Posted on by Bonnie

COVID-19 Update 4 October 2021          

COVID-19 Update 4 October 2021          

The next full update is scheduled for next MONDAY, October 11.

(Not all of the dashboards were updated today, so this is the best info available)

  • Salem since last update: 77 new cases as of Friday 
  • Total: 3,406 confirmed cases in Salem as of Friday.
  • We now have 65 active cases as of Friday (60 last week)
  • The daily average of active cases in Salem for days with info available this week is 61.
  • 1 out of every 9 Salem residents has been infected.
  • Salem’s new cases per 100K for 14 days:  ??? (341 last week)
  • Salem’s Positivity Rate for the past 2 weeks: ??%. (Last week: 5.7%).
  • Salem’s new cases account for ???% of the new cases reported this week. Last week we were responsible for 2.3%. (Salem has 2.2% of NH’s population.) On Friday, Salem had 4.0% of the cases reported.
  • Fully vaccinated Salem residents LAST WEEK: 14,401 (48.1%). Change from last week: +58 people (+0.0)
  • Partially vaccinated Salem residents LAST WEEK: 15,586 (52.1%). Change from last week: +16 people (0.0%). 

NEW HAMPSHIRE:

  • New cases of COVID-19 cases in NH this week: 3,307. (3,335 last week)
  • 1 out of every 11 NH residents has been infected. 
  • Of the new cases this week, 31 were healthcare workers (29 last week), and 70 were in long-term care facilities (45 last week). 1 death this week was from long-term care facilities.
  • Active COVID-19 cases in NH: 3,502 (3,595 last week.) There were 155 active cases on June 28.
  • Recovered in NH this week: 3,432. (3,461 last week.)
  • State Level of Transmission: Substantial in all counties 
  • New patients hospitalized this week because of COVID-19: 16 (17 last week.)
  • Current patients hospitalized because of COVID-19: 141 (143 one week ago)
  • New admissions to ICU this week because of COVID-19: 1 (5 last week)
  • New deaths attributed to COVID-19 reported in NH this week: 8 (19 last week.)
  • Total NH individuals fully vaccinated: About 54.5% of our population, a one-week increase of 0.1%. 59.8% are partially vaccinated, a one-week increase of 0.1%.

Hello, Salem!

“A fact is information minus emotion. An opinion is information plus experience. Ignorance is an opinion lacking information. And stupidity is an opinion that ignores a fact.” — The Captain (@sgrstk)

I TRY to keep these updates limited to facts, although occasionally it’s hard to tell the difference between facts and opinions. Statistics are facts. Choices have consequences: Fact or opinion? Or both?

Here are some random thoughts from this past week:

There are several new graphs and charts under the calendar.

NH GOVERNMENT:

  • NH rep. who attended Rockingham County complex vote tests positive for COVID-19. Story here.
  • NH State Representative Kenneth Weyler (R-Kingston), chair of the House Finance Committee and Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee has reportedly sent the Fiscal Committee a 52-page “report,” full of disinformation, which has prompted for calls for his removal from leadership. This is a developing story.

SIDE EFFECTS of COVID

  • Preliminary research finds that even mild cases of COVID-19 leave a mark on the brain – but it’s not yet clear how long it lasts. Details here. 
  • How COVID-19 can damage all five senses. Story here.

COVID DEATHS

  • Global COVID-19 deaths hit 5 million as Delta variant sweeps the world. Story here.
  • U.S. hits 700,000 COVID deaths just as cases begin to fall. Story here. (About 1,500 Americans are dying from COVID every day.)

VARIANTS

  • R.1 Variant: Should you be worried? ‘It died out already.’ Story here.
  • Mu Variant: It appears that this very feared COVID-19 variant has been eradicated from the U.S. Story here.

VACCINES

  • Breakthrough COVID Infections: How Long Are Vaccinated People Contagious? Here’s the info that is known now.
  • A new study suggests the vaccine can provide a great benefit to those who have had COVID-19. Details here.
  • Survey: Unvaccinated Americans falsely say the need for booster shots proves Covid vaccines don’t work. Story here.
  • 5 New England states – VT, MA, CT, RI and ME are in the top six states for percentage of residents who have been vaccinated. NH is down to 14. Some interesting charts and graphs can be seen here. (Thanks, J.L.!)

