In New Hampshire, 2 COVID-19 Deaths; More Restaurant Exposure

Tony Schinella
Updated ·4 min read

CONCORD, NH — Three more establishments in New Hampshire are reporting possible COVID-19 community exposure after 129 more people tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday.

The State Joint Information Center said a positive test result was at Paddy's American Grille on 27 International Drive in Portsmouth between Oct. 12 and Oct. 16 and was potentially infectious. The state has determined that there was potential community exposure in the bar area of the restaurant.

Another person has also tested positive for COVID-19 at La Vista Italian Cuisine at the River Walk Resort at Loon Mountain and may have been potentially infectious to patrons who were at the establishment during the afternoon or evening of Oct. 17, Oct. 18, Oct. 20, and Oct. 22.

Also, a player at the Concord Casino at The Draft in Concord, who was playing at a gaming table on Oct. 14, has also tested positive for COVID-19 and may have been infectious to others.

"DHHS has conducted contact investigations on all cases associated with these potential community exposures and is notifying known close contacts directly," the State Joint Information Center said. "However, DHHS is making this public notification because there may be additional individuals at the location during those days and times who were exposed to the coronavirus."

These possible establishment community exposures follow five other exposures announced on Friday — at The Barley House and The Draft in Concord, the Daniel Street Tavern and The Goat Bar and Grill in Portsmouth, and the Bantam Grill in Peterborough.

UPDATE! Read all about it!
Posted by Bantam Grill on Thursday, October 22, 2020

Two more elderly men have died. One lived in Merrimack County while the other lived in Hillsborough County. Both were 80 years of age or older and lived in long-term care settings.

Another 129 new positive tests were also announced Saturday including 19 children and 76 were female. Most of the tests were polymerase chain reaction specimens. More than 8,500 specimens were collected Friday with previous test counts upgraded slightly and 248 tests pending for a 1.3 percent positivity rate.

Twenty-eight of the new patients live in Rockingham County, 24 live in Hillsborough County outside of Manchester and Nashua, 11 live in Merrimack, and five reside in Nashua.

According to the state, 10,238 people have contracted COVID-19 in New Hampshire while 8,819 have recovered from the virus, about 86 percent.

Nineteen individuals are hospitalized but only two of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

More than 329,000 people have been tested via 574,187 tests.

Around 4,350 people are under public health monitoring.

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Stop 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.

  • When you can't practice 6 feet of social distancing, wear a face covering.

  • Anyone who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.

  • If you are 60 years or older or have chronic and underlying health conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.

  • Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.

  • Employers should work from home as much as possible.

  • There is increasing evidence that the virus can survive for hours or possibly days on surfaces. 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.

  • Wear a face covering.

  • 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