COVID-19 Update April 12: Easter Sunday
It’s Easter, and I’m thinking of the meaning of this day, and what it means for those who have lost loved ones before their time, especially during this pandemic. Too many lives are being lost unnecessarily. Let’s each do our part to keep the loss of lives as low as we can. Stay home, stay safe, and be kind.
Key points::
- 55 new cases were confirmed in New Hampshire, with 31 of those being in Rockingham County. I do not yet see any hint of a flattening of the curve.
- Two more municipalities, Concord and Dover, have joined the list of those which have 20-49 confirmed cases, making a total of 6 communities. Salem, Manchester, and Nashua are still the only communities with more than 50 confirmed cases.
- Salem’s Emergency Operations Center team will make a presentation at the Board of Selectmen’s meeting tomorrow, Monday, April 13 at 7:00. Watch on channel 23.
- The first of the stimulus checks have been deposited into bank accounts. The first group should all have them by April 15.
- I’ve added a new table and a new chart that shows how NH is under-testing.
Click to enlarge the calendar:
https://www.bonnie4salem.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/april12-calendar.jpg
The preceding chart comes from NHPR
Q: How is NH doing in comparison to our neighboring states?
A: We aren’t doing enough tests!
The above table is built upon the work done by Mindi Messmer, PG, CG on April 8.
Click table to enlarge.
Table Sources: Population (U.S. Census) and April 8 stats per Mindi Messmer
Tests Reported: Politico
COVID Symptom Tracker: This is a project of Mass General Hospital. In the absence of proper testing, this may be the best way of tracking how we are doing. I’m keeping it near the top, so I’ll remember to log in each day.
https://covid.joinzoe.com/us?fbclid=IwAR2IsoxZ9RBKC4uPQscKiuUUTJCA3cCt3dUr9tjNSsFqOU1rv10jmysmt4Y
Today’s COVID-19 news:
Salem’s confirmed cases:
- April 3: 25 cases
- April 6: 33 cases
- April 8: 20-40 cases
- April 9: 20-49 cases
- April 10: Over 50
Salem, Manchester, and Nashua remain the only NH municipalities with more than 50 confirmed cases. With 153 cases (up +6 from yesterday), Manchester continues to be the city in NH with the most confirmed cases. Nashua has 88 (+2) confirmed cases. Londonderry, Derry, Portsmouth, and Bedford remain as the only communities with 20-49 confirmed cases.
Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua, has 385 367 (+18) confirmed cases. Rockingham County is close, with 345 (+31) confirmed cases.
We need proper testing to fight COVID-19
“The COVID-19 outbreak isn’t almost over now. Nor will it be in two weeks. We haven’t “almost beaten this” because we haven’t even started properly measuring it yet. We want to measure success in lives saved, not by celebrating an ongoing low death rate.” https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/op-eds/we-need-proper-testing-to-fight-covid-19/article_acd86517-86cd-5b87-9ce5-e314ffbe5019.html
| Today | Yesterday | Change from yesterday | |||
| Total Confirmed Cases | 985 | 929 | +56 | ||
| Recovered | 239 | 24% (was 26 yesterday) | 236 | +3 | |
| Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 | 23 | 2% | 23 | 0 | |
| Active Cases | 723 | 670 | 53 | ||
| Total Hospitalized | 152 | 15% (was 16% yesterday) | 146 | +6 | |
| Tested Negative | 10,222 | 9,996 | +226 | ||
| Persons with specimens submitted to NH PHL | 5,081 | 4,952 | +120 | ||
| Persons with test pending at NH PHL | 125 | 119 | +6 | ||
| Being Monitored (Approximate) | 2,275 | 2,275 | 0 | ||
| Total Tested (Confirmed Cases + Tested Negative) | 11,207 | 10,925 | +282 |
NH News relating to COVID-19
Thanks to the generosity of New Hampshire inventor Dean Kamen, today NH received a $5M shipment from China of PPE (personal protective equipment), weighing 91,000 pounds. Kamen was the inventor of the Segway. 25-30% of the confirmed cases are medical personnel.
Salem Government
The Town of Salem’s Emergency Operations Center Team (EOC) made another public address on COVID-19 on Monday, April 6. Their reports can be seen at http://sctv-17.com/CablecastPublicSite/?channel=1
Other Salem Government events coming up:
- The EOC is on the agenda to make a presentation to the Select Board at their meeting on Monday, April 13 at 7:00. This can be watched on Channel 23.
- The Planning Board is scheduled to have a virtual meeting on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00. which will be viewable by the public on Channel 23.
To watch past or live viewings::
- Comcast TV Channel 23
- http://sctv-17.com/CablecastPublicSite/?channel=1
- https://livestream.com/salemnh
- https://www.facebook.com/sctv17
State Representation:
Salem has nine State Representatives. If you are having issues connected to COVID-19, they have access to the people who can get you the help you need. You can find contact info for our reps here: http://gencourt.state.nh.us/house/members/default.aspx
Our Senator, Chuck Morse, can be contacted at Chuck.Morse@leg.state.nh.us His Concord office phone is 603.271.3207.
Disclaimer:
On April 7, NH scientist and politician, Mindi Messmer, PG, CG wrote on her Facebook page: “… testing has pretty much stopped at the NH PHL. The testing penetration is so low in NH, only 1/2% of the 1.3M people, meaning 99.5% of the 1.3M have not been tested, that I am not putting up projections or tests for NH because the graphs would be meaningless and I don’t want to give the false impression that we know what’s going on in NH.”
