Posted on by Bonnie

COVID-19 Update May 9

COVID-19 Update May 9

Salem: 191 confirmed cases, 101 cases are still active.

Today Salem saw an increase of 2 more confirmed cases of COVID-19. 65 people out of every 10,000 Salem residents have been diagnosed. 90 of the Salem cases have been told that they have recovered, but more than half of those here in town that have been infected are still waiting to recover. In the short time that the State has shared the number of active cases with us, this is the first time that the number of active cases has gone down. Congratulation to those four individuals, as well as the preceding 86 individuals who have recovered!

We hit a few milestones today, as more than 3K residents of NH tested positive for COVID-19, and more than 30K tested negative. The State announced 71 new positive tests, including six children under the age of 18; however, from the number they announced yesterday to the number they announced today, the difference is only 64. Another mystery.

Sadly, another 10 families lost their loved ones in the 24 hours from when DHHS last published their report. The total number of NH deaths is now 131 deaths, more than double what we had just two weeks ago. All of those who died today were older than 60 years of age, including three female and three male residents of Rockingham County.

I compute the number of cases tested by comparing the previous day’s total number of positive and total negative cases against those numbers for the current day. I’m coming up with an average of 1,397 test results per day for the last five days, a far cry from where the state should be. Commissioner Lori Shibinette has reported that she expects that NH will be exceeding 2,000 tests daily by the end of next week. This would bring us closer to the goal.

I have still not had a response from Health and Human Services addressing my concerns about their numbers.

Happy Sunday, especially to the Mothers and those who care for their own kids, or children of others. Stay safe, keep your kids safe, and, always, be kind.

Key points covered below in today’s report:

  • Ongoing issues with the State Joint Information Center
  • Kids may not be as immune to COVID-19 complications as previously thought.
  • NH Food Bank Serves the Hungry at the Speedway
  • Parkland Medical
  • Salem Selectboard to meet on Monday at 7:00.
  • Stay-At-Home 2.0 Refresher

Also:

I updated the chart comparing tests per 100K residents in four states. In ongoing info, NH remains consistently behind the others in testing. I created a new chart that compares NH and Salem’s nearest neighbor, MA, for both total tests and positive tests.

Click on the calendar to enlarge
https://www.bonnie4salem.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/may9-calendar.jpg

 

Q: How much testing is NH doing in comparison to our neighboring states?

A: We aren’t doing enough tests!
WHY???

 

 

 

 

 

 

On April 19, this was posted on Facebook:

 

NHPR has charts. Lots of charts!
If you want more than what I’m providing, they can be found at NHPR’s website.

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 Statistics:

May 9May 8Change from yesterday
Total Confirmed Cases3,0112947+64
Recovered 1,22841%
1,210+18
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19
1314% 121+10
Active Cases1,6521,616+36
Total Hospitalized31310% (was 11%)309+4
Current Hospitalized107112-5
Tested Negative30,44229,351+1,091
Persons with specimens submitted to NH PHL12,50912,037+472
Persons with test pending at NH PHL512304+208
Being Monitored (Approximate) 30753,0750
Total Tested (Confirmed Cases + Tested Negative)33,45332,298+1,155

Salem’s confirmed cases: 

  • March 30 (Range 10-19)
  • March 31 (Range 20+)
  • April 3: 25 cases (Range 20+)
  • April 6: 33 cases (+8 in 3 days)
  • April 8: 20+ cases
  • April 9: 20-49
  • April 10: Over 50
  • April 23: 116
  • April 27: 144
  • April 28: 143 (Huh? Less than yesterday? Triple checked!)
  • April 30: 146
  • May 1: 154
  • May 2: 162
  • May 3: 173
  • May 4-5: 175
  • May 6: 178; 94 active
  • May 7: 186; 101 active
  • May 8: 189; 103 active
  • May 9: 191; 101 active

NH Hot Spots
NH has 11 NH municipalities that have more than 50 confirmed cases:

