NH reports 61 new cases of COVID-19

CONCORD — The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services on Saturday announced 61 new positive tests for COVID-19, the highest daily total in the state since June 17 when there were 72.

DHHS reported no additional related deaths on Saturday, leaving the state’s total at 438. New Hampshire has recorded six COVID-19-related deaths so far this month.

The newest cases increase the state’s total to date since March to 7,920. Saturday was the third time this month that New Hampshire’s daily increase of COVID-19 cases exceeded 50. It reported 56 cases on Sept. 5 and Sept. 10. It also reported 47 cases on Friday, Sept. 18.

State epidemiologist Dr. Ben Chan on Thursday said New Hampshire’s test positivity rate remains stable and low, at 1% or less statewide, and pointed to more testing in colleges, universities and school districts as the reason for the increase of late.

DHHS on Saturday reported no new hospitalized cases and 8 current hospitalizations. The state has seen 725 hospitalized cases, about 9% of all known cases to date. DHHS reports 7,164 people have recovered from COVID-19.

Of the newest cases with complete information, six people are under age 18. The new cases are in Merrimack (12), Rockingham (12), Strafford (12), Belknap (6), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (3), and Grafton (1) counties, and in Nashua (9) and Manchester (5). The county of residence is being determined for one new case.

SEACOAST CORONAVIRUS NEWS IS FREE:This content is being provided for free as a public service to our readers. Sign up for our free daily or breaking email newsletters and Seacoast Health newsletter to stay informed. Please support local journalism by subscribing to Seacoastonline.com or by subscribing to Fosters.com.

A significant number of the newest cases are connected to increasing totals in Manchester and Nashua, the state’s largest cities. According to DHHS, Nashua on Thursday had 23 cases and on Saturday had 42. Manchester on Thursday had 32 cases and on Saturday had 39.

In the Seacoast, Durham continues to have the most active cases at 23, largely due to tens of thousands of tests of returning students and staff at the University of New Hampshire. The case count has remained steady this week at 23. The number of active cases in Brentwood dropped to 10 on Saturday after being at 12 for more than a week. The town’s number reflects and outbreak at the county jail there. Barrington’s total rose on Saturday to 6 active cases from 5 on Friday. Exeter’s active cases dropped to 5 from 6.