Posted on by Bonnie

COVID-19 Update May 13

COVID-19 Update May 13

Salem: 197 confirmed cases, 104 cases are still active.

Another two Salem residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19. 67 people out of every 10,000 Salem residents have been diagnosed. 93 of the Salem cases are no longer active; these people have either recovered or have died. More than half of those here in Salem that have been infected are still waiting to recover.

NH announced that there were 63 new positive test results for COVID-19, including seven children under the age of 18. (From the number of cases announced yesterday and today, I come up with 60 new cases.). Eleven of the new cases were in Rockingham County. DHHS says that community-based transmission continues to occur in the State. Over 1,900 COVID-19 test results were reported; the highest total to date.

There were seven new hospitalized cases in NH today, bringing the total of those hospitalized to 326 (10% of all confirmed cases); more than one-third of all NH hospitalizations (126) are still in the hospital.

Today NH DHHS announced that 8 more people have died in NH from COVID-19, bringing our total to 150 people. Those numbers are not just statistics on a spreadsheet; each represents a real person — someone’s mother or father, sister or brother, son or daughter. All were 60 years old or older. Of those who died, two were from Rockingham County, one male, one female. Of those who are diagnosed, 4.55% have died. Seven of the eight were in long-term care facilities; no information is available on the other person who died.

New numbers are in for our Haverhill, Massachusetts. They now have 950 cases (148 per 10,000). Positive cases in Massachusetts have now surpassed 80,000. Nearby Middlesex County has surpassed 18,000 cases. 300 people in Methuen have now recovered.

Facts! Gov. Andrew Cuomo said tonight, “People are starved for facts.” Salem residents asked for facts. You’re getting them here. Facts!

Try to stay positive, stay safe, and always, be kind.

Key points covered below in today’s report:

  • A limited supply of Remdesivir has arrived in New Hampshire
  • Public Health Town Hall COVID-19+You.
  • Short Stories from NHPR
  • COVID-19 or Seasonal Allergies?
  • NH charitable gaming businesses hope to reopen
  • Abbott’s rapid coronavirus test results raising questions
  • Governor’s Press Conference

Click on the calendar to enlarge
https://www.bonnie4salem.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/may13-calendar.jpg

 

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

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

On April 19, this was posted on Facebook:

 

NHPR has charts. Lots of charts!
If you want more than what I’m providing, they can be found at NHPR’s website.

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 Statistics:

I have had a table here for weeks, which compared the day to day changes.
If you actually miss it, please let me know, and I’ll bring it back.
Bonnie on May 12.

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
  • April 27: 144
  • April 28: 143 (Huh? Less than yesterday? Triple checked!)
  • April 30: 146
  • May 1: 154
  • May 2: 162
  • May 3: 173
  • May 4-5: 175
  • May 6: 178; 94 active
  • May 7: 186; 101 active
  • May 8: 189; 103 active
  • May 9: 191; 101 active
  • May 10: 191; 100 active
  • May 11: 193; 102 active
  • May 12: 195; 103 active
  • May 13: 197; 104 active

NH Hot Spots (As of Monday, May 11)
NH has 13 NH municipalities that have more than 50 confirmed cases.

  • Manchester: 684 (+14 from yesterday); 61 per 10K residents
  • Nashua: 289 (+6); 32 per 10K residents
  • Derry: 244; (+3); 73 cases per 10K residents
  • Salem: 191 (0); 65 cases per 10K residents
  • Londonderry: 91 (+1); 35 cases per 10K
  • Bedford: 101 (+4); 45 cases per 10K
  • Dover: 82 (+1); 26 cases per 10K
  • Milford: 70 (-1); 44 cases per 10K
  • Hudson: 65 (+3); 25 cases per 10K
  • Concord: 63 (0); 15 cases per 10K
  • Franklin: 58 (+1); 67 cases per 10K
  • Goffstown: Added May 12

All other municipalities have less than 50 cases.  All of the other municipalities with 20-49 cases are geographically south of Concord/Rochester, and east of Concord/Milford, except for Franklin.

Counties (as of Monday, May 11)

  • Hillsborough (inc. Manchester and Nashua): 1,438 (+45); 34 per 10K residents
  • Rockingham (inc. Salem & Derry): 978 (+14); 32 per 10K

About 79% of all of those in NH who have tested positive to COVID-19 live in these two counties.

Our neighboring towns:

  • Methuen on May 9: 685; 135 confirmed cases per 10K residents. 275 recovered (+1). 32 deaths (+0)
  • Lawrence on May 11:: 2,274 (+10). 283 cases per 10K residents. 95 deaths (+2)
  • Haverhill on May 13: 950 cases up 117 from May 6. 148 cases per 10K; was 130 a week ago.

If more people were tested, the numbers would be higher.
Without better testing, we can’t know what our real numbers are.

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 are provided in the daily reports from the Department of Health & Human Services. Today, May 7 the NH DHHS has issued its “weekly” report for the week ending May 4. [This is the first weekly report since the week ending April 27, which was issued the same day.].

