COVID-19 Update April 26

COVID-19 Update April 26

Happily, no loss of life attributed to COVID-19 was reported in the last 24 hours. With 77 new cases, and 2 recovered, the current number of cases is back over 1,000. Unfortunately, ten days after Dr. Chan said he thought we had hit a plateau with hospitalizations, with several days averaging 70 hospitalized patients, our hospitals have now surpassed 100 COVID patients.

Hopefully, you are have had a good weekend. Here’s to a great week! Try to be patient, stay safe, and, always, be kind.

Key points covered below in today’s report:

  • Making Masks More Effective
  • Salemhaven
  • The Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce 
  • States Where the Virus Is Spreading the Fastest Right Now
  • NHPR interview with Annie Kuster
  • Sununu’s Pitch On Business Tax Rates Gets Cool Reception 
  • The business impact of COVID-19
  • NH faces a long fight against COVID-19
  • Revenues are going down, while costs are increasing in NH Towns
  • The NH Congressional delegation urges prisons not to release sexual/violent offenders

Click on the calendar to enlarge
https://www.bonnie4salem.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/april26-calendar.jpg


Q: How much testing is NH doing in comparison to our neighboring states?

A: We aren’t doing enough tests!
WHY???



Could this be the answer?

On April 19, this was posted on Facebook:

The Governor maintains that we don’t have enough supplies (test availability).

Why is this so important?
COVID vs. US Daily Average Cause of Death

By Robert Martin on 15 Apr 2020


The following charts are from NHPR

#End of NHPR’s charts.

Additional charts can be found at https://www.nhpr.org/post/updated-tracking-covid-19-cases-and-testing-new-hampshire


COVID Symptom Tracker: This is a project of Mass General Hospital. In the absence of proper testing, this may be the best way of tracking how we are doing. I’m keeping it near the top, so I’ll remember to log in each day.
https://covid.joinzoe.com/us?fbclid=IwAR2IsoxZ9RBKC4uPQscKiuUUTJCA3cCt3dUr9tjNSsFqOU1rv10jmysmt4Y


Today’s COVID-19 news:

April 26April 25Change from yesterday
Total Confirmed Cases1,8641,787+77
Recovered 77943%
777+2
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19
603% 600
Current Cases1,025950+75
Total Hospitalized24213%
238+4
Current Hospitalized10195+6
Tested Negative17,86016,964+896
Persons with specimens submitted to NH PHL8,3608,228+132
Persons with test pending at NH PHL270550-380
Being Monitored (Approximate) 2,2252,250-25
Total Tested (Confirmed Cases + Tested Negative)19,72418,751+973


Salem’s confirmed cases: 

  • March 30 (Range 10-19)
  • March 31 (Range 20+)
  • April 3: 25 cases (Range 20+)
  • April 6: 33 cases (+8 in 3 days)
  • April 8: 20+ cases
  • April 9: 20-49
  • April 10: Over 50
  • April 23: 116

 

Salem, Manchester, Nashua, Derry, Dover, and Londonderry remain the only NH municipalities with more than 50 confirmed cases.

With 392 confirmed cases (up +15) from yesterday), Manchester appears to be the municipality in NH with the most confirmed cases. Nashua has 166 (+7) confirmed cases. On April 23, Salem had 116 cases. Numbers for the other hottest spots are not available. Auburn, Bedford, Concord, Hampton, Hooksett, Hudson, Londonderry, Merrimack, Pelham, Portsmouth, Seabrook, Windham and now Milford are the only communities in New Hampshire with 20-49 confirmed cases.

Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua, has 824 (+44) confirmed cases. Rockingham County is second, with 619 (+26) confirmed cases. These two counties make up over 75% of all confirmed cases in NH. All but two communities with more than 10 confirmed cases, Hanover and Lebanon, are in the southwestern part of the state, south, and west from Concord.

Today, our abutting city, Methuen, passed the 500 case mark, with 507 confirmed cases (+24) or 1.5% of its 2019 population of 39,498 people. They have had 20 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in that city. By comparison, for every 10K residents, Methuen has 128 confirmed cases; Manchester has 35 cases and Nashua has 20 cases. As of April 23, Salem had 40 cases for every 10,000 residents.

On Wednesday, other nearby cities in Massachusetts were: Haverhill: 385 cases, 7 or more deaths. Lawrence: 1,501 cases (+70), 61 deaths (+1). Lawrence has had 286 fewer confirmed cases than the entire State of NH, and more deaths than our state.

Without better testing, and without transparency, we can’t know what our real numbers are.

 

Of the confirmed cases in NH, about 15% have required hospitalization. Over 30% of the confirmed cases are healthcare workers. Most of those with mild symptoms have not been able to get tested.

We need proper testing to fight COVID-19


The NH Division of Public Health Services, Bureau of Infectious Disease Control, has announced a Weekly Summary Report, with more details than I see in the daily reports from the Department of Health & Human Services. See the report or my summary of the key points in my report on April 13.

Weekly info has been released for Week of April 20
As of April 20th, 471 healthcare workers have been infected (33% of all confirmed cases). Six kids under 9 years have tested positive. 21% of those infected are 50-59 years old, the largest age group. Those who are 30-39, 40-49, and 60-69 are each 15% of the cases. Surprisingly, only 17% of the confirmed cases are 70 or older, however, the rate per 100,000 for those over 70 is skyrocketing, as there are fewer people in that age range. 54% of all NH cases are female, 46% are male.