On April 11, the National Academy of Sciences reported that 16 out of 51 tests were inaccurate. (False positives and false negatives).
Please keep these ideas in mind as you review the information on this page or any other page.
Resources to help in these challenging times:
Do YOU think you have COVID-19?
To report suspected cases, contact the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control at 603-271-4496, (603-271-5300 for after hours), or nhbidc@dhhs.nhs.gov.
How You Can Help Others:
- Stay home, wash hands, wear cloth masks in public, check on neighbors
- Donate food: NH Food Bank: https://www.nhfoodbank.org or call 669-9725
- United Way: http://uwnh.org
- Donate blood: https://www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-Cross
- COVID-19 Response in New Hampshire: https://volunteernh.org/covid-19-response/
- Watch out for the kids. Child abuse reports are down, because they aren’t out where they can be observed. If you suspect child abuse call Salem Police Department (603) 893-1911 or the NH child abuse hotline at DCYF (800) 894-5533. You could also go to https://knowandtell.org. In an immediate emergency, dial 911.
Masks:
- How to make and how to wear: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html
- This is another option for a no-sew mask (perhaps using the coffee filter, as suggested by the CDC?) http://blog.japanesecreations.com/no-sew-face-mask-with-handkerchief-and-hair-tie
Salem:
- Free meals for Salem kids under 18: https://sau57.org/covid19/meals
- Town of Salem COVID-29 Info: https://www.townofsalemnh.org/home/covid-19-information
- COVID-19 Salem Community Hotline & Email: https://www.townofsalemnh.org/home/news/covid-19-community-hotline-and-email
- Salem Police: Dial 911 for emergencies or (603) 893-1911 for non-emergency issues.
New Hampshire:
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services:
- https://www.nh.gov/covid19/index.htm
- https://www.nh.gov/covid19/faqs/documents/covid-19-faq.pdf
- https://www.nh.gov/covid19/resources-guidance/index.htm
- https://www.nh.gov/covid19/resources-guidance/other-guidance.htm
- https://www.nh.gov/covid19/documents/terms.pdf
- https://www.nh.gov/covid19/resources-guidance/residents.htm
Office of the Governor: https://www.governor.nh.gov
- List of NH “essential” services: https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/emergency-orders/documents/emergency-order-17-ex-a.pdf
Mindi Messmer: A scientist who is reporting frequently on COVID-19, Mindi is also a candidate for Executive Council, District 3 (including Salem). https://www.facebook.com/Mindi4NH/
More info about COVID-19
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/sick-with-2019-nCoV-fact-sheet.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/2019-ncov-factsheet.pdf
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
COVID Symptom Tracker:
This is a project of Mass General Hospital. In the absence of proper testing, let’s let them know how we are doing. https://covid.joinzoe.com/us?fbclid=IwAR2IsoxZ9RBKC4uPQscKiuUUTJCA3cCt3dUr9tjNSsFqOU1rv10jmysmt4Y
Trackers (Cases)
- COVI-19 Tracker: https://bing.com/covid/local/newhampshire_unitedstates
- Live statistics: https://ncov2019.live/data
- US Coronavirus Tracking https://infection2020.com
- The COVID Tracking Project https://covidtracking.com/data/state/new-hampshire#historical
The World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Media with NH COVID-19 news:
- WMUR: https://www.wmur.com
- NHPR: https://www.nhpr.org
Housing
- NH landlords cannot start eviction proceedings for any tenant unable to pay due to the impact of the coronavirus. Foreclosures are also frozen. https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-media/emergency-orders/documents/emergency-order-4.pdf
- Housing and Urban Development: https://www.hud.gov/states/new_hampshire
- NH Housing: https://www.nhhfa.org
Unemployment
- If you were working in NH: https://www.nhes.nh.gov
- If you worked in MA: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-unemployment-assistance
Financial Assistance
- Coronavirus Tax Relief: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments
- SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Formerly Food Stamps)
Link to other NH benefits:
Businesses and Employers: Guidance for Small Businesses
- New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs (BEA): (resources): https://businesshelp.nheconomy.com/hc/en-us
- NH DHHS: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/resources-guidance/businesses.htm
- SBA: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/281d439
- SBA: https://www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources
- CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html
- CDC: Cleaning: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/cleaning-disinfection.html
- OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3990.pdf
- Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce: http://www.gschamber.com
- McLane Middleton: An extensive list of resources for businesses: https://www.mclane.com/Coronavirus-Resource-Center
- The CARES Act: https://www.mclane.com/The-CARES-Act-QA-Webinar-Replay-4/2/2020
- Unemployment: https://www.mclane.com/Coronavirus-Employment-Webinar-3-26-2020
Sources for data included in these reports:
- https://www.nh.gov/covid19/
- https://www.wmur.com
- https://covid19.healthdata.org
- https://www.townofsalemnh.org/
- https://infection2020.com
- https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information
- https://www.nhpr.org/
- https://www.nhpr.org/post/tracking-covid-19-cases-and-testing-new-hampshire#stream/0
Please report any errors or omissions to bonnie@bonnie4salem.us. Thank you.