As of May 4, 713 healthcare workers have been infected (27.6% of all confirmed cases). 24 of the medical care workers were hospitalized; one died.

  • More women have tested positive than men by about 11%. However, approximately 60% of the hospitalizations and 60% of the deaths are men.
  • 18 kids under 9 years have tested positive. 19% of those infected are 50-59 years old, the largest age group. Those who are 30-39, 40-49, and 60-69 are each 13-14% of the cases. 20% of the confirmed cases are 70 or older, however, these age groups make up almost 40% of the cases, and 85% of the deaths.
  • Race/Ethnicity: Although 90% of NH’s population is white; they only account for 76.4% of the confirmed infections, 82% of the hospitalizations, and 91.5% of the deaths. Hispanic/Latino make up 3.9% of the population, but 7.4% of the infections, 7.8% of the hospitalizations, and 6.8% of the deaths. Blacks/African Americans are 1.4% of the population, and 5.4% of the infections, 3.7% of hospitalizations, and 1.7% of the deaths.  Asians are 3.0% of the population, and 4.1% of the cases; no Asians from NH have died. All other races are 1.8% of the population, and 7.7% of the population, 2.4% of hospitalizations, and 1.7% of deaths.
  • Persons in Hillsborough County, including Manchester and Nashua, make up 44.7% of all infections, 46.5% of hospitalizations, and 46.5% of the deaths. Persons in Rockingham County (Salem and Derry) make up 33.9% of the total infections, 31.1% of the hospitalizations, and 32.6% of all deaths.  The third most impacted county is Merrimack (Concord), which only has 7.7% of all infections.

NH News relating to COVID-19

A limited supply of Remdesivir has arrived in New Hampshire

State health officials said Wednesday that 400 vials of the IV antiviral drug, Remdesivir, were distributed among 13 hospitals in the Granite State. Read more. [The suggested dose for most patients on ventilators is a single loading dose of 200 mg on day 1, followed by once-daily maintenance doses of 100 mg for 9 days (days 2 through 10). For those not ill enough to require ventilation, the suggested dosage is 200 mg on Day 1, and then 100 mg for 4 more days; treatment may be extended for up to 5 additional days (i.e., up to a total of 10 days).  One vial is 100 mg, so the vials received is enough to treat 40-80 patients. (NH currently has 126 patients in the hospital.) Read more (FDA Fact sheet) From the Governor’s press conference, it was announced that Parkland, St. Joseph’s, Catholic Medical, Elliot, Southern NH Medical are amongst those that received the meds.

Public Health Town Hall COVID-19+You.

Are we testing enough? Do I need to wear a mask? Is it safe to go back to work or to the beach? Town Hall hosted by Exec Councilor and Gubernatorial Candidate, Andru Volinsky, with Richard DiPentina, former NH Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Dr. Nora Traviss, professor of Environmental Studies at Keene State College. Watch video.

Short Stories from NHPR

  • NH to get $61 million for testing, contact tracing
  • Task Force Proposes Plans For Further Economic Reopening
  • Nursing home outbreak worse than previously reported
  • Hospitals say losses far exceed federal aid
  • New testing site in Concord
  • Lawmakers Outline New Pandemic Relief Spending Priorities to Sununu
  • Read all of these short stories and more.

COVID-19 or Seasonal Allergies?

  • Allergies: Runny nose, stuffy nose, watery itchy eyes.
  • COVID-19: Shortness of breath, fever, cough.
  • Read more.

NH charitable gaming businesses hope to reopen

Good news for Salem charities. I think. A proposal being considered by the governor’s reopening task force today would allow charitable gaming tables to start operating again. Read more.

Abbott’s rapid coronavirus test results raising questions

Abbott Labs’ rapid coronavirus diagnostic test could be missing nearly half of the positive cases, according to a new study (without peer review), from researchers at New York University, which describes the test as “unacceptable.” This is the test being used at the White House (and here in NH). Read more.

Governor’s Press Conference

This is what I heard.
(Pardon my abbreviated notes. It’s 2:30 a.m. It’s too late to clean up any more!)

Governor Sununu:

  • Masks are available for businesses. The State has filled thousands of orders, with millions of masks. Body Armor, in Salem NH,  helped procure huge mask orders 50,000 gowns were secured from two other NH businesses
  • Long-term Care Stabilization Fund: 282 facilities have applied; this is covering 22,000 critical staff for the most vulnerable, to ensure that they continue to go to work.
  • Department of Justice Cares Act Grant: $575,000 beyond the $1.25B is coming to Police and Fire Departments for ventilators, other lifesaving equipment, cover COVID-19 overtime, add additional staff.

Commissioner Shibinette:

A report on assisted living will be coming. Assisted living in Derry will be corrected. There were 21 residents and 12 staff that tested positive, not 60 cases as previously reported.

