Posted on by Bonnie

COVID-19 Update April-10

I love statistics. However, I was reminded that my reports with all of these numbers and stats tend to make us all think in terms of math.
We must remember that these numbers are real people. They are someone’s mother or father, sister or brother, friend or neighbor. Let’s not forget that. Ever.

I share these reports to remind us that COVID-19 is here — here in New Hampshire and here in Salem. These are our families, friends, and neighbors. If you don’t maintain social distancing for you, then please do it for them.

Click to view the calendar:
https://www.bonnie4salem.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/april10-calendar.jpg

Source: June Garneau, of Mapping and Planning Solutions (MAPS)

Added since the last share:

COVID Symptom Tracker: This is a project of Mass General Hospital. In the absence of proper testing, let’s let them know how we are doing.
https://covid.joinzoe.com/us?fbclid=IwAR2IsoxZ9RBKC4uPQscKiuUUTJCA3cCt3dUr9tjNSsFqOU1rv10jmysmt4Y

Disclaimer:

On April 7, NH scientist and politician, Mindi Messmer, PG, CG wrote on her Facebook page: “… testing has pretty much stopped at the NH PHL. The testing penetration is so low in NH, only 1/2% of the 1.3M people, meaning 99.5% of the 1.3M have not been tested, that I am not putting up projections or tests for NH because the graphs would be meaningless and I don’t want to give the false impression that we know what’s going on in NH.”

Today, April 10, the National Academy of Sciences reviewed test results, and reported that 16 out of 51 tests were inaccurate. (False positives and false negatives).

We are under-reporting. We need more testing. We need more accurate tests. #StayHome
Please keep this in mind as you review the information on this page.

Today’s COVID-19 news:

Salem’s confirmed cases:

  • April 3: 25 cases
  • April 6: 33 cases
  • April 8: 20-40 cases
  • April 9: 20-49 cases
  • April 10: Over 50

Salem, Manchester, and Nashua are the only NH municipalities with more than 50 cases. With 144  confirmed cased (up +11 from yesterday), Manchester continues to be the city with the most confirmed cases. Nashua has 81 (+5) confirmed cases. Londonderry, Derry, Portsmouth and now Bedford are the only communities with 20-49 confirmed cases.

Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua, has had 346 confirmed cases. Rockingham County is close, with 305 confirmed cases.

 

TodayYesterdayChange from yesterday
Total Confirmed Cases885819
+66
Recovered23426%
2340
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19
222%
21+1
Active Cases629564+65
Total Hospitalized13415%
127+7
Tested Negative9,6089,139+469
Persons with specimens submitted to NH PHL4,826
4,669+157
Persons with test pending at NH PHL93155-62
Being Monitored (Approximate)3,3502,325+1,025
Total Tested (Confirmed Cases + Tested Negative)10,4939,958+535

NH News relating to COVID-19
66 new positive cases were confirmed in NH today, including 10 that were tested in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Public Health Lab is reporting batches on a weekly basis, causing the spike today and on April 4.

Note: Yesterday, the Department of Health and Human Services reported on their website that there were a total of 124 hospitalizations; but their press release shows 127. I have adjusted yesterday’s numbers to reflect their press release, which is also what Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, reported.

Another life was lost at Hanover Hill Health Care Center in Manchester, where four other deaths have occurred.

Yesterday, on April 9, Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, said it’s possible that the rate of the spread of the coronavirus could be slowing, but it’s too early to tell. We must continue social distancing to reduce the spread.

On April 9, NH’s Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, stated that New Hampshire is conducting about 400 tests per day. We need more testing!

N.H. National Guard members are working in NH. As they prepare for a surge in COVID-19 cases, some are assisting at NH Food Banks.

The New Hampshire Association of Realtors warns that April will likely see a slowdown in home sales.

Massachusetts

Since Salem is a border town, I looked at some of the numbers for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and our abutting towns.  (See my report on April 9 for details).  As of April 9, Massachusetts was running almost twice as many tests per person as New Hampshire is testing.

On April 3,  Haverhill had 84 confirmed cases, and 125 on April 9. The City has declared a State of Emergency, and their police are issuing fines to those who violate social distancing rules. Our other neighbor, Methuen, had 94 cases on April 3, which had increased to 175 confirmed cases as of April 9.

