New Hampshire reports 9 new virus cases

New Hampshire health officials reported nine new cases of the new coronavirus Sunday with five of them being people under age 18, raising the state’s total cases to 7,254.

There were no additional deaths reported. The state’s death toll remained 432 with 351 associated with long-term care facilities (about 81% of all deaths).

No new hospitalized cases were identified, leaving the state’s total at 714 (about 10% of all cases) with six people currently hospitalized.

The state reported there are 222 current cases of COVID-19 and 6,600 people have recovered (about 91% of all cases). There have been 209,295 tests completed.

Maine

There are nine active cases of COVID-19 at University of Maine System campuses, a spokesman for the system said Sunday. All of the individuals are in isolation, the spokesman said. The cases involve students and employees.

The cases are at the main University of Maine campus in Orono as well as University of Maine Farmington, University of Southern Maine and University of Maine School of Law.

No more snow days?

Some Vermont educators are wondering if remote learning could mean the end of snow days, the unexpected days off when weather conditions make it too hard for staff and children to reach school.

Bryan Olkowski, the superintendent of the Washington Central Supervisory Union, recently floated the idea at a School Board meeting.

He said he brought it up lightheartedly, but it could be possible. Many school districts are working to switch to at least part-time remote education this fall.

It's unclear if those systems could work with less than a day's notice.

David Younce, of the Vermont Superintendents Association, said he hasn't heard any formal conversations on the topic, but called the idea "common sense commentary."

"The ability to work and learn from home is going to become more and more normalized, I suspect," Younce told the Rutland Herald. "I think that makes it much easier to make a decision."

But he said any decisions to shift to remote learning for inclement weather should be made in advance, such as noon the day before, to provide time for teachers, students and families to plan accordingly.

Massachusetts

The city of Quincy fined a wedding venue on Saturday for violating limits on gatherings. The rules are intended to cut down the spread of the coronavirus

The Neighborhood Club of Quincy received a $300 fine, The Patriot Ledger reported. A spokesperson for the club said it was hosting an outdoor wedding when rain and thunder motivated the general manager to move it indoors.

Quincy Health Department Commissioner Ruth Jones said she received a call there were more than 50 people at the venue. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker issued an order in early August limiting indoor gatherings to no more than 25 in a single, enclosed space.

Also in Massachusetts, more than 20 College of the Holy Cross students have tested positive for the virus after a party.

A spokesperson for the college said students who hold parties will be held accountable, The Republican reported. The party was held off campus in mid-August.

Holy Cross is among dozens of New England colleges welcoming students back to school this month and next. The school is hosting a remote fall semester, but some students are living on campus.

Rhode Island

Seventeen Providence College students have been suspended for violating the school's code of conduct about the pandemic.

Rev. Kenneth Sicard, the college's president, described the students' actions as "selfish behavior." He added that more sanctions could be imposed by the college.

"We have emphasized strongly that actions that endanger themselves and others during this pandemic will not be tolerated at Providence College," Sicard wrote.