5 More Deaths; 81 New Positive Coronavirus Cases In NH

Tony Schinella
Updated ·4 min read

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced five more additional deaths related to COVID-19 Friday.

All the new deaths, two women and a man from Hillsborough County, a man from Rockingham County, and a man from Merrimack County were 60 years of age and older. Four of the five deaths were connected to long-term care facilities.

The 81 new positive test results announced bring the accumulatively number to 4,014 cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire. Of those infected, five were under the age of 18 with 65 percent being women and 35 percent of men. Some investigations are incomplete — with the state still trying to find out where four new cases and 13 other positive test results live. Forty-two of the new positive cases, more than half, live in Hillsborough County while 19 live in Rockingham County. Eight reside in Merrimack County.

The daily positive test count from May 1 to May 22 and a trend line. Despite political statements on Twitter, cases aren't increasing in New Hampshire; they are fluctuating and trending down. Credit: Tony Schinella

Fifteen new hospitalizations were announced bringing the count to 408, about 10 percent of all cases, who have needed more advanced care. Eighty-eight remain hospitalized. However, more than half of the new coronavirus cases, 2,082, have recovered from the virus.

Lori Shibinette, the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, said in a news conference Friday that the recovery numbers were an encouraging sign.

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Seven of the new cases have no identified risk factors with most of the remaining positive results contracting the virus due to travel or coming into contact with a confirmed infected case.

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Nearly 68,000 tests have been conducted in the state with about 20,000 of those tests being conducted at the state's labs. Approximately 4,050 people are under public health monitoring while nearly 64,000, 94 percent, had a negative test result.

Learn More About 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.

  • 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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This article originally appeared on the Concord Patch