continues to be the dominant strain in NH. As of Friday, January 7, of those cases which have been sampled, NH had only 61 identified cases of Omicron, and 4,597 cases of Delta. From Thursday, December 30 to Friday January 7, 377 new Delta cases were identified compared to 48 new cases of Omicron.
  • Masks:
    • Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said that a mask mandate is “one of the lightest lift health precautions you could possibly do.” Here is a State-by-State Guide to Face Mask Requirements. NH’s governor says we will not have a mask mandate here, it is up to the communities.
    • Some NH communities are getting more strict. Hanover and Lebanon both reinstated indoor mask requirements in the late summer. Portsmouth just instituted a city-wide mask mandate, while Keene’s mask mandate went into effect December 20, and Exeter on December 21. Nashua recently reinstated a mask mandate, at last through January, and Concord is considering one.
  • Flurona: What is ‘flurona’ and should you be worried? A doctor breaks it down in this story about the combination of InFLUenza and CoRONA virus.
  • Deltacron: A new COVID-19 variant that combines the omicron and delta variants? Scientists in Cyprus say so.  Or could it be a lab contamination? Other experts think it might be a “scariant” – a new subtype of scariant that isn’t even a real variant but scares a lot of people, unnecessarily.” It’s a developing story; hopefully one not worth watching.
  • “For elite footballers, the effects of covid-19 linger for months. Long after infection, players play fewer minutes and complete fewer passes.” Story here about complications in soccer players.

Sometimes I wonder: Are folks just reading the headlines at the top of the page, before my message, or are you still reading this information as well? I know people are tired of the virus. Are you getting tired of the full report? If you feel this part of my report is worthwhile, please let me know.

My next update is scheduled for next Monday. In the meantime, enjoy the Holidays, but be smart, stay safe, and always, be kind. 

~Bonnie 

On Tuesday, January 4, 2022, DHHS announced 1,093 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Monday, January 3. Today’s results include 531 people who tested positive by PCR test and 562 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced an additional 14 new cases from Thursday, December 30 (13 by PCR and 1 by antigen test) for a new total of 2,177; an additional 28 new cases from Friday, December 31 (15 by PCR and 13 by antigen test) for a new total of 2,218; an additional 10 new cases from Saturday, January 1 (7 by PCR and 3 by antigen test) for a new total of 31; and an additional 2 new cases from Sunday, January 2 (2 by PCR and 0 by antigen test) for a new total of 27. There are now 9,177 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire.

On Wednesday, January 5, 2022, DHHS announced 1,854 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Tuesday, January 4. Today’s results include 1,179 people who tested positive by PCR test and 675 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced an additional 41 new cases from Monday, December 20 (0 by PCR and 41 by antigen test) for a new total of 854; an additional 2 new cases from Thursday, December 30 (1 by PCR and 1 by antigen test) for a new total of 2,179; an additional 106 new cases from Friday, December 31 (67 by PCR and 39 by antigen test) for a new total of 2,324; an additional 948 new cases from Saturday, January 1 (879 by PCR and 69 by antigen test) for a new total of 979; an additional 82 new cases from Sunday, January, 2 (42 by PCR and 40 by antigen test) for a new total of 109; and an additional 116 new cases from Monday, January 3 (5 by PCR and 111 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,209. There are now 12,149 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

On Thursday, January 6, 2022, DHHS announced 2,184 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Wednesday, January 5. Today’s results include 1,390 people who tested positive by PCR test and 794 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced an additional 68 new cases from Wednesday, December 29 (52 by PCR and 16 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,882; an additional 54 new cases from Thursday, December 30 (25 by PCR and 29 by antigen test) for a new total of 2,233; an additional 368 new cases from Saturday, January 1 (206 by PCR and 150 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,324; an additional 892 new cases from Sunday, January 2 (692 by PCR and 200 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,001; an additional 187 new cases from Monday, January 3 (89 by PCR and 98 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,396; and an additional 42 new cases from Tuesday, January 4 (2 by PCR and 40 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,896. There are now 14,937 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