Testing:

  • A report on assisted living will be coming. Assisted living in Derry will be corrected. There were 21 residents and 12 staff that tested positive, not 60 cases as previously reported.
  • Averaging 1,478 tests per day. 5.8% positive rate.
  • Averaging 211 antibody tests per day, with less than a 3% positivity rate.
    Longterm Care Testing Project 1500 residents and 1700 staff have been tested. 30-40% of all LTC nursing home residents have been tested. All should be tested within 2 weeks.
  • Concord testing facility opened today.
  • State sites collected over 1,000 tests yesterday.
  • Manchester and Nashua public health departments offer community clinics for testing residents of their cities.

Questions and Answers:

  • Why not 1500 tests per day? Supplies, staff shortage. Governor’s goal is an average of 1,500 tests per day. (Commissioner Shibinette stated a goal of 2,000 tests per day on Monday; when pointed out, Gov. changed his goal.)
  • Does the University of Washington projections of 900 COVID-19 deaths in NH by August make you nervous about reopening? Of course. “Models are fine, but data trumps models.” We know we’ll have more fatalities. It’s not how many cases, it’s how we manage it. (Healthcare system capacity.) We can handle it.
  • What about the businesses opening that aren’t following guidelines or don’t meet guidelines? We need to give some flexibility. Less than 50% of the mall opened.
  • Wells Beach is opening; what about Hampton Beach? Wait and see. Watching Maine.
  • Stay at home order is still in place? Yes, but allowing for retail shopping, hair cuts, restaurants soon. [Reminder: Details can be found on the state website.]
  • Enforcement? The Attorney General is talking to local law enforcement. We’re handling it very well. We can’t take additional steps if too many businesses push the guidance currently in effect.
  • When will you announce the next round of changes? Watching and evaluating. Don’t want to go backward. “If this was a marathon, we’d be at mile 4.”
  • When will we get to the point that anybody can be tested? We have a lot of flexibility. We aren’t at that point. Prioritizing those with the most need.
  • Availability of testing supplies? It’s increasing.
  • Churches/religious gatherings? Ban of 10 or more unconstitutional? Looking at proposals for churches. The religious leaders want to take it slow. These are temporary orders. Some churches are having services all week with less than 10. Protesters can protest.
  • Restaurants: Outdoor dining: Cold, snow and black flies? Later, we might look at geographic differences. We’ll make it work for as many as we can down the road.
  • Lifeguards being interviewed; is hiring freeze lifted? Not really. They can go through the process to get in applications to be prepared, but no commitment to open.
  • Opinion on Cares Act discussion to extend unemployment $600 stipend per week until the end of the year? It’s a “message bill” to show priorities. Won’t pass. It’s been useful here in NH. Concern about people not willing to return to work because they get too much to not work.
  • Does it make sense to have people return to work, without getting tested? Guidance documents were written to ensure the mitigation of viral spread. We cannot test people every day.
  • Los Angeles is shutting down for 3 more months. Gov. tweeted that one lost life is one too many. Is life loss less important than reopening the economy? We will reopen in a way that will protect the hospitals. “A tweet does not define a public policy standard.”
  • How many of the 150 who died had underlying health issues? Don’t have the exact number, but a majority.
  • RiteAid is doing tests in Manchester and Portsmouth; will results be provided to state? Of course. Hopefully, there will be more RiteAid locations.
  • Nurses at County corrections systems are not given stipends. Should they? We are looking at it.
  • What are the total number of tests out of Rochester, and the other fixed locations? Not available today.
  • When will positives, hospitalizations, and deaths go down, recoveries go up? Commissioner: Daily positives will not start decreasing. Watching percent of positivity. That is going down. Hospitalizations include acute care rehab, extended stay, or elderly, who require two negative tests at this time; they can’t discharge elderly back to nursing homes while still testing positive because of residual COVID virus in their system.
  • Hillsborough County Nursing Home complained about a lack of PPE before its outbreak. Did lack of PPE affect the number of positive cases? Commissioner Shibinette: No, asymptomatic cases in staff, not lack of PPE.
  • They are doing contact tracing on those who have positive antibody tests.
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:

Have Questions?

NH residents can dial the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 2-1-1 or 603-271-4496 for answers to questions related to the outbreak and to be directed to available resources for help.

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.

Resource Compilations:

From Congresswoman Annie Kuster: A list of many resources, including Keeping Safe from COVID-19; New Hampshire Specific COVID-19 Information; Direct Payment to Granite Staters (Economic Impact Payments); Support for Small Businesses; Unemployment Assistance; Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Survivors; Student Loans; Taxes; Traveling Internationally; Veterans. https://kuster.house.gov/covid-19

Mental Health Resources, compiled by Jan Schmidt, Alderman and State Rep in Nashua. http://janschmidt4ward1.com/uncategorized/free-online-meetings-and-virtual-platforms/

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

COVID-19: The CIDRAP Viewpoint.  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/downloads/cidrap-covid19-viewpoint-part1_0.pdfhttps://www.cidrap.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/downloads/cidrap-covid19-viewpoint-part1_0.pdf

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.