| Covid-19 update | As of Sept 27 | As of Oct 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Total cases statewide | 118,706 | 122,054 |
| Total current infections statewide | 3,595 | 3,502 |
| Total deaths statewide | 1,476 | 1,485 |
| New cases | 3,305 (Sept. 21 to Sept. 27) | 3,348 (Sept. 28 to Oct. 4) |
| Current infections: Hillsborough County | 1,038 | 920 |
| Current infections: Merrimack County | 447 | 380 |
| Current infections: Rockingham County | 715 | 650 |
Covid-19 news
During a Sept. 29 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire had averaged between 400 and 500 new positive tests of Covid-19 per day over the previous few weeks, with the total number of infections now exceeding 120,000 since the beginning of the pandemic. “The test-positivity [rate] has been slowly declining the last several weeks,” Chan said. “Hospitalizations have also remained elevated … and, in fact, the majority of deaths that we are identifying and reporting out on a daily and weekly basis continue to be community-associated deaths.” Chan renewed state recommendations to seek vaccination against the virus, citing a recent CDC study highlighting the fact that unvaccinated people are five times more likely to be infected and 10 times more likely to be hospitalized. “People who have been naturally infected do have some protection … against recurrent infection,” he said, “but studies have shown that vaccination after natural infection provides higher levels of protection and likely longer duration of protection and immunity.” As of Oct. 4, there were 3,502 active infections of Covid-19 statewide and 141 current hospitalizations. All 10 counties remain at substantial levels of community transmission.
Vaccine protest
Gov. Chris Sununu postponed the Sept. 29 Executive Council meeting after anti-vaccine mandate protesters disrupted the meeting, which was being held at Saint Anselm College. “I will not put members of the Executive Council or state agencies in harm’s way,” Sununu said in a statement after the postponement. “State Police had to escort state employees to their cars after unacceptable, unruly behavior. This meeting is being postponed until our state employees can go before the Council in a safe and orderly manner. The items on today’s agenda will be brought up at a later date.” That afternoon, at the state’s Covid-19 briefing, Sununu said protestors had threatened state employees, and that the employees who needed to be escorted to their cars were career DHHS employees, WMUR reported. Sununu said the protesters’ claim that approving federal funds for state vaccination efforts would compromise New Hampshire’s sovereignty was “not true,” and that the protesters’ behavior was “incredibly disappointing” and “not what New Hampshire is about.” Republicans Ted Gatsas, Joseph Kenney and David Wheeler exited the room shortly after the protests began. According to WMUR, Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington said protesters were to be expected at the meeting due to the controversial nature of the topic, but were not expected to be a danger to the lives of state employees. “‘Saying to people, ‘I know where you live,’ I think that’s threatening and intimidating,” she said. “I was very surprised by that.”
Women’s march
Rallies were held across New Hampshire on Saturday as part of a nationwide Women’s March organized to protest recent laws restricting and banning abortion, including the ban on nearly all abortions in Texas and the ban on most abortions after 15 weeks in Mississipi, which is to be brought before the U.S. Supreme Court. According to NHPR, speakers at a rally held in Concord addressed issues affecting the Granite State, including a recent state law that will go into effect in January requiring people to get ultrasounds before an abortion and banning abortion after 24 weeks, and the Executive Council’s recent vote to stop funding some reproductive health clinics. Gov. Chris Sununu has stated that he wants to hold another vote for the latter, NHPR reported.
Indigenous Peoples Day
Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, located at 18 Highlawn Road in Warner, will recognize Indigenous People’s Day with a public panel to celebrate and honor Native American people, histories and cultures, according to a press release. The panel is set for Monday, Oct. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. Topics of discussion will include the Abenaki Trails Projects, efforts made by Warner and other New Hampshire towns to support local Native voices, and the contemporary goals of local Indigineous People. The event is free. Visit indianmuseum.org.
NH Hospital
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Administrative Services and New Hampshire Hospital officials will discuss a proposal to build a secure 24-bed forensic hospital next to New Hampshire Hospital in Concord during a virtual public information session on Thursday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. on Zoom. According to a press release, the new facility will be the first in the state appropriate for treating acute mental illness in forensic patients, including patients who are civilly committed for treatment, in a safe and secure environment. The session will also cover state leadership for the plan, the progress that has been made and a timeline for the project.
NAMIWalks NH
NAMIWalks NH, the state’s largest mental health awareness and suicide prevention event, will remain a virtual event this year, according to a press release. NAMIWalks NH Your Way – A United Day of Hope is planned for Saturday, Oct. 9, and invites people to participate independently through kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, skateboarding, knitting, playing, drawing, painting or any other activities they enjoy, and to share their activities on social media while raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. For more information and to register for the event, visit naminh.org.
The Doorway
The Doorway of Greater Manchester is now available to clients in the city 24 hours a day, seven days a week, replacing the Manchester Safe Station, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, individuals seeking recovery services after hours would have to go to the fire station, but now they can call 2-1-1 for immediate access to services, including screening and stabilization at The Doorway facility on Rogers Street or at an overnight respite facility. The Manchester Fire Department will continue to provide mobile, field-based recovery and substance misuse outreach services as needed, according to the press release.
Memorial Elementary School in Bedford and Grantham Village School in Grantham have been named 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools. According to a press release, the Blue Ribbon award recognizes schools for their high performance in academics. “These two innovative schools have managed to thrive throughout the pandemic, finding creative ways to not only achieve high academic results, but successfully engage with students and support their overall needs,” New Hampshire Department of Education commissioner Frank Edelblut said in the release.
Girls Inc. NH, based in Manchester and Nashua, has a new school bus thanks to a grant from Fidelity Investments. According to a press release, the bus will be used to transport girls to after-school programming and field trips and replaces a retired bus that needed repairs exceeding its value.
Homeowners searching for a contractor or handyman for home improvement projects can get free help from 411 Contractor Referral Network (411mycontractor.com) of Brookline. According to a press release, the company’s website provides information about companies that have been screened and have agreed to a code of ethics. The screening includes tracking licenses and insurance coverage, records checks and references from at least three local homeowners.
