COVID-19 Update 3 January 2022

When I posted the update for January 10 on Facebook, I neglected to update the link, so it still went to this, the January 3rd page. 

No one seemed to notice. So, I’m not sure anyone is reading my updates on the website anymore.

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!
Is the summary I’m posting on Facebook enough?
 If you want the full update to continue, please let me know.

To find the next few updates, follow this formula: https://www.bonnie4salem.us/covid-19-update-10-january-2022/
https://www.bonnie4salem.us/covid-19-update-17-january-2022/
https://www.bonnie4salem.us/covid-19-update-24-january-2022/
https://www.bonnie4salem.us/covid-19-update-31-january-2022/
https://www.bonnie4salem.us/covid-19-update-7-february-2022/


SALEM:

  • Salem since last update: 257 new cases reported since last week
  • Total: 4,990 confirmed cases in Salem.
  • We have 222 active cases. (178 last week)
  • 1 out of every Salem residents have had confirmed infections. 
  • Salem’s new cases per 100K for 14 days: 1,260. (1,167 last week)
  • Salem’s Positivity Rate for the past 2 weeks: 29.3% (16.6% last week.) 
  • (Last week was possibly the highest positivity rate ever, but definitely the highest in 13 months. Until now.)
  • Salem had 2.9% of the new cases this week. (Salem has 2.2% of NH’s population.)
  • Fully vaccinated Salem residents: 14,847 (49.6%). (+29 people, 0.0% in the past week)
  • Salem residents who have had at least one shot: 16,225 (54.2%). (+50 people, 0.1% 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): 9,279 (7,792 last week)2
  • New cases of COVID-19 in NH this week as reported by DHHS: 8,718. Last week: 8,387.
  • 1 out of every 7 NH residents has been infected. 
  • Active COVID-19 cases in NH: 8,785 (8,026 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 on December 9 at 10,648 cases, a 52.2% increase from last December.
  • Recovered in NH this week: 8,785 (8,206 last week.)
  • State Level of Transmission: Substantial in all counties 
  • New patients hospitalized this week because of COVID-19: 72 (94 last week)
  • Current patients hospitalized because of COVID-19: 381 (397 last week)
  • New admissions to ICU this week because of COVID-19: 11 (38 last week)
  • New deaths attributed to COVID-19 reported in NH this week: 66 (64 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.

Hello, Salem!

Random thoughts from this week:

Vaccine/Booster Walk-in Clinic: All three brands will be available for shots ranging from first doses to boosters. No appointments, just walk in! TOMORROW (Tuesday), January 4, from 2:00-5:00 at Salem Senior Center, 5 Sally Sweet’s Way.

Booster Blitz 2: 13,000 NH residents will be able to get their booster shots on Sat. Jan 8. The Salem location is filling up fast. Sign up here.

Say Yes to the Test: Free Rapid (antigen) tests are still available for NH residents. Order yours here. If you test positive, be sure to self-report your positive test result by calling 603-271-6996. 

Variants:
Per data published on WMUR from last Thursday, NH had a small number of Omicron variants, and it appeared that Delta was still the dominant variant. (Note that this can change rapidly.)

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. 

NH had identified 11 cases of Delta as of June 10. Since then, 4,088 cases have been identified. Omicron was first identified in NH on December 13. NH has identified 13 since then. 

Schools? I saw a meme tonight. No way of verifying it, but reportedly from a MD. Sharing, just in case: “In case no one has told you, the odds your kids will be at school in person in 2-3 weeks in the US approach zero in most areas, no matter what your Board of Education or Governor decide about opening. There won’t be enough people well to run buses, lunches, clean or teach. Plan now as a family.”

The “Yankee Candle Test for COVID.” Amazon Yankee Candle reviews are mirroring the COVID-19 surge — again. Read story here.

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

~Bonnie 


On Tuesday, December 28, 2021, DHHS announced 497 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Monday, December 27. Today’s results include 300 people who tested positive by PCR test and 197 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced an additional 2 new cases from Monday, December 20 (0 by PCR and 2 by antigen test) for a new total of 778; an additional 7 new cases from Tuesday, December 21 (1 by PCR and 6 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,306; an additional 42 new cases from Wednesday, December 22 (21 by PCR and 21 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,252; an additional 3 new cases from Thursday, December 23 (2 by PCR and 1 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,381; an additional 1 new case from Friday, December 24 (1 by PCR and 0 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,276; and an additional 4 new cases from Sunday, December 26 (4 by PCR and 0 by antigen test) for a new total of 384. There are now 7,279 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

On Tuesday, DHHS also reported 1 additional death from the week of February 1, and 8 previously unreported COVID-19 deaths from November.

