New Hampshire Coronavirus Update: 3,620 Test Results; 7 Positives

CONCORD, NH — Due to a new coronavirus laboratory not reporting cases for two days, the state only reported seven new positive test results Monday.

On Saturday and Sunday, only one test result was reported from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center whereas nearly 1,100 tests were collected by the hospital on Friday. On average during the past week, the hospital has tested 437 specimens.

However, those seven positive results Monday came from 3,620 tests performed Sunday. The state collected 4,873 specimens Sunday but has 1,253 tests pending, according to the state's data dashboard.

One of the new test results was a child, four were female, and three were male. Two of the new cases reside in Rockingham County while two live in Nashua. The residency of one case is still be investigated.

Only one of the new cases required hospitalization with one having no identified risk factors.

Around 2,050 people are under public monitoring.

Health Department Explains Delay In School Reporting

During a news conference last week, Lori Shibinette, the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, about the delay in time it takes for the state to report school infections to the public.

At issue was a recent case in Concord involving a high school student who participates in the marching band but became infected.

Parents reached out to Patch about the case and over a period of days, were surprised to learn the student was tested on Sept. 9, the last day of band practice, and the state found out about the positive test result on Sept. 12. The school district and the public were informed about the sick student Sept. 16.

The student has since recovered from the virus but the process and time it took was puzzling to some.

Watch the commissioner explain the process below.

More School Infections

According to the state's school COVID-19 database, a new case has been reported from the Golden Brook Elementary School in Windham.

The state also listed one new COVID-19 case at Penacook Elementary School in Concord.

Mark MacLean, the superintendent of the Merrimack Valley School District, clarified in a note to parents and the school community that of the two cases to the Penacook Elementary School, one was an adult.

Infection Reported At NH DOE

An employee of the New Hampshire Department of Education has contracted the new coronavirus.

A human resources staffer informed employees by email Friday night about the infection — after most had left work for the weekend. Several employees who reached out to Patch were shocked to find out there was a positive case in the department when they showed up for work Monday and that there was not outreach about the incident to employees during the weekend.

According to a memo, Londergan Hall on the Hugh Gallen State Complex, which houses the education department, was disinfected during the weekend. Contact tracing is underway for employees who may have been exposed to the employee who contracted the virus, according to the memo.

Public information officers from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the education department did not respond to inquiries about the infection or why employees only found out about the case after they had arrived to work Monday.

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• Concord Code Division Employee Contracts COVID-19
• Nashua City Hall Closes; Schools Delay Move To Hybrid Learning

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.

• 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.
• To access the state's COVID-19 Interactive Map Dashboard, click on this link here.

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube channel.