  • Manchester: 670 (+12 from yesterday); 60 per 10K residents
  • Nashua: 283 (+6); 32 per 10K residents
  • Derry: 241; (0); 72 cases per 10K residents
  • Salem: 191 (+2); 65 cases per 10K residents
  • Londonderry: 90 (+2); 34 cases per 10K
  • Bedford: 97 (+5); 43 cases per 10K
  • Dover: 81 (+3); 25 cases per 10K
  • Milford: 71 (+1); 44 cases per 10K
  • Hudson: 62 (+1); 24 cases per 10K
  • Concord: 63 (+1); 15 cases pr 10K
  • Franklin: 57 (+5); 65 cases per 10K

All other municipalities have less than 50 cases.  All of the other municipalities with 20-49 cases are geographically south of Concord/Rochester, and east of Concord/Milford, except for Franklin.

Counties:

  • Hillsborough (inc. Manchester and Nashua): 1,393 (+18); 33 per 10K residents
  • Rockingham (inc. Salem & Derry): 964 (+15); 31 per 10K

About 80% of all of those in NH who have tested positive to COVID-19 live in these two counties.

Our neighboring towns:

  • Methuen: 695 (+9); 135 confirmed cases per 10K residents. 275 recovered (+1). 32 deaths (+0)
  • Lawrence: 2,265 (+34). 282 cases per 10K residents. 93 deaths (+3)
  • Haverhill: 833 cases (May 6), up 233 from April 29. 130 cases per 10K.

 

If more people were tested, the numbers would be higher.
Without better testing, we can’t know what our real numbers are.

 

 

We need proper testing to fight COVID-19

The NH Division of Public Health Services, Bureau of Infectious Disease Control, has announced a Weekly Summary Report, with more details than are provided in the daily reports from the Department of Health & Human Services. Today, May 7 the NH DHHS has issued its “weekly” report for the week ending May 4. [This is the first weekly report since the week ending April 27, which was issued the same day.].

As of May 4, 713 healthcare workers have been infected (27.6% of all confirmed cases). 24 of the medical care workers were hospitalized; one died.

  • More women have tested positive than men by about 11%. However, approximately 60% of the hospitalizations and 60% of the deaths are men.
  • 18 kids under 9 years have tested positive. 19% of those infected are 50-59 years old, the largest age group. Those who are 30-39, 40-49, and 60-69 are each 13-14% of the cases. 20% of the confirmed cases are 70 or older, however, these age groups make up almost 40% of the cases, and 85% of the deaths.
  • Race/Ethnicity: Although 90% of NH’s population is white; they only account for 76.4% of the confirmed infections, 82% of the hospitalizations, and 91.5% of the deaths. Hispanic/Latino make up 3.9% of the population, but 7.4% of the infections, 7.8% of the hospitalizations, and 6.8% of the deaths. Blacks/African Americans are 1.4% of the population, and 5.4% of the infections, 3.7% of hospitalizations, and 1.7% of the deaths.  Asians are 3.0% of the population, and 4.1% of the cases; no Asians from NH have died. All other races are 1.8% of the population, and 7.7% of the population, 2.4% of hospitalizations, and 1.7% of deaths.
  • Persons in Hillsborough County, including Manchester and Nashua, make up 44.7% of all infections, 46.5% of hospitalizations, and 46.5% of the deaths. Persons in Rockingham County (Salem and Derry) make up 33.9% of the total infections, 31.1% of the hospitalizations, and 32.6% of all deaths.  The third most impacted county is Merrimack (Concord), which only has 7.7% of all infections.