On Wednesday, December 29, 2021, DHHS announced 1,165 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Tuesday, December 28. Today’s results include 722 people who tested positive by PCR test and 443 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced an additional 28 new cases from Wednesday, December 22 (11 by PCR and 17 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,280; an additional 62 new cases from Thursday, December 23 (38 by PCR and 24 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,443; an additional 97 new cases from Friday, December 24 (74 by PCR and 23 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,373; an additional 4 new cases from Saturday, December 25 (3 by PCR and 1 by antigen test) for a new total of 628; an additional 27 new cases from Sunday, December 26 (16 by PCR and 11 by antigen test) for a new total of 411; and an additional 148 new cases from Monday, December 27 (52 by PCR and 96 by antigen test) for a new total of 645. There are now 8,147 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

On Thursday, December 30, 2021, DHHS announced 1,580 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Wednesday, December 29. Today’s results include 1,090 people who tested positive by PCR test and 490 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced an additional 145 new cases from Monday, December 27 (53 by PCR and 92 by antigen test, for a new total of 790); and an additional 143 new cases from Tuesday, December 28 (63 by PCR and 80 by antigen test, for a new total of 1,308). There are now 9,341 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

On Monday, January 3, 2022, DHHS announced 25 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Sunday, January 2. Today’s results include 5 people who tested positive by PCR test and 20 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced 2,163 new cases from Thursday, December 30 (1,655 by PCR and 508 by antigen test); 2,190 new cases from Friday, December 31 (1,730 by PCR and 460 by antigen test); and 21 new cases from Saturday, January 1 (3 by PCR and 18 by antigen test). Additionally, DHHS announced an additional 41 new cases from Monday, December 27(39 by PCR and 2 by antigen test) for a new total of 831; an additional 90 new cases from Tuesday, December 28 (67 by PCR and 23 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,398; and an additional 233 new cases from Wednesday, December 29 (115 by PCR and 118 by antigen test) for a new total of 1,813. There are now 8,785 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. Additionalinformation from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates.” 

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

  • Total people who have tested positive: 203,749 (194,470) last week)
  • New positive cases reported this week by math (Comparison of total number of cases last week to now): 9,279 (7,792 last week)
  • New positive cases per DHHS: 8,718 (8,387 last week)

• • • • • ACTIVE CASES • • • • • • 

  • 8,785 (8,026 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, peaking on December 9 at 10,648 cases, a 52.2% increase from last December.
  • There are 4 communities with more active cases than Salem: Manchester, Nashua, Derry and Concord.

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

  • 1 out of every 6 Salem residents has been infected. 
  • 1 out of every 7 residents of Rockingham County. 
  • 1 out of every 7 residents of NH have been infected. 

• • • • • • RECOVERED • • • • • •

  • Total recovered: 192,991 (184,537 last week)
  • Recovered this week: 8,454 (8,206 last week)
  • Percentage of diagnosed cases that have recovered: 94.9% (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: 1,161. (1,125 last week.)
  • Positivity Rate for NH: 19.7%. (13.4% last week.) On June 28, NH’s positivity was at 0.8%. The peak before the recent surge, was December 22, when NH had a positivity rate of 9.2%. 
  • Salem’s Positivity Rate is now 29.3%, Last week we were at 16.6%, the highest rate in my records, which, for this metric goes back 13 months to December 3, 2020.
  • 16 communities have a positivity rate higher than Salem; this count was 54 last week. 181 communities are over 10% (134 last week). There are 189 communities with a positivity rate over 5%. (161 last week)
  • When the positivity rate is high, it is likely that cases may be undercounted.

