Officials Launch Rental Assistance Program In NH: COVID-19 Update

CONCORD, NH — The State Joint Information Center announced 224 new positive test results for coronavirus in New Hampshire after nearly 1,900 tests were administered on Sunday, according to data.

Most of the new infections were found by polymerase chain reaction tests while 81 were found via antigen tests. The state reported 31 new cases involving children with the new cases split evenly between genders. Sixty-five of the new infections live in Rockingham County while 44 live in Hillsborough County outside of Nashua, 15 live in Merrimack County, and nine reside in Nashua. The state does not know where 25 of the new cases live.

The state now has 2,064 active cases with recoveries reaching 75,550 or 95.9 percent of all infections. Hospitalizations are at 68. Nearly 1.77 million tests have been administered in the state — with 47.9 percent of the state's population tested at least once. State health officials said more than 152,000 people have been fully vaccinated or more than 11 percent of residents. About 307,000 have their first dose if they are participating in a two-dose vaccine.

Rental Assistance Available

The Governor's Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery launched a new rental assistance program on Monday to assist those in need of aid to pay their rent, utilities, and heating costs.

Community Action Partnership will work regional in five locations to assist renters directly. The program will assist in covering past-due and future rent payments, electricity, home heating, water, sewer, and trash pickup, and other housing-related costs. The state said related expenses like rental application fees, utility hookups, and security deposits are also eligible.

Grants will be provided directly to landlords and utility providers — while landlords can also apply for assistance for tenants.

"While the worst of this public health crisis is now behind us, New Hampshire will continue to provide assistance to those in need of additional supports," Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement. "The Emergency Rental Assistance Program is key to ensuring that we open doors of opportunity and help New Hampshire families as we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel on this pandemic."

The program is being administered through the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.

To find out more about the program, visit this link.

To learn about guidelines or to get questions answered, visit the CAP NH website here.

Free Meal Plan Extended Through Summer

The New Hampshire Department of Education announced on Monday that federal officials will be continuing to provide free meals to students in New Hampshire through Sept. 30.

The waiver extension program will allow for safe meal distribution sites to serve any child, for free, regardless of income. The waivers also allow for support for the summer program programs, flexibility when food is served, and a waiver for a parent or guardian to pick up meals for children, too.

According to the state, during the past year, more than 13 million meals have been served to Granite State students while 12 million children from around the United States have been assisted by the program.

"We are very happy to hear that the USDA will be extending waiver programs through September so that schools and organizations are able to serve healthy meals to children safely, during the summer," Michelle Myler, the administrator of the Bureau of Student Wellness for the state, said. "I want to thank the schools and their staff for their tireless efforts in supporting and feeding our children during these unprecedented times."

The free school lunch is not without its problems. A number of school districts are expected to lose tens of millions of dollars in aid due to families not filling out the free and reduced lunch forms, which allows for extra state adequacy aid for school districts.

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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 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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