We need proper testing to fight COVID-19
“The COVID-19 outbreak isn’t almost over now. Nor will it be in two weeks. We haven’t “almost beaten this” because we haven’t even started properly measuring it yet. We want to measure success in lives saved, not by celebrating an ongoing low death rate.” https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/we-need-proper-testing-to-fight-covid-19/article_acd86517-86cd-5b87-9ce5-e314ffbe5019.html


NH Government

Governor Sununu shared today (April 10) that NH is targetted to receive $82M from the CARES Act to go into the NH education system. About $9M would be made available for grants, for NH  K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. Funding could be used for costs of remote learning, cleaning and sanitizing buildings, meals, and mental and emotional assistance. About $38M will go directly to K-12 schools, and about $36M will go to colleges and universities.

A memo was issued today from Secretary of State William Gardner and Attorney General Gordon MacDonald confirming that absentee ballots will be allowed in the upcoming state elections for anyone with health-related concerns or fears. https://www.wmur.com/article/secretary-of-state-ag-open-absentee-balloting-to-all-due-to-coronavirus-fears/32110403. There will be no voter in New Hampshire who – if we’re in the position we’re in right now, exactly the way we are now – if that’s how we are in September or in November, no one will be denied the vote and no one will have to risk their health and safety by going to vote.” https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-primary-source-gardner-guarantees-voting-in-september-november-even-if-pandemic-continues/32085127  

In an interview this evening on CNN, Governor Sununu stated that, while he supports this, he would still veto a bill to allow voters to vote by mail, as he did last year, because it would change the rules permanently. He also said that he will probably extend much of the Stay-at-Home Order beyond the May 4 deadline.

When will NH Peak?

On April 9, NH‘s Dr. Benjamin Chan stated that he believes there is a high likelihood for a peak in New Hampshire sometime within the next several weeks.

Per the Institute for Health Metrics (IHME)  updated its prediction that the strain on NH’s hospitals peaked on April 9,  provided we continue to follow the government-mandated social distancing. They predict that, unlike some of the major hot spots, NH will have adequate beds and ICUs, again, providing that we follow the social distancing guidelines. (On April 1, they predicted NH would peak on April 16. On April 5, they adjusted their estimate to April 15.)

But there is also this: “IHME is trying to do the right thing by “incorporating the accuracy of predictions from the early days of its model,” but this is not the best practice in model refinement”
https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/we-need-proper-testing-to-fight-covid-19/article_acd86517-86cd-5b87-9ce5-e314ffbe5019.html

Salem Government

The Town of Salem’s Emergency Operations Center Team (EOC) made another public address on COVID-19 on Monday, April 6. These reports can be seen at http://sctv-17.com/CablecastPublicSite/?channel=1

Other Salem Government events coming up:

  • The Planning Board is scheduled to have a virtual meeting on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00.
  • I see not see any further meetings that have been scheduled.
  • Since the Stay-at-Home order, the Select Board met on Monday, April 6, and the Zoning Board met on Tuesday, April 7.
  • These meetings are available to be seen on  Salem Community TV — Channel 23 on Comcast.

Other options to watch past or live viewings include:

State Representation:
Salem has nine State Representatives. If you are having issues connected to COVID-19, they have access to the people who can get you the help you need. You can find contact info for our reps here: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/default.aspx

Our Senator, Chuck Morse, can be contacted at Chuck.Morse@leg.state.nh.us His Concord office phone is 603.271.3207.

Resources to help in these challenging times:

Do YOU think you have COVID-19?

To report suspected cases, contact the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at  603-271-4496, (603-271-5300 for after hours), or nhbidc@dhhs.nhs.gov.

How You Can Help Others:

Masks:

Salem:

New Hampshire:

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services:

Office of the Governor: https://www.governor.nh.gov

Mindi Messmer: A scientist who is reporting frequently on COVID-19, Mindi is also a candidate for Executive Council, District 3 (including Salem). https://www.facebook.com/Mindi4NH/

More info about COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:


COVID Symptom Tracker:
This is a project of Mass General Hospital. In the absence of proper testing, let’s let them know how we are doing. https://covid.joinzoe.com/us?fbclid=IwAR2IsoxZ9RBKC4uPQscKiuUUTJCA3cCt3dUr9tjNSsFqOU1rv10jmysmt4Y

Trackers (Cases)

The World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Media with NH COVID-19 news:

Housing

Unemployment

Financial Assistance

Link to other  NH benefits:

Businesses and Employers: Guidance for Small Businesses 

 

Sources for data included in these reports:

Please report any errors or omissions to bonnie@bonnie4salem.us. Thank you.