Additional suggested reading:

  • A potential breakthrough in how the virus is treated: An experimental antiviral pill developed by Merck & Co could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalized for those most at risk of contracting severe COVID-19. If it gets authorization, molnupiravir, which is designed to introduce errors into the genetic code of the virus, would be the first oral antiviral medication for COVID-19. There are many stories, including this one.
  • Good news? Up to 90% of Americans may have some form of Covid immunity after delta wave. Story here.
  • Texas doctor talks about COVID-19 in pregnant women. “At least 22,000 pregnant women have been hospitalized with Covid, and more than 160 have died, including 22 in August.” More here.
  • Ohio launches COVID variant dashboard. Story here. (I wish NH would do the same; and that we would have breakthrough numbers on the dashboard, too!)


My next update is scheduled for next Monday, as long as NH DHHS does their job on time. In the meantime, stay safe, and always, be kind. 

~Bonnie 

On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, DHHS announced 362 new positive test results for COVID-19 for September 27. Today’s results include 259 people who tested positive by PCR test and 103 who tested positive by antigen test. There are now 3,433 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. A new death is also reported for the week of Sept. 6, 2021: A female from Carroll County, aged 30-39.

On Wednesday, September 29, 2021, DHHS announced 443 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Tuesday, September 28. Today’s results include 188 people who tested positive by PCR test and 255 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced an additional 51 new cases from Saturday, September 25 (37 by PCR and 14 by antigen test) for a new total of 502; an additional 33 new cases from Sunday, September 26 (23 by PCR and 10 by antigen test) for a new total of 212; and an additional 85 new cases from Monday, September 27 (58 by PCR and 27 by antigen test) for a new total of 447. There are now 3,648 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

On Thursday, September 30, 2021, DHHS announced 438 new positive test results for COVID-19 for September 29. Today’s results include 273 people who tested positive by PCR test and 165 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced an additional 13 new cases from Monday, September 27 (13 by PCR and 0 by antigen test) for a new total of 460; and an additional 56 new cases from Tuesday, September 28 (38 by PCR and 18 by antigen test) for a new total of 499. There are now 3,845 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

On Friday, October 1, 2021, DHHS announced 421 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Thursday, September 30. Today’s results include 233 people who tested positive by PCR test and 188 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced an additional 36 new cases from Tuesday, September 28 (11 by PCR and 25 by antigen test) for a new total of 535; and an additional 78 new cases from Wednesday, September 29 (43 by PCR and 35 by antigen test) for a new total of 516. There are now 3,830 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

On Monday, October 4, 2021, DHHS announced 226 new positive test results for COVID-19 for Sunday, October 3. Today’s results include 168 people who tested positive by PCR test and 58 who tested positive by antigen test. DHHS also announced 664 cases from Friday, October 1 (470 by PCR and 194 by antigen test); and 310 cases from Saturday, October 2 (187 by PCR and 123 by antigen test). Additionally, DHHS announced an additional 11 new cases from Wednesday, September 29 (4 by PCR and 7 by antigen test) for a new total of 527, and an additional 80 new cases from Thursday, September 20 (54 by PCR and 26 by antigen test) for a new total of 501. There are now 3,502 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. 

Each day, DHHS says that “Test results for previous days are still being processed and updated case counts for prior days will be reflected on the COVID-19 interactive dashboard.” And, “Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates.” Percentages shown are % of new cases. 

• • • • • • DIAGNOSTIC TESTS IN NH • • • • • •

  • Total people who have tested positive: 122,054 (118,706) last week)
  • New positive cases this week by my math: 3,348 (3,305 last week)
  • New positive cases per DHHS: 3,307 (3,335 last week)
  • Rockingham County (22.78% of NH’s population)
    • Total positive tests in Rockingham County: ??? (28,666 last week)
    • New cases this week: ??? (736 last week)
    • % of this week’s cases from Rockingham County last week: 22.3%

• • • • • NEW CASES • • • • • • 

DHHS reports that the new cases this week reside in the following counties and NH’s two major cities: 

  • Belknap: 148; was 227
  • Carroll: 107; was 121
  • Cheshire: 158; was 204
  • Coos: 188; was 140
  • Grafton: 171; was 180
  • Manchester: 452; was 528
  • Merrimack: 269; was 253
  • Nashua: 371; was 421
  • Rest of Hillsborough: 164; was 194
  • Rockingham County: 638; was 731
  • Strafford: 290; was 346
  • Sullivan: 194; was 145

The county of residence is being determined for 50 new cases. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. 

