New Hampshire Governor Implements Mask Order: Watch

Tony Schinella
Updated ·7 min read

CONCORD, NH — Gov. Chris Sununu has issued a mask and face covering order for the state of New Hampshire.

Sununu introduced the order Thursday at the weekly pandemic news conference after the state had seen a steady increase in positive test results — higher than the numbers the Granite State had at the height of the early days of the pandemic. He said he did not come to the decision lightly but "the latest surge" required the mandate.

Beginning Friday, all persons over the age of 5 in the state shall wear mask or cloth face coverings over their noses and mouths any time they are in public spaces, indoors or outdoors, where they are unable to or do not consistently maintain a physical distance of at least six feet from persons outside their own households.

The governor outlined six factors including extensive spread of the virus in every county in New Hampshire as well as most of the communities. More than 75 percent of the state's cities and towns have cases. Long-term care facilities are also seeing more outbreaks. Percent positive tests, as well, while under 5 percent, have grown, as have hospitalizations — which have doubled, to about 100, in a few weeks.

"We're really trying to get ahead of this," Sununu said. "We don't want to have to close hospitals. We want to maintain much of the success we have had."

Sununu said the mask order was about keeping people safe and the economy going. Face coverings, he said, had been shown to curb the spread of the virus and was a responsible decision to make.

"We all have a part to play," he said.

There was resistance and support right out of the gate for the new policy.

ReopenNH is calling for an end to the governor's state of emergency orders.

The group pointed to a survey showing that masks do not stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Melissa Blasek, the executive director of the org, challenged the governor's data.

"There is no quality research supporting the idea that a mask mandate is effective," she said. "Studies specific to COVID-19 have shown the ineffectiveness of masks, as have 60 years of studies surrounding masking to prevent influenza, which is spread in a similar manner to COVID-19."

Andrew Manuse, the chairman of the org, called on all of their endorsed candidates to act because lockdowns and mandates were not effective. To that end, the group is planning a legislative policy summit — that will be live-streamed to the public.

"We're hoping that this summit will provide lawmakers with the information they need to end the state of emergency as soon as they take office and the public with the information it needs to stop being frightened by this virus," Manuse said. "Given the true science behind masking, this is clearly just condescending psychological warfare attempting to continue a culture of fear that enables centralized control. We are urging all Granite Staters to resist this mandate by taking their masks off once and for all, and to resist this governor, who is imposing a flawed methodology to give the appearance that he is addressing a perceived crisis."

However, Democrats in the state Senate said, it was about time the governor issued the mandate.

"As I said during a meeting of the GOFERR Legislative Advisory Board back in July, wearing a mask is a simple, commonsense measure that has been proven to reduce positive cases," said state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro (D-Manchester). "Back in July, I made a motion to call on Gov. Chris Sununu to issue a statewide mask mandate which was rejected down party lines. In the time since that request, New Hampshire has lost an additional 100 individuals to COVID-19. In the past week alone we have averaged 400 new cases per day. This mandate is long overdue and while I am glad to see it finally put in place, I am disheartened at the amount of time gone by and the number of lives lost by playing politics with health and safety."

State Sen. Cindy Rosenwald, (D-Nashua), agreed.

"For far too long now, New Hampshire has been the only New England state without a statewide mask mandate," she said. "We have followed the data since the first day of this pandemic and have understood with certainty the positive impacts of cloth face masks for months. The governor's delayed action on this critical issue has likely cost lives and recklessly endangered our most vulnerable populations. I am hopeful that as we continue to fight this pandemic, the citizens of New Hampshire will continue to work together, mask up, and protect one another."

For purposes of the order, the term "public spaces" includes any part of private or public property that is generally open or accessible to members of the general public, the governor said in an email later. Public spaces include, but are not limited to, lobbies, waiting areas, outside plazas or patios, restaurants, retail businesses, streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches, elevators, restrooms, stairways, parking garages, etc.

The order does not apply to schools, teachers, students or staff at K-12 schools who have their own guidelines. It also does not apply to anyone with a medical condition or disability. Residents consuming food or drinks or sitting in a restaurant table to eat or drink are not required. People working out at a gym or exercising strenuously are not required to wear a face covering and neither are anyone giving a religious, political, media, educational, cultural, musical, or theatrical performance for an audience either. Anyone involving in engaging with another person, like a political officer or someone communicating with another person who must drop the mask to speak, may do so, too.

The full executive order can be found here in .pdf.

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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.

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This article originally appeared on the Concord Patch