On Friday, January 7, 2022, DHHS announced 2,093 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Thursday, January 6. Today’s results include 1,454 people who tested positive by PCR test and 639 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced an additional 164 new cases from Saturday, January 1 (81 by PCR and 83 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,326; an additional 11 new cases from Sunday, January 2 (7 by PCR and 4 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,012; an additional 111 new cases from Monday, January 3 (13 by PCR and 98 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,507; an additional 45 new cases from Tuesday, January 4 (5 by PCR and 40 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,941; and an additional 209 new cases from Wednesday, January, 5 (107 by PCR and 102 by antigen test) for a new total of 2,393. There are now 15,340 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

On Monday, January 10, 2022, DHHS announced 2,705 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Sunday, January 9. Today’s results include 2,350 people who tested positive by PCR test and 355 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced 2,581 cases from Friday, January 7 (1,892 by PCR and 689 by antigen test); and 3,267 cases from Saturday, January 8 (2,496 by PCR and 771 by antigen test). Additionally, DHHS announced an additional 121 new cases from Monday, January 3 (16 by PCR and 105 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,628; an additional 190 new cases from Tuesday, January 4 (73 by PCR and 117 by antigen test) for a new total of 2,131; an additional 79 new cases from Wednesday, January 5 (50 by PCR and 29 by antigen test) for a new total of 2,472; and an additional 69 new cases from Thursday, January 6 (20 by PCR and 49 by antigen test) for a new total of 2,162. There are now 17,208 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

Each day, DHHS says that “Test results for previous days are still being processed and updated case counts for prior days will be reflected on the COVID-19 interactive dashboard.” And, “Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates.” 

• • • • • • DIAGNOSTIC TESTS IN NH • • • • • • 

  • Total people who have tested positive: 223,599 (203,749) last week) 
  • New positive cases reported this week by math (Comparison of total number of cases last week to now): 19,850 (9,279 last week)
  • New positive cases per DHHS: 19,736 (8,718 last week)

• • • • • ACTIVE CASES • • • • • • 

  • 17,208 (8,785 last week). There were 155 active cases on June 28. We peaked at 6,994 last December 27. Starting November 18, we have broken the record multiple times in 2021, peaking on December 9 at 10,648 cases, a 52.2% increase from last December. We broke the 2021 record for the past four reporting days (Wednesday to today)
  • There are now NINE communities with more active cases than Salem: Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Derry, Hanover, Dover, Londonderry, Hudson and Merrimack.
  • 33 communities have more than 100 active cases.
  • 17 communities have more than 200 active cases.
  • 4 communities have more than 500 active cases.

• • • • • CUMULATIVE CASES • • • • • • 

  • Last Monday, NH passed 200,000 total confirmed cases. We are now up to 223,599 confirmed cases.
  • 4 communities — Manchester, Nashua, Concord, and Derry — are still the only communities with more total cases than Salem. 
  • 1 out of every 6 Salem residents has been infected. (Likely to be 1:5 next week)
  • 1 out of every 6 residents of Rockingham County. (1:7 last week)
  • 1 out of every 6 residents of NH have been infected. (1:7 last week)

• • • • • • RECOVERED • • • • • •

  • Total recovered: 204,364 (192,991 last week)
  • Recovered this week: 11,373 (8,454 last week)
  • Percentage of diagnosed cases that have recovered: 91.4%. (94.9% last week; 98.3% in late July.) 

• • • • • COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION • • • • • • 

  • Every county in NH, as well as Manchester and Nashua, are at Substantial risk for community transmission.
  • Cases per 100K NH residents: 2,066 (1,161 last week.)
  • Positivity Rate for NH: 20.4%. (19.7% last week.) On June 28, NH’s positivity was at 0.8%. The peak before the recent surge, was December 22, 2021, when NH had a positivity rate of 9.2%. 
  • Salem’s Positivity Rate is now 25.3%, Last week we were at 29.3%.
  • 63 communities have a positivity rate higher than Salem; this count was 16 last week and 54 the previous week. 
  • When the positivity rate is high, it is likely that cases are undercounted.