• • • • • ACTIVE CASES • • • • • • 

  • NH has 3,502 active cases. Last week we had 3,595. We were down to 214 cases as recently as June 28.
  • The dashboard with info re: active cases by county was not updated today.
  • As of Friday: 
    • There are 4 NH communities with more than 100 active cases. Between them, these communities have 687 active cases, accounting for 22% of all active cases.
    • There are 20 NH communities with more than 50 active cases. Between them, these communities have 1,713 active cases, accounting for 54% of all active cases.
    • 9 communities have more active cases than Salem: Manchester (282); Nashua (182); Derry (122); Concord (101); Rochester (96); Berlin (86); Claremont (80); Dover (75); and Pelham (69). (Salem has 65)
    • Another 10 communities have 50 or more active cases: Londonderry (64); Hudson (61); Bedford (59); Laconia (57); Durham (56); Merrimack (55); Goffstown (51); Keene (51); Milford (51); and Newport (50).

• • • • • CUMULATIVE CASES • • • • • • 

Information used to calculate the ratios was not updated today, but it is unlikely that these have changed, as they have all had recent increases.

  • 1 out of every 9 Salem residents has been infected 
  • 1 out of every 11 residents of Rockingham County 
  • 1 out of every 11 residents of NH have been infected 

As of Friday, of the 30 communities with more than 10,000 residents:

  • 1:6: Durham
  • 1:8: Pelham and Manchester
  • 1:9: Berlin, Salem, Hudson, Windham and Goffstown
  • 1:10: Derry, Nashua, Bedford, Hookset, and Londonderry
  • 1:11: Hampton, Milford, Dover, Merrimack, Laconia and Somersworth
  • 1:12: Portsmouth, Rochester and Concord
  • 1:13: Keene, Conway and Claremont
  • 1:14: Exeter
  • 1:15: Amherst
  • Others: Hanover (1:18) and Lebanon (1:30)

As of Fridays, of communities with less than 10,000 residents and high ratios of cases per population:

  • 1:5: Waterville Valley
  • 1:7: Plymouth and Stewartstown
  • 1:8: Tilton
  • 1:9: Plaistow, Errol, Auburn and Candia
  • 1:10: Epsom, Clarksville, Allenstown, Sandown, Wentworth, Hampstead, Seabrook, Brookfield, Atkinson and Litchfield
  • 1:11: Kingston, Danville, Newton, Meredith, Alton, Center Harbor, New Durham, Epping, Pembroke, Weare and Northwood
  • 1:12: 24 communities
  • 1:13: 15 communities
  • 1:14: 13 communities
  • 1:15: 16 communities
  • An additional 102 communities have ratios from 1:16 to 1:102, with 71 of those under 1:25

• • • • • • RECOVERED • • • • • •

  • Total recovered: 117,067 (113,635 last week)
  • Recovered this week: 1,615 (1,505 last week)
  • Percentage of diagnosed cases that have recovered: 95.9% (98.3% in late July.) 

• • • • • COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION • • • • • • 

  • Per NH Department of Health and Human Services:  A community is assigned an overall level based on the highest-level determination for any specific metric. NH Metrics are: 
    • New Cases per 100k over 14 days: Scale: Minimal: <50; Moderate: 50 – 100; Substantial: >100. 
    • Average PCR Test Positivity Rate over 7 days: Scale: Minimal: <5%; Moderate: 5% – 10; Substantial: >10%
  • NH Level of Transmission: Substantial (Last week: Substantial)
    • NH New Cases per 100K over 14 days: 462 (454 last week)
    • 7-Day Total Test Positivity Rate: 4.4% (4.8% last week)
  • Every county in NH, as well as Manchester and Nashua, are at Substantial risk for community transmission. 
  • Two public health regions — Upper Valley and Seacoast — are at moderate risk.
  • These metrics by county were not updated this week.

