CORONAVIRUS

16 new coronavirus cases linked to NH church

Staff Writer
Fosters Daily Democrat
New Hampshire health officials are investigating a potential coronavirus outbreak linked to the Windham Crossing Life Church.

CONCORD (AP) — New Hampshire health officials are investigating a potential coronavirus outbreak linked to a Windham church.

The state Department of Health and Human Services said Friday that 16 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 have connections to the Windham Crossing Life Church.

Health officials say anyone who attended events associated with the church since July may have been exposed to the virus and should be tested. That includes a YouthStorm, Inc. camp event held July 16-18, the department said.

"The public should not attend events related to the Windham Crossing Life Church over the next week while DHHS investigates these illnesses further," it said in a statement.

Latest numbers: The state Department of Health and Human Services on Saturday reported 40 new positive test results for COVID-19, but no new related deaths. The state has seen 6,818 cases and 419 deaths to date.

Of the new cases with complete information, one individual is under age 18. The new cases live in Rockingham County (12), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (3), Strafford (2), Cheshire (1), Coos (1), and Merrimack (1) counties, and in Manchester (9) and Nashua (6). The county of residence is being determined for five new cases.

No new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 700 (10.3%) of 6,818 cases. The state reported 24 current hospitalizations, 350 active cases and 6,049 people as having recovered.

DHHS reports the following active cases in the Seacoast: Portsmouth (9), Dover and Hampton (8), Durham (6), Brentwood, Exeter, Rochester and Rye (5). All other Seacoast towns are listed as having zero to four cases.

In Rockingham County, Derry has the most active cases at 19 followed by 15 in Salem.

Manchester has the most active cases in the state at 61 followed by Nashua with 31.

Maine

Masks and social distancing will be required when Maine holds its first murder trial since the coronavirus pandemic crippled much of the U.S. legal system this spring.

Carine Reeves, of New York City, is scheduled to go on trial next month in Bangor in the killing of Sally Shaw, 55, of New Gloucester.

The Bangor Daily News reports jurors, lawyers and the judge will all wear masks. Jurors will sit in the gallery instead of the jury box so they can sit 6 feet apart. Members of the public, including reporters and family members of the victim, will sit in a separate room to watch a live video stream of the trial.

Court officials are sending jury summonses to 500 people to ensure they can find enough fair and impartial jurors willing to serve under the coronavirus rules, said Peter Schleck, manager of operations at the Bangor courthouse.

Latest numbers: Maine health officials on Saturday reported one COVID-19-related death and 12 new cases. Maine has now recorded 125 deaths and 4,026 cases to date.

Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Rhode Islanders can make quick trips across the border to Massachusetts for things like groceries without having to fill out a form or produce a coronavirus test result, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said.

Rhode Island was recently removed from the list of lower risk states that allowed residents there to be exempted from Massachusetts travel quarantine requirements.

Rhode Islanders coming to Massachusetts must now comply with a new executive order mandating they quarantine for 14 days or face a $500-per-day fine. Travelers who can produce a negative COVID-19 test result that has been administered up to 72 hours before their arrival in Massachusetts are exempt.

But Baker said Friday that people who live near the border can still come into Massachusetts for things grocery shopping or banking and won't be fined, as long as they wear a mask.

"Go to the store, do your shopping, wear your face mask, keep six feet apart from people, and go home," Baker told reporters.

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