• • • • • • HOSPITALIZATIONS IN NH • • • • • • 

  • Currently hospitalized: 377 (Last week: 381). NH’s previous peak before the recent surge was reached on January 2, 2021, with 335 COVID hospitalizations. We have broken that record a number of times lately. December 10, 2021 was the most recent peak at 466.
  • Staffed hospital beds available: 10.9%. (13.7% last week)
  • Total patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19: 2,935 (2,858 last week) 
  • New patients hospitalized this week because of COVID-19: 77. (72 last week)
  • Percentage of those who have been infected that have been hospitalized: 1.3%
  • Total ICU patients: 828
  • New admissions to ICU this week because of COVID-19: 18 (11 last week)
  • Staffed adult ICU beds available: 8.9%. (Last week: 8.2%.)
  • NY Times reports that Parkland (Derry) has 1 ICU bed available, CMC in Manchester has 3, Elliot Hospital (Manchester) has 0, and Concord Hospital has 2 beds available. Nashua, Methuen, Lawrence and Lowell each have 0-2 ICU beds available.
  • Ventilators available: 76.2% (74.1% last week)

• • • • • • DEATHS IN NH • • • • • • 

  • Total fatalities in NH associated with COVID-19: 2,027 (1,973 last week)
  • New deaths attributed to COVID-19 reported in NH this week: 54 (Last week 66)
  • NH residents diagnosed with COVID-19 that have died: 0.91% 

• • • • • • TOTALS BY AGES • • • • • •

(Showing changes since last week) 

  • 0-9: Infections: 20771 (+2015); Hospitalizations: 31 (+1); Deaths: 1 (+0)
  • 10-19: Infections: 31850 (+3236); Hospitalizations: 18 (+0); Deaths: 0 (+0)
  • 20-29: Infections: 40095 (+4115); Hospitalizations: 65 (+1); Deaths: 4 (+0)
  • 30-39: Infections: 34102 (+3199); Hospitalizations: 146 (+6); Deaths: 21 (+4)
  • 40-49: Infections: 28595 (+2400); Hospitalizations: 235 (+5); Deaths: 41 (+3)
  • 50-59: Infections: 30908 (+2460); Hospitalizations: 452 (+22); Deaths: 98 (+8)
  • 60-69: Infections: 20666 (+1508); Hospitalizations: 655 (+12); Deaths: 272 (+18)
  • 70-79: Infections: 9674 (+582); Hospitalizations: 673 (+15); Deaths: 494 (+10)
  • 80+: Infections: 6613 (+307); Hospitalizations: 657 (+16); Deaths: 1096 (+11)
  • Unknown: Infections: 325 (+28); Hospitalizations: 3 (-1); Deaths: 0 (+0)
  • Total: Infections: 223599 (+19850); Hospitalizations: 2935 (+77); Deaths: 2027 (+54)

New Infections in the Past 4 Weeks vs. All NH Cases 

  • 0-9: 15.3% vs. 14.2% (+1.5%)
  • 10-19: 20.2% vs. 17.9% (+1.1%)
  • 20-29: 16.4% vs. 15.3% (+2.3%)
  • 30-39: 12.1% vs. 12.8% (+1.1%)
  • 40-49: 12.6% vs. 13.8% (-0.7%)
  • 50-59: 7.7% vs. 9.2% (-1.2%)
  • 60-69: 3% vs. 4.3% (-1.5%)
  • 70-79: 1.5% vs. 3% (-1.3%)
  • 80+: 0.2% vs. 0.1% (-1.5%)