• • • • • • HOSPITALIZATIONS IN NH • • • • • • 

  • Currently hospitalized: 141 (Last week: 143)
  • Staffed hospital beds available: 15.6% (16.1% last week)
  • Total hospitalized patients: 1,784 (1,768 last week)
  • New people hospitalized from NH: 16 (Last week: 17)
  • Percentage of those who have been infected that have been hospitalized: 1.5%
  • Total admitted to ICU: 523
  • New ICU admissions this week: 1 (5 last week)
  • Staffed adult ICU beds available: 9.9% (Last week: 11.6%)
  • Total hospitalized patients from Rockingham County: 389
  • New hospitalized patients from Rockingham County: 6 since last week
  • Ventilators available: 73.8% (78.0% last week)

• • • • • • DEATHS IN NH • • • • • • 

  • Total fatalities in NH associated with COVID-19: 1,485
  • Lives lost this week: 8
  • Lives lost last week: 19
  • Lives lost from those in Long-term care settings: 0
  • Persons over 60 years of age who died this week: 7
  • Persons under 60 years of age who died this week: 1
  • NH Residents diagnosed with COVID-19 that died: 1.22%
  • Total lives lost in Rockingham County: ?
  • Lives lost in Rockingham County this week: ?

• • • • • • CHANGES BY AGES • • • • • •

(Totals showing changes since last Tuesday.)

  • 0-9: New Infections: 8120 (+378); Hospitalizations: 17 (+0); Deaths: 0 (+0)
  • 10-19: New Infections: 15871 (+493); Hospitalizations: 15 (+0); Deaths: 0 (+0)
  • 20-29: New Infections: 23715 (+452); Hospitalizations: 43 (+2); Deaths: 1 (+0)
  • 30-39: New Infections: 18220 (+432); Hospitalizations: 80 (+0); Deaths: 9 (+0)
  • 40-49: New Infections: 15878 (+392); Hospitalizations: 138 (+4); Deaths: 18 (+1)
  • 50-59: New Infections: 17977 (+353); Hospitalizations: 258 (+3); Deaths: 46 (+0)
  • 60-69: New Infections: 11834 (+269); Hospitalizations: 396 (+3); Deaths: 159 (+1)
  • 70-79: New Infections: 5821 (+135); Hospitalizations: 427 (+2); Deaths: 355 (+0)
  • 80+: New Infections: 4498 (+77); Hospitalizations: 410 (+2); Deaths: 897 (+6)
  • Unknown: New Infections: 120 (+5); Hospitalizations: 0 (+0); Deaths: 0 (+0)
  • Total: New Infections: 122054 (+2986); Hospitalizations: 1784 (+16); Deaths: 1485 (+8)

New Infections in the Past 4 Weeks vs. All NH Infections 

  • 0-9: 18% vs. 13% (+5.5%)
  • 10-19: 15.2% vs. 19.4% (+5%)
  • 20-29: 15.1% vs. 14.9% (-4.2%)
  • 30-39: 11.9% vs. 13% (+0.2%)
  • 40-49: 11.8% vs. 14.7% (-1.1%)
  • 50-59: 8.8% vs. 9.7% (-2.9%)
  • 60-69: 4.2% vs. 4.8% (-0.9%)
  • 70-79: 2.4% vs. 3.7% (-0.6%)
  • 80+: 0.4% vs. 0.1% (-1.3%)
  • Unknown: 100% vs. 100% (+0.3%)

Additional Age Stats

  • 898 children under 18 are included in this week’s new cases. (933 last week — 8 days)
  • 27.2% of new cases announced by DHHS this week are kids under 18 years old. (29.8% last week)
  • School Dashboard: I continue to question the accuracy of the School Dashboard.
    • Salem High School: 7 recovered (Last week: 1 active, 4 recovered)
    • Woodbury Middle School: 3 recovered, 1 cluster. (Last week: 1 active, 3 recovered)
    • North Salem: 2 recovered. (None last week)
  • Under 60: 2,500 new cases this week; 9 hospitalizations, 1 deaths
  • Last week: 3,085 new cases; 9 hospitalizations, 5 deaths
  • 60+: 481 new cases; 7 hospitalizations; 7 deaths
  • Last week: 540 new cases; 8 hospitalizations; 14 deaths

• • • • • • Institutional Outbreaks in NH • • • • • •  

NH DHHS reported 10 institutional outbreaks on Wednesday, Sept. 29. One – Summercrest — is new since my last update. Three institutions were removed from the outbreak list this week. The outbreaks, with changes from last week, are:

