Posted on by Bonnie

COVID-19 Update April-8

Before I share today’s information, I feel it is important to share what Mindi Messmer wrote yesterday. Mindi is a New Hampshire scientist first and foremost. She is also a former State Rep, a former candidate for Congressional District and is currently a candidate for Executive Council for District 3, which includes Salem, as well as Atkinson, Brentwood, Chester, Danville, Derry, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Fremont, Greenland, Hampstead, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, Kingston, New Castle, Newfields, Newington, Newmarket, Newton, North Hampton, Pelham, Plaistow, Raymond, Rye, Sandown, Seabrook, South Hampton, Stratham, and Windham, and the city of Portsmouth. Mindi has been sharing info on the COVID-19 pandemic on her Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/Mindi4NH.

Yesterday, Mindi Messmer, PG, CG wrote: “NH reported 4 more deaths today and 32 more cases. However, 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.”

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

State Representation:

Salem has nine State Reps. 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.

Today’s COVID-19 update: 

Total Confirmed Cases788+41
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19
182%
+5
Recovered22729%
+16
Total Current542+19
Total Hospitalized11815%+10
Tested Negative8,763
Persons with specimens submitted to NH PHL4,476
Persons with test pending at NH PHL143
Being Monitored (Approximate)2,300

The State has announced that ten recent deaths linked to COVID-19 in NH were in long-term care facilities or nursing homes.

  • Hanover Hill Health Care Center, Manchester:
    • 37 residents and 13 staff members tested positive for COVID-19
    • 4 people have died.
  • The Huntington at Nashua:
    • 19 residents and 11 staff members tested positive
    • 5 people have died
  • Crotched Mountain Residential Care Facility:
    • 3 residents and 11 staff members tested positive
    • 1 person has died
  • Over 10 other long-term care facilities have had isolated COVID-19 tests in residents or staff

With 129 (+7) confirmed cased, Manchester continues to be the city with the most confirmed cases. Nashua has 74 (+2) confirmed cases. Salem, Derry, and Portsmouth now report more than 20 confirmed cases. 12 communities, including our neighboring towns Windham, Litchfield, and Londonderry have 10-20 cases each. All other towns in the state are reporting less than 20 cases.

Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua, is reporting 303 (+15) confirmed cases, while Rockingham County reports 268 (+13) confirmed cases. 

On April 6, Fire Chief Larry Best, on behalf of Salem’s Emergency Operations Center team, reported that Salem has 33 cases — which is 8 more than we had last Friday. WMUR is still showing that Salem has had 20-40 cases.

Per Governor Sununu – April 8
The governor spoke in a question and answer session on WMUR this evening. My take-aways:

  • Testing: NH is running 400-600 tests per day, but “we’ll never have enough.”
    • AVID rapid test kits can only be sold to FEMA. On Monday he announced that NH has received 15 of the machines. Today he shared that we do not have the supplies to use the machines.
  • Maps: Why not give details for the number of cases? Gov. Sununu said he would consider it, then backtracked, saying he doesn’t want to cause issues for people who are the only case in their community. The State gives the range to give a sense of the impact.
  • Timing of the Stay-at-Home Order (“ban”): I heard two messages, which confuses me:
    • Regarding Schools: Quote: “Right now our date is May 4. We’re going to make it before then, I promise that.”  He will make the decision a week to 10 days before that date.
    • When asked about lifting the Stay-at-Home Order: “Not until May 4.” At least.
  • Unemployment:
    • Many restrictions were lifted because of the CARES Act
    • It is difficult to get to talk to unemployment personnel. 100,000 people put into the unemployment system; normal is 4,000-7,000. Each can require up to one hour. Be patient.
    • All unemployment benefits will be retroactive to the time of unemployment; the filling date will not impact the amount received.
    • If you were denied, reapply.
    • If you were unemployed prior to March 29, you will still get the additional $600 federal unemployment check.

Per the Institute for Health Metrics (IHME):
IHME  updated its prediction that the strain on NH’s hospitals will peak on April 16,  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. Their previous report, issued on April 5, predicted NH’s peak for April 15.

 

Salem Government

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

Other Salem Government events coming up:

Watch the above meetings on Salem Community TV — Channel 23 on Comcast
Other options to watch:

 

Resources to help in these challenging times:

Added since my last share:

Coronavirus Tax Relief: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments

 

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:

Trackers:

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 this report:

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