NH News relating to COVID-19

  • Ongoing issues with the State Joint Information Center
    • I have not heard any more regarding my Freedom of Information request from the Dept of Health and Human Services / State Joint Information Center regarding the errors and discrepancies that I have found in their reports.
  • Kids may not be as immune to COVID-19 complications as previously thought.
    • Three children have died from a rare inflammatory condition believed to be related to COVID-19. At least 73 cases of the newly-identified condition, called pediatric multisymptom inflammatory syndrome, have been identified among toddlers and elementary-school-age children in New York state, and, nationwide, almost 100 children have been diagnosed. Some children don’t develop symptoms until a month after exposure to the novel coronavirus. Read more, including symptoms to watch for.
  • NH Food Bank Serves the Hungry at the Speedway
    • The NH Food Bank held a mobile food pantry at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway today. With help from the National Guard, they distributed fresh produce, dairy, shelf-stable goods, and some protein in boxes weighing 52 pounds. They were prepared to feed 1,000 families. Traditionally, the NH Food Bank does not deal directly with the public; they collect food from donors to distribute to food pantries and other agencies. Read more about Saturday’s distribution. Read more about the food bank.
    • Delay in emergency hospital fund loan approvals
      Gov. Sununu created an emergency hospital fund six weeks ago, with $50M. Only $21.3M has been disbursed, according to the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR). NHPR has reported that more than 200 applications had been received by the end of March, but only 59 loans have been approved and dispersed. Read more.
  • Parkland Medical
    • Parkland Medical Center is ready for patients. The staff at Parkland wishes those who are experiencing health emergencies will be cared for safely, with all protocols in mind. Read more.
  • Salem Selectboard to meet on Monday at 7:00.
    • Salem Selectmen will meet on Monday evening to discuss COVID-19-related items. The agenda calls for a presentation from the Emergency Operations Committee to update the Selectboard and the town on COVID-19, and discussion about an order proposed by Selectman Jim Keller last week to require the wearing of face coverings when in public. The virtual meeting will be televised on Channel 23 or can be found online. Read more.
  • Stay-At-Home 2.0 Refresher

 

Salem Government

The Town of Salem’s Emergency Operations Center Team (EOC) will be making weekly reports every Monday evening at 7:00. Their reports can be seen at http://sctv-17.com/CablecastPublicSite/?channel=1

Find other Salem Government board meetings: https://www.townofsalemnh.org/boards

To watch past or live viewings:

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 8, the National Academy of Sciences reported that 16 out of 51 tests were inaccurate. (false negatives). Others also have concerns about both false negatives and false positives.

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:

Have Questions?

NH residents can dial the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 2-1-1 or 603-271-4496 for answers to questions related to the outbreak and to be directed to available resources for help.

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.

The IRS has released its new app to track stimulus payments, “Get My Payment.” which had been scheduled to be released on April 17. Expect to wait. (And possibly, like me, be disappointed.) If your info isn’t available today, try again tomorrow, as info is going to be updated every night.

Resource Compilations:

From Congresswoman Annie Kuster: A list of many resources, including Keeping Safe from COVID-19; New Hampshire Specific COVID-19 Information; Direct Payment to Granite Staters (Economic Impact Payments); Support for Small Businesses; Unemployment Assistance; Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Survivors; Student Loans; Taxes; Traveling Internationally; Veterans. https://kuster.house.gov/covid-19

Mental Health Resources, compiled by Jan Schmidt, Alderman and State Rep in Nashua. http://janschmidt4ward1.com/uncategorized/free-online-meetings-and-virtual-platforms/

How You Can Help Others:

Masks:

There is no excuse for not having a mask!!!

Salem:

New Hampshire:

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services:

Office of the Governor: https://www.governor.nh.gov

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/ Sign up for her “Daily or So COVID-19 Updates” https://actionnetwork.org/forms/daily-or-so-covid-19-updates

More info about COVID-19

COVID-19: The CIDRAP Viewpoint.  https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/downloads/cidrap-covid19-viewpoint-part1_0.pdfhttps://www.cidrap.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/downloads/cidrap-covid19-viewpoint-part1_0.pdf

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:


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

Tuft’s University: COVID-19 Convalescent (Recovered) Patient Registry

Trackers (Cases)

The World Health Organization:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Media with NH COVID-19 news:

Housing

Unemployment

Financial Assistance

Link to other  NH benefits:

Businesses and Employers: Guidance for Small Businesses 

Sources for data included in these reports:

Please report any errors or omissions to bonnie@bonnie4salem.us. Thank you.