Governor: Coronavirus Lockdowns In New Hampshire Unlikely: Watch

CONCORD, NH — While New Hampshire remains in a "safer at home" order, residents concerned about not being able to remain active can rest assured there will probably not be any future lockdowns despite an increase in the number of new coronavirus cases in the state.

Gov. Chris Sununu said the negative aspects of lockdowns were worse than clamping down the economy and isolating people. There were negative health aspects to lockdowns, too, he said. The state's economy was strong and better than other states — with a lot of people working and not unemployed who were still receiving private health care, he said.

Before, in the spring, locking down the state was "the right thing to do," but now, the state was managing the pandemic a lot better, Sununu said. Numbers were "skyrocketing" in every state, including the Granite State, but clamping down would make things worse.

"You can go on all day about the positive benefits of not just cramming and shutting everything down," Sununu said.

Sununu said other states could do what they wanted and he would not be looking to the federal government for advice or direction on the issue. He said he had not spoken to the president, vice president, anyone on the White House Task Force, or the president-elect. State officials would use data to make decisions, he said. Other states had made their situations "dire" and worse than they already were.

"I'm not saying it will never happen," Sununu said. "But I gotta tell you, we're nowhere near that and there are no plans for that."

Gov. Chris Sununu on Thursday discussing why he was against locking down the economy.

Public Health Update

Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, said there were seven new institutional outbreaks in the state and another seven deaths Thursday after the state reported nine deaths on Wednesday.

The state was averaging around 500 new coronavirus positive test results per day, he said.

Chan also raised concerns with how people were comparing the COVID-19 illness to influenza when it came to fatalities and positive cases. He said those statements were not accurate.

The flu in New Hampshire killed an average of 40 to 50 people annually, he said, whereas, at just a couple of weeks shy of nine months, COVID-19 had killed nearly 550, "at least 10 times higher."

There is "very little immunity" with the coronavirus pandemic, it spreads easily, and was a higher risk than the flu. Prevention measures such as face coverings, social distancing, and washing hands were still "the primary way to control this pandemic" until "a widespread supply of a vaccine becomes available," Chan said.

Lower Quarantine Timeline

Chan said the state was also going to be following new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to reduce quarantine time periods from two weeks to 10 days for most people exposed to the virus.

Dr. Benjamin Chan explains new quarantine recommendations limiting most people to be aware from others for 10 days instead of two weeks.

Chan said there was a "very minimal" increased risk of transmission by lowering the number of days of isolation, according to models and data, although there were caveats — such as people who work who long-term care settings.

Travel guidance, he said, remained the same.

High Positive Cases

The governor said he expected a rise in more cases, even worse than "the surge that we are in right now," but the state was prepared with testing capacity, therapeutics, a lower rate of hospitalization than during the height of the pandemic in the spring.

The state would "still continue to take it seriously," and requested residents to do so, too. Sununu said he hoped another surge would not come before Christmas. Hopefully, he said, "we are getting toward the end but we are not at the end yet."

Sununu said he was also pleased to see that travel was down in New Hampshire compared to prior years during the Thanksgiving holiday and that people were staying home as much as possible.

Vaccines

Sununu spoke about vaccine distribution and said the first doses were expected later this month.

The vaccine will be distributed in stages but it would take "a few months" to get through the entire state. He called it "very, very positive news."

The governor said the state was in constant contact with federal officials, Pfizer, and Moderna, and expected between 10,000 and 40,000 doses in the next few weeks.

Most people in the first stage of vaccination will get it through their doctor, similar to the flu shot, and via a reservation system, with hospital workers first and later, others.

Tweaked Data Dashboard

Sununu unveiled a revamped and tweaked data dashboard.

Most of the basic data that was included before is still there but the testing dashboard expanded to include PCR, antigen, and antibody search functionality by age and time periods as well as county and gender.

The school section was upgraded to include more specific information about each school in a link. A new map has each school district listed and information about learning status and historical infection information.

A lot of the information was based on cases per 100,000 population.

Questions And Answers

Sununu was asked about vaccine distribution and said the state had a four-stage plan covering which health sectors would receive the vaccinations first.

The vaccination process requires two shots. Hospital workers, first responders, and long-term care facility patients will be first.

The next wave of vaccinations after that will vary and depend on how many doses the state receives each week. The state will launch a public service announcement and information campaign understanding "the risks involved and side effects" because "there may be some hesitation" to take the vaccine.

The state will not be mandating the vaccine but Sununu expects there to be "a high demand for it."

The governor also called the federal Operation Warp Speed initiative enacted by President Donald Trump "incredible" and not because "steps weren't skipped but because they were fast-tracked."

When asked about another surge, Sununu said, "we're in it right now," but there would probably be another one in late winter or early spring — and it will be as big and intense. But, he added, hopefully, with the vaccine, health officials will be able to reduce the death rate and hospitalizations. The state is not going to be able to get COVID-19 to zero, he said, but it will "definitely be more manageable."

The governor was asked about one of the new institutional outbreaks at the New Hampshire Veterans Home.

Sununu said the staff and leadership had "done a phenomenal job" and, for more than eight months, had not had any coronavirus. But, he added, "it just takes one or two cases," in any institutional setting, to create an outbreak.

The federal government had an infection team on site and the home was getting assistance from the VA, too, he said.

Chan was asked about hospital capacity and he said he was not aware of any strain or surge capacity.

At any given time, he said, hospitals in the Granite State had 3,000 to 3,500 beds statewide.

"We have not reached capacity at that level yet," Chan said.

If, however, the state did, hospitals could pivot by limiting and slowing normal operations for non-emergency care and also setting up alternative care sites.

Sununu added that when the data updates and hospitalizations go up even though there are fewer hospitalizations, it could be because out-of-state residents are in New Hampshire hospital beds.

Sometimes, if a person from another state is visiting or owns property here but primarily lives in another state, they would not be counted with New Hampshire's hospitalization number but would be in the hospital.

When asked if they should be allowed in our hospitals, Sununu said the facilities had a responsibility to give care to anyone that needed it, irrelevant of residency.

The governor also said that capacity was not a concern considering there were more beds available now when compared to early October even though there are more coronavirus cases now.

Sununu was asked if there were "interest groups" like teachers who "want to squeeze to the front of the line" for the vaccine and he said he had not heard. That, he said, was a testament to the state's plan.

"It's a good plan; it meets the needs and priorities of the state," the governor said.

Dr. Beth Daly said there was a prioritization within with the first stage of vaccinations but it would be provided to groups as quickly as possible even though initial vaccine supplies will not be not enough.

The governor was asked about a possible federal $900 billion coronavirus deal.

Economically, no doubt, New Hampshire was better off than other states, Sununu said. But, "with that, it's important that Washington do anything" to help states get through the crisis.

The governor said he hoped there was enough support to get something done. We are in good shape, we can manage, but we can use it, he said.

Sununu was asked about when he would get the vaccine and he said, at 46, and of good health, he would get one with the general public, as with many in the administration. He said there were others who needed it first and while he would eventually get it, it would be later.

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