Additional Age Stats

  • 4,275 children under 18 are included in this week’s new cases. (1,562 last week)
  • 21.7% of new cases announced by DHHS this week are kids under 18 years old. (17.9% last week.)
  • Under 60, this week: 17,425 new cases. (8,110 last week); 35 hospitalizations; 15 deaths
  • 60+, this week: 2,425 new cases (1,269 last week); 42 hospitalizations; 39 deaths

• • • • • • Institutional Outbreaks in NH • • • • • •  

  • NH DHHS reported 29 institutional outbreaks as of Thursday January 6, including one here in Salem. Last week, Salem Haven was reported as having 35 residents and 13 staff. This week, Salem Haven was reported as having 21 residents and 6 staff affected, the same count as two weeks ago.
  • I have a dear friend who had a stroke last spring, and has been staying at Ridgewood Genesis in Bedford. When we visited him on Friday, Dec. 31, we were told there was one case in the building, in a totally different part of the facility than we were visiting. On Wednesday, Jan. 5, we found out that my friend’s roommate had COVID. On Thursday, January 6, we found out my friend has it. With at least three cases, I’m a bit surprised that they aren’t on this list. Slightly surprised to not get a call from them, as we had to provide our contact info when we signed in. Happy to know that this facility is one of two long-term care facilities about to get help from the National Guard.
  • Details about these active outbreaks, and all closed outbreaks, can be seen here.
  • This week: 395 people from long-term care facilities were diagnosed (193 last week) bringing the total to 9,358. 1 was hospitalized (386 total), 1 died (1,041 total). 
  • This week: 364 healthcare workers were diagnosed (284 last week), bringing the total to 7,899. 0 were hospitalized (102 total). 0died (15 total).

• • • • • • VARIANTS IN NH • • • • • •  

A percentage of NH’s positive test results are sequenced for the variants. In recent days, Delta and Omicron variants are the only ones that have been identified. From the reports on WMUR: From Thursday (12/23) to Thursday (12/30), Delta samples increased by 152, but Omicron increased by only 2. 

Per WMUR, of the positive cases that were sequenced, NH has had:

  • Number of B.1.1.7 variant (Alpha) cases: 1,259 No change) 
  • Number of B.1.351 variant (Beta) cases: 2 (No change)
  • Number of P.1 variant (Gamma) cases: 203 (No change)
  • Number of B.1.617.2 variant (Delta) cases: 4,220 total 
  • Number of B.1.1.529 variant (Omicron): 13 total 

These are not simply numbers. We must not forget that these are all someone’s husband or wife, mother or father, sister or brother, son or daughter, friend or neighbor.

Does anyone still look at this calendar? I’m considering phasing it out. Please let me know if you still find it to be valuable.

Which Booster should I get?

Chart based on data at:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-10-26/which-booster-shot-should-i-get-heres-how-to-chose?

FINDING INFORMATION:

The State lists information on where to get vaccinated, where to get tested, and what to do if you test positive or were exposed to COVID on their website.

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS – Updated early September 2021

Concerns continue to grow for the Delta variant of COVID-19, which now accounts for 93% of all new COVID-19 infections. Descriptions of symptoms have been updated:

Ranking of Symptoms for Covid-19 Infection in the Unvaccinated

  1. Headache
  2. Sore Throat
  3. Runny Nose
  4. Fever
  5. Persistent cough 

Loss of smell now comes in at number 9, and shortness of breath is way down the list at number 30.

Ranking of Symptoms for Covid-19 Infection in the Partially Vaccinated

  1. Headache
  2. Runny Nose
  3. Sore throat
  4. Sneezing
  5. Persistent Cough

Sneezing, which was never thought to be a symptom in the original Covid strain, is now ranked more common than a cough, for a reported symptom in those with only one dose of the vaccine.

Ranking of Symptoms for Covid-19 Infection in the Fully Vaccinated

  1. Headache
  2. Runny Nose
  3. Sneezing
  4. Sore throat
  5. Loss of smell

A cough ranks 8 on the list for fully vaccinated people, and a fever ranks 12. Shortness of breath is way down the list at number 29.

Useful links

Sources used to create these reports:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *