CONCORD, NH — The state of New Hampshire reported 53 new positive infections Sunday after 7,863 polymerase chain reaction specimens were collected Saturday.

About 1,600 test results are still pending while 8,172 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in New Hampshire since March. Of those cases, 91 percent or 7,403, have recovered.

Four of the new cases were children while 30 were male. Ten of the new cases live in Merrimack County while seven reside in Rockingham County, five live in Hillsborough County outside of Manchester and Nashua, and three live in Nashua.

Two of the new cases were hospitalized while 10 have no identified risk factors — meaning they have not traveled and do not believe they have been in contact with a person known to have a diagnosis.

Total PCR tests to date are 432,396 on 267,486 Granite Staters with 2,400 people under public health monitoring by officials.

School Infection Update

One K-12 school reported new COVID-19 positive test results, according to the state's data dashboard. Hopkinton High School reported its first two cases in the district Saturday.

There are 22 active cases in schools in the state.

A number of colleges reported more new and recovered cases.

University of New Hampshire in Durham now has 42 active cases and 95 recovered cases. Franklin Pierce University also reported four active cases and 10 recoveries. Dartmouth College has had five cases and all have recovered, the state said.

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Stop The Spread Of COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

• Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.

• Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.

• When you can't practice 6 feet of social distancing, wear a face covering.

• Anyone who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.

• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic and underlying health conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.

• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.

• Employers should work from home as much as possible.

• There is increasing evidence that the virus can survive for hours or possibly days on surfaces. People should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places.

• Wear a face covering.

• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.

• Wash hands frequently.

• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.

• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.

• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.

• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.

• To access the state's COVID-19 data dashboard, click on this link here.

• To access the state's COVID-19 Interactive Map Dashboard, click on this link here.

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This article originally appeared on the Concord Patch