8 More Deaths; 81 New Positive Cases: NH Coronavirus Data Update

CONCORD, NH — As the state of New Hampshire approaches nearly 5,000 accumulative new coronavirus cases and the potential easing of the Stay-At-Home 2.0 order, eight more deaths and 81 new positive cases were announced by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

All eight deaths, four women and three men from Hillsborough County and a woman from Merrimack County, were 60 years of age or older and connected to long-term care settings.

"We offer our sympathies to family and friends," the state said.

The eight new deaths bring fatalities to 273 in New Hampshire with more 82.4 percent coming from long-term care facilities, educational institutions, and nursing homes. Only 12 residents under the age of 60 have died during the pandemic.

All but two of the new positive cases have completed investigations. The state said of the 81 new cases, five are children, 56 percent are women, and 44 percent men. Twenty of the new patients live in Manchester, 20 live in Nashua, 18 live in Hillsborough County outside of those two communities, 10 reside in Rockingham County, and six live in Merrimack County.

Four of the new positive patients were hospitalized bringing the total accumulative hospitalizations to 472 or less than 10 percent. Eighty-six people are currently hospitalized — the lowest number of current hospitalizations since April 20.

The state also announced Thursday that 10 of the new cases had no identified risk factors with most of the other cases either contracting the virus from close contact with an infection person or due to traveling.

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Wednesday was one of the busier days for testing with 2,966 polymerase chain reaction and antibody lab tests — the most since May 21.

More than 94,000 specimens have been collected by the state with 89,183 coming back negative or more than 94.8 percent of all tests.

Nearly 3,200 patients have recovered from the virus.

Approximately 4,025 people are under public health monitoring in the state.

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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.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.
• To access the state's COVID-19 data dashboard, click on this link here.

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• Partisan Divide May Halt NH Legislative Work This Year
• New Hampshire Revenues For May 2020 Continue Downward Slide
• Sununu Supports Protests; Nursing Home Deaths Continue

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