  • Alpine Health Center: 62 residents (+5), 15 staff (+7) and 6 deaths (+0) 
  • Cheshire County Department of Corrections: 12 Residents, 0 staff  (no change)
  • Colonial Poplin Nursing & Rehabilitation: 8 residents, 4 staff, 1 death (no change)
  • Federal Correctional Institution in Berlin: 36 residents, 9 staff (no change)
  • Hillsborough County Department of corrections: 38 residents (+24), 6 staff (+4). 
  • Peabody Home: 3 residents, 3 staff (No change)
  • Riverside Rest Home: 9 residents (+1), 5 staff (MINUS 2???)
  • Summercrest Senior Living: 5 residents, 4 staff (new this week)
  • Villa Crest Nursing & Retirement Center: 8 residents, 1 staff (no change)
  • Woodlawn Nursing Home 8 residents, 4 staff (no change)
  • All other outbreaks, which can be seen here, were closed as of this outbreak update.

The outbreaks removed from the list this week are: 

  • Carriage Hill Assisted Living, Ridgewood Center, and Rockingham County Nursing Home and Rehab

• • • • • • Vaccinations in NH • • • • • •  

NH DHHS reports 763,371 (54.5%) people are fully vaccinated, an increase of 1,149 people (0.1%) since last week. Last week the increase was 1,149 people.

841,392 (59.8%) NH residents have been partially vaccinated, an increase of 1,049 (0.1%)
people since last week. Last week the increase was 1,209 people.

• • • • • • VARIANTS IN NH • • • • • •  

Per WMUR, as of Oct 4, NH had:

  • Number of people diagnosed with COVID-19: 122,054 (119,068 last week) 
  • Number of B.1.1.7 variant (Alpha; UK) cases: 1,259 (+1) 
  • Number of B.1.351 variant (Beta; South Africa) cases: 2 (No change)
  • Number of P.1 variant (Gamma; Brazil) cases: 203 (No change)
  • Number of B.1.617.2 variant (Delta; India) cases: 1,080 (940 last week)

These are not simply numbers. We must not forget that these are all someone’s husband or wife, mother or father, sister or brother, son or daughter, friend or neighbor.

The chart above was published in the September issue of the AARP Bulletin. It is based on information from the article, “Vital Statistics: Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2020,” which was published by the CDC.

FINDING INFORMATION:

The State lists information on where to get vaccinated, where to get tested, and what to do if you test positive or were exposed to COVID on their website.

COVID-19 SYMPTOMS – Updated early September 2021

Concerns continue to grow for the Delta variant of COVID-19, which now accounts for 93% of all new COVID-19 infections. Descriptions of symptoms have been updated:

Ranking of Symptoms for Covid-19 Infection in the Unvaccinated

  1. Headache
  2. Sore Throat
  3. Runny Nose
  4. Fever
  5. Persistent cough 

Loss of smell now comes in at number 9, and shortness of breath is way down the list at number 30.

Ranking of Symptoms for Covid-19 Infection in the Partially Vaccinated

  1. Headache
  2. Runny Nose
  3. Sore throat
  4. Sneezing
  5. Persistent Cough

Sneezing, which was never thought to be a symptom in the original Covid strain, is now ranked more common than a cough, for a reported symptom in those with only one dose of the vaccine.

Ranking of Symptoms for Covid-19 Infection in the Fully Vaccinated

  1. Headache
  2. Runny Nose
  3. Sneezing
  4. Sore throat
  5. Loss of smell

A cough ranks 8 on the list for fully vaccinated people, and a fever ranks 12. Shortness of breath is way down the list at number 29.

Breakthrough COVID-19 symptoms:

  • While some vaccinated people are getting COVID, it is still rare, and 99.9% of all recent hospitalizations and deaths associated with COVID-19 are people who are not vaccinated.
  • CDC reports that 79% of those who are found to have breakthrough infections have a cough, headache, sore throat, myalgia and fever. 
  • NBC says approximately 1 in 900 vaccinated people have had breakthrough infections. The vast majority of those had mild or no symptoms. 

A new study shows that unvaccinated people are 17x more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than people who are fully vaccinated.

Useful links

Sources used to create these reports:

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