NH Coronavirus Update: 4 More Deaths, 32 New Cases Announced

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that four more people have died in the state due to the new coronavirus. The three men and one woman were all over the age of 60, according to the State Joint Information Center. Two lived in Hillsborough County, one in Cheshire County, and one in Rockingham County.

The state offered sympathies to the family and friends of the four new victims. The death count now stands at 13 in the state, about 2 percent of infected patients.

Thirty-two new cases were also announced and several of those cases were still being investigated at post time. Of those with completed investigations, 53 percent were women and 47 were men. The 32 patients were spread out in the four largest counties in the state, from the Lakes Region to the Massachusetts border. Three of the new cases needed hospitalization — bringing the total to 108 who have needed a hospital stay, about 14 percent of patients.

"Twenty-one of the new cases have no identified risk factors," the report stated. "Community-based transmission continues to increase in the state and has been identified in all counties with cases. Most of 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."

Around 28 percent of patients — 211 — are in recovery with 89 tests pending with the state. It is unknown how many commercial lab tests are outstanding. About 2,200 are under public health monitoring.

According to the state, 8,389 tests, about 91 percent, of all of those patients tested, have come back with negative results for the coronavirus at the NH Public Health Laboratories (PHL), LabCorp, Quest, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, and those sent to CDC prior to NH PHL testing capacity.

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Allstate Customers Get Discount

Actor Dennis Haysbert has been telling people for years now that with Allstate, you're in good hands. If you're an Allstate customer in New Hampshire, that ad slogan rings true — you're getting a discount.

Gov. Chris Sununu announced Tuesday the company notified the New Hampshire Insurance Department that it was dropping its premiums for policyholders by around 15 percent. The discount is due to reduced driving because of the stay-at-home order in the state.

"On behalf of our New Hampshire residents, many of whom are facing great financial hardship right now, I want to thank Allstate for taking the initiative to do the right and return these savings to customers as quickly as possible," Sununu said. "I urge all other carriers to follow suit for the people of New Hampshire."

Due to claims dropping, the company approached the department for approval of the plan. The department approved the reduction the next day. The savings is expected to be around $2.3 million.

"I am thankful that Allstate moved quickly to acknowledge their reduced risk and to ensure their premiums are not excessive," said Insurance Commissioner Chris Nicolopoulos. "Returning this money to consumer will help alleviate the financial burden that many New Hampshire families are experiencing."

Emergency Relief And Recovery Office Established

The governor also announced Tuesday the creation of a new oversight agency to handle the accounting and disbursement of CARES Act and other funds.

The new Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery will be similar to Gov. John Lynch’s New Hampshire Office of Economic Stimulus. The office will also have a legislative advisory board to ensure transparency.

"Unlike the 2009 stimulus investment process that used the budget to ensure legislative input, the urgency and timing of this crisis does not allow for that course of action," Sununu said. "It is important that this process has as much accountability, transparency, and integrity as possible, and I look forward to having legislative leadership advise this critically important office."

Concord DMV Worker Tests Positive

The Division of Motor Vehicle stated Tuesday that an employee at the Concord DMV office on Hazen Drive has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

The DMV location will be closed Wednesday for "enhanced cleaning" and to allow health department officials to conduct "a close-contact investigation" of the employee.

"The staff member does not have contact with the public during the business day," according to Larry Crowe, a public information officer with the department. "Any person who is identified as a close contact will be notified."

The division is reaching out to drivers to reschedule appointments. The DMV location will resume appointments and drop box services Thursday. Online DMV services are available and residents can call 603-227-4000 to determine availability of services.

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NH Banks Ready To Help Small Businesses

The state's banking association said it is ready to help Granite State's small businesses tap into about $350 billion in emergency Small Business Administration loans through the new Paycheck Protection Program, a part of the CARES Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump recently.

The New Hampshire Bankers Association said any small business should reach out to their bank as soon as possible to prepare documentation needed for the application process. The forms are also available online. A list of participating banks can be found here.

"On day three of the PPP loan program, our banks are actively lending much needed funds," said Kristy Merrill, president of the association. "They are working day and night and through the weekend to serve countless small businesses through lending to help support their payrolls and keep their doors open. Every one of our member banks that handles commercial lending is participating in the PPP loan program, demonstrating our industry’s strong level of commitment to Granite State small businesses."

Stop The Spread Of COVID-19!

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.

• 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.

ALSO READ:

• Concord Coronavirus: Testing Site Closed Due To 'Lack Of Volume'
• NH Experts To Governor: Increase Coronavirus Testing, Treatment, Tracking
• State Prison Worker Tests Positive For Coronavirus
• NH Coronavirus Update: 4 More Children Infected; 715 Now Positive
• NH Coronavirus: Governor Shutters Hotels, Bed And Breakfasts

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