6 More COVID-19 Deaths In New Hampshire: Update

CONCORD, NH — The State Joint Information Center announced another 334 new positive cases, including 67 more children infected, who all contracted coronavirus by either being in contact with someone who was infected or in an outbreak setting.

Two-hundred and 22 of the new infections were found via polymerase chain reaction tests while the others from antigen tests after more than 10,500 tests were administered in New Hampshire on Thursday. While the state is trying to determine where 17 new cases live, 100 reside in Rockingham County, 81 live in Hillsborough County outside of Nashua, 27 live in Nashua, and 19 are in Merrimack County. About 56 percent of the new infections were male.

There are now 2,345 active cases in New Hampshire while 76,438 have recovered from the virus, about 95.6 percent of all cases. More than 1.8 million tests have been administered in New Hampshire to 48.3 percent of Granite Staters

State health officials also announced another six deaths from or related to the disease including men from Cheshire and Coos counties, a woman from Hillsborough County, and two women and a man from Rockingham County. Four lived in long-term care settings while three were 80 years of age or older and two were between 70- and 79-years-old.

About 147 cases are connected to the K-12 school setting while 130 are infected at colleges and universities.

In New Hampshire, nearly 161,000 people are fully vaccinated.

'The Cure Podcast' — 1 Year Of COVID-19

On the latest edition of Dartmouth-Hitchcock's "The Cure Podcast," doctors are joined by Antonia Altomare, DO, MPH, an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist to discuss the pandemic's one-year anniversary.

Altomare has been on the frontlines of Dartmouth-Hitchcock's response to the disease and during the talk, she discusses lessons learned during the last year.

"There were certainly new challenges that came with this pandemic," she said. "We have learned as an institution, and people have learned, how to care for patients in a very different way from what we’re used to. We had to pivot very quickly, which was our new universal personal protective equipment, which we've never had to do before; whether that’s providing telehealth to patients in their homes in order to keep them and us safe. I think it's that flexibility and trust in the system that really got us through."

Listen to the podcast here.

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• Coronavirus Vaccine Phase 2A Scheduling Begins Wednesday: Update

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 a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 needs to not go out to 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.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Schools, Employers, Employees, and Businesses (Can your employer force you to get the vaccine? It depends).

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Healthcare Providers and Public Health Partners

• Guidance to schools can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 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.
• To access the state's COVID-19 Interactive Map Dashboard, click on this link here.

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