NH Coronavirus Update: 2nd Death Announced; 187 Positive Cases

Tony Schinella
Updated ·8 min read

This article originally appeared on the Concord Patch

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday that a second person has died from the new coronavirus. The man, over 60, lived in Hillsborough County and had "multiple underlying health issues," according to Jake Leon, a public information officer with the department. The state expresses its sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased, he added.

The state also released new infection numbers and reported 187 people now have the virus in New Hampshire. Twenty-nine new cases, 19 women and 10 men, were announced Friday.

Most of the new cases, eight, live in Rockingham County, with four new cases being reported in Merrimack and Strafford counties.

"Sixteen of the new cases have no identified risk factors," Leon said. "Community-based transmission continues to increase in the state and has been identified in the majority of counties. The remaining cases have either had travel to domestic or international locations or have had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis."

Four of the new cases are currently hospitalized. Thirty patients total, about 16 percent of the infected, are hospitalized.

Coos County remains the only county in the state without a patient, according to officials.

The health department also stated 925 people are under public health monitoring with 3,656 testing negative in "selected laboratories." Those labs include the state's public health laboratories, LabCorp, Quest, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and those tests sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before the state's lab had testing capacity.

Around 2,790 specimens have been submitted to the state's lab with 296 tests pending. Those tests pending include only specimens received and awaiting testing at the state's lab. That number, Leon said, does not include tests pending at commercial labs. That number is currently unknown.

Sununu Issues 2 More Orders

Gov. Chris Sununu issued two new emergency orders to go along with closure of non-essential businesses and stay-at-home orders.

Emergency Order 18 made temporary modifications to Department of Safety laws and regulations including things like licensure for out-of-state medical providers, criminal background checks, commercial licenses, and other regulations.

Emergency Order 19 officially extended remote learning for public schools, kindergarten to 12th grade, through May 4.

NH AG Issues Enforcement Memo To Police

Gordon MacDonald, the state's attorney general, issued a 33-page memorandum to the state's police departments outlining actions to be taken and not taken during the stay-at-home order issued by Sununu Thursday.

The orders, he noted, were both mandatory and mandated, based on criterias.

Very few mandatory isolation and quarantine orders have been issued, he said. But a person who is infected who fails to self-quarantine, as an example, could be arrested and charged, based on guidance by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Misdemeanors could be issued to people not following the stay-at-home guidelines — based on the discretion of a police officer (although Sununu stated flatly Thursday that he didn't want residents being harassed if they were outside of their homes during the stay-at-home order).

A business, entity, or organization that doesn't comply to a public health order could lead to a felony charge.

"That discretion," MacDonald said, "should be exercised with great care."

If a restaurant, as an example, was found to be in noncompliance of the ban on dine-in customers, the officer should provide the restaurant with a copy of the order and may issue a warning.

"A warning should inform people and/or businesses that their failure to comply with the Governor's emergency orders or public health orders may lead to criminal charges," he said.

The full memo can be read online here: Release of Law Enforcement Memorandum Regarding COVID-19 Governor's Emergency Orders, DHHS Orders.

The following are a list of exceptions to the stay-at-home order outlined by New Hampshire's attorney general.

Fish & Game Modifies Recreation Restrictions

Last week, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department was urging residents to take in the great outdoors — while utilizing proper social distancing.

Friday, it reiterated that "some outdoor activities" that were still permitted included fishing, clamming, the use of Wildlife Management Areas and boat ramps, and wildlife watching.

"Fresh air and being in nature are important for our mental health and people are encouraged to recreate safely, responsibly, and close to home," said Colonel Kevin Jordan, chief of Law Enforcement at NH Fish and Game. "This is not the time for epic hikes or backcountry adventures. We encourage people to enjoy nature in their backyard or neighborhood and to stay a safe distance from others while doing so."

For more information, visit Fish & Game's website.

Quarantining Out-Of-Staters? Volinsky Says, 'Yes'

District 2 Executive Council Andru Volinsky Friday called on the governor to issue a quarantine of all out-of-state travelers similar to the one implemented in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Those states, the Democrat said, are placing visitors to their states in 14-day self-quarantines. Rhode Island is limited to New Yorkers. Essential workers are exempt, he said.

"State police and National Guard are screening people at the Rhode Island airport while Logan airport is issuing guidance on the quarantines," Volinsky said. "New Hampshire must do the same with our airport and train and bus stations. We know people from New York are coming to second homes here in New Hampshire. Manchester airport is doing no real screening or advising for visitors. With New Hampshire being in close proximity to coronavirus hot spots, we should be taking all precautionary measures."

Volinsky, a Democrat, is running for the gubernatorial nomination in September to face off against Sununu in November.

Dunkin's Say: We're Open

Dunkin' Donut franchisees in New Hampshire want customers to know that during the COVID-19 outbreak, their stores will be open for business, after being designated an essential business on the state's emergency guidelines.

Coffee and food items will be available via drive-thru, carry-out, and delivery, through delivery partners. Curbside pickup is also available at some locations. Orders can also be placed on the Dunkin' app for drive-thru pickup.

Attorneys Offer Free Help

The New Hampshire Pro Bono Referral System, a nonprofit corporation affiliated with the New Hampshire Bar Association, is ready to answer questions on things like wills and unemployment for low- and moderate-income people on its NH Free Legal Answers website.

"We launched this program a year ago to reach more people needing legal advice," said Pro Bono Director Virginia Martin, "and are fortunate its already in place during this time of social distancing and increased need."

The virtual platform is designed for volunteer attorneys to give people legal information and advice in non-criminal legal matters and is not intended for extended legal services and representation, she said.

What You Can Do To Stop The Spread

COVID-19, not unlike the flu and other respiratory illnesses, 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.

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

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

  • Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.

  • Employers need to move to telework as much as possible.

  • There is increasing evidence that this virus can survive for hours or possibly even a few days on surfaces, so 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 when sick (i.e., social distancing).

  • 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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