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

  • Currently hospitalized: 381 (Last week: 397). NH’s previous peak before the recent surge was reached on January 2, with 335 COVID hospitalizations. We have broken that record a number of times lately. December 10 was the most recent peak at 466.
  • Staffed hospital beds available: 13.7%. (14.6% last week)
  • Total patients who have been hospitalized with COVID-19: 2,858 (2,786 last week) 
  • New patients hospitalized this week because of COVID-19: 72. (94 last week)
  • Percentage of those who have been infected that have been hospitalized: 1.4%
  • Total ICU patients: 810
  • New admissions to ICU this week because of COVID-19: 11 (38 last week)
  • Staffed adult ICU beds available: 8.2%. (Last week: 8.9%.)
  • Ventilators available: 74.1% (71.0% last week)

• • • • • • DEATHS IN NH • • • • • • 

  • Total fatalities in NH associated with COVID-19: 1,973 (1,907 last week)
  • New deaths attributed to COVID-19 reported in NH this week: 66 (Last week 64)
  • NH residents diagnosed with COVID-19 that have died: 0.97% 

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

(Showing changes since last week) 

  • 0-9: Infections: 18756 (+991); Hospitalizations: 30 (+1); Deaths: 1 (+0)
  • 10-19: Infections: 28614 (+1290); Hospitalizations: 18 (+0); Deaths:  (+0)
  • 20-29: Infections: 35980 (+1936); Hospitalizations: 64 (+0); Deaths: 4 (+1)
  • 30-39: Infections: 30903 (+1572); Hospitalizations: 140 (+2); Deaths: 17 (+1)
  • 40-49: Infections: 26195 (+1137); Hospitalizations: 230 (+5); Deaths: 38 (+3)
  • 50-59: Infections: 28448 (+1184); Hospitalizations: 430 (+12); Deaths: 90 (+4)
  • 60-69: Infections: 19158 (+696); Hospitalizations: 643 (+8); Deaths: 254 (+13)
  • 70-79: Infections: 9092 (+295); Hospitalizations: 658 (+12); Deaths: 484 (+15)
  • 80+: Infections: 6306 (+155); Hospitalizations: 641 (+31); Deaths: 1085 (+29)
  • Unknown: Infections: 297 (+23); Hospitalizations: 4 (+1); Deaths: 0 (+0)

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

  • 0-9: 12.6% vs. 9.2% (+3.4%)
  • 10-19: 15.5% vs. 14% (+1.5%)
  • 20-29: 15.4% vs. 17.7% (-2.3%)
  • 30-39: 16% vs. 15.2% (+0.8%)
  • 40-49: 12.4% vs. 12.9% (-0.5%)
  • 50-59: 12.9% vs. 14% (-1.1%)
  • 60-69: 8.7% vs. 9.4% (-0.7%)
  • 70-79: 3.5% vs. 4.5% (-1%)
  • 80+: 1.8% vs. 3.1% (-1.3%)
  • Unknown: 0.2% vs. 0.1% (+0.1%)

Additional Age Stats

  • 1,662 children under 18 are included in this week’s new cases. (1,659 last week)
  • 17.9% of new cases announced by DHHS this week are kids under 18 years old. (19.8% last week.)
  • Under 60, this week: 8,110 new cases. (6,788 last week); 20 hospitalizations; deaths
  • 60+, this week: 1,269 new cases; 52 hospitalizations; 57 deaths

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

  • NH DHHS reported 25 institutional outbreaks as of Wednesday, Dec. 29, including one here in Salem. Salem Haven has had 35 residents and 13 staff. Last week Salem Haven was reported as having 21 residents and 6 staff affected, (and six residents the previous week???)
  • Details about these active outbreaks, and all closed outbreaks, can be seen here.

• • • • • • 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.




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?



The chart above was published in the September issue of the AARP Bulletin. It is based on information from the article, “Vital Statistics: Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2020,” which was published by the CDC.


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.


Breakthrough COVID-19 symptoms:

  • While some vaccinated people are getting COVID, it is still rare, and 99.9% of all recent hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19 are people who are not vaccinated.
  • CDC reports that 79% of those who are found to have breakthrough infections have a cough, headache, sore throat, myalgia and fever. 
  • NBC says approximately 1 in 900 vaccinated people have had breakthrough infections. The vast majority of those had mild or no symptoms. 

A new study shows that unvaccinated people are 17x more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than people who are fully vaccinated.



Useful links

Sources used to create these reports:

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