Race/Ethnicity: Whites make up 90% of NH’s population, but are 81% of the confirmed cases. Hispanic/Latino are 3.9% of the population, but 6.1% of the cases. Blacks/African Americans are 1.4% of the population, and 5.4% of the cases. Asians are 3.0% of the population, and 3.2% of the cases. All other races are 1.8% of the population, and 4.4% of the population.


 

NH News relating to COVID-19

Making Masks More Effective

We found some info on how to make your masks more efficient. This was added to the mask section of my Resource list, which is included in every report.

Salemhaven

I was made aware that Salemhaven has had a resident that tested positive. According to a message on their website dated April 19, one resident tested positive, although their roommate tested negative. Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, it is likely that there are more cases now, although the State hasn’t reported this facility to my knowledge. Yet.

The Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce 

Our local Chamber is offering many resources to help local businesses survive in these challenging times. If you are a member, check them out.  If you aren’t, perhaps this is the time to join? Donna Morris and the crew at the Chamber would be happy to talk with you! 

States Where the Virus Is Spreading the Fastest Right Now

Some of the stats are already outdated, but in an April 23rd article NH was listed as number 20 out of all states. Some of the criteria used included:

  • The 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: (+31.1%)
  • The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 117.1 per 100,000 — 24th most (New Hampshire total: 1,588)
  • The number of COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 14 (New Hampshire total: 48)

NHPR interview with Annie Kuster

Congresswoman Kuster says the new economic relief bill will be a lifeline for some small businesses. Read the full transcript or hear the interview. here.

Sununu’s Pitch On Business Tax Rates Gets Cool Reception 

Business tax rates were a major point of friction in the fight over the last state budget. The final deal kept tax cuts that Sununu prioritized and Democrats opposed. It conditioned the lower rates staying put on the state hitting certain targets. If state revenues are six percent over forecast on June 30, business taxes will be cut. But if state revenues come in six percent below forecast, current rates would increase, raising state business taxes by as much as 12 percent.

Gov. Chris Sununu has proposed that the State retain the business tax cuts scheduled to take effect in January, but changing tax laws do require the assent of lawmakers.

Democrats are concerned about cuts to important programs, which would need to be paid for by someone. The top Senator, Senate President Donna Soucy, said she’d need a lot more information about state revenues before making any promises. Read the full story.

The Business Impact of COVID-19

The hospitality industry has lost $800B so far, and there are a number of other industries here in NH. How COVID-19 is impacting NH businesses was discussed by Taylor Caswell, Commissioner of the Dept of Business & Economic Affairs, in an interview with Adam Sexton. Caswell who is on the reopening task force, says that the public health community and Health and Human Services are giving input to the task force. Caswell discussed the need to find the balance between the economic point that businesses are able to operate, but also the danger of reopening too soon. For the next few months, his goal is to try to help as many businesses as possible stay in business, hang on get people employed, and get customers back in the doors. Watch the interview here.

NH faces a long fight against COVID-19

Dr. Antonia Altomare from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center talks about “The Curve,” obstacles to testing, the phased approach and more. Watch the interview with Adam Sexton. 

Revenues are going down, while costs are increasing in NH Towns

In a survey by the New Hampshire Municipal Association, 40% of towns that responded say they are already seeing an increase in welfare expenses, including housing at hotels to give shelter to people who are unable to pay. Municipalities are also paying more for emergency services and technology, while seeing revenue shortfalls from motor vehicle registrations, building permits, and parking fees. Many municipalities are concerned that there will be an increase in people not paying their property taxes, as well.

Municipal leaders are also expressing concern about the possible cuts to state aid, highway block grants, and meals and rooms tax distribution. The story is in this NHPR report.

The NH Congressional delegation urges prisons not to release sexual/violent offenders

New Hampshire’s congressional delegation, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and US Representatives Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, are urging the state’s correctional system not to release anyone convicted of domestic or sexual violence during the pandemic. They say they want local officials to issue clear guidance prohibiting the early release of any domestic violence offenders. The story is in this NHPR report.

 

Salem Government

The Town of Salem’s Emergency Operations Center Team (EOC) will be making weekly reports every Monday evening at 7:00. Their reports can be seen at http://sctv-17.com/CablecastPublicSite/?channel=1

Find other Salem Government board meetings: https://www.townofsalemnh.org/boards

To watch past or live viewings:

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.

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.”

On April 8, the National Academy of Sciences reported that 16 out of 51 tests were inaccurate. (false negatives). Others also have concerns about both false negatives and false positives.

Please keep these ideas in mind as you review the information on this page or any other page.


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.

The IRS has released its new app to track stimulus payments, Get My Payment.” which had been scheduled to be released on April 17. Expect to wait. (And possibly, like me, be disappointed.) If your info isn’t available today, try again tomorrow, as info is going to be updated every night.

How You Can Help Others:

Masks:

There is no excuse for not having a mask!!!

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/ Sign up for her “Daily or So COVID-19 Updates” https://actionnetwork.org/forms/daily-or-so-covid-19-updates

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

Tuft’s University: COVID-19 Convalescent (Recovered) Patient Registry

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.