| Covid-19 update | As of Nov 8 | As of Nov 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Total cases statewide | 141,317 | 146,834 |
| Total current infections statewide | 5,164 | 6,295 |
| Total deaths statewide | 1,599 | 1,630 |
| New cases | 4,562 (Nov. 2 to Nov. 8) | 5,517 (Nov. 9 to Nov. 15) |
| Current infections: Hillsborough County | 1,405 | 1,925 |
| Current infections: Merrimack County | 562 | 681 |
| Current infections: Rockingham County | 915 | 1,150 |
Covid-19 news
During the state’s weekly public health update on Nov. 10, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire averaged about 650 new cases of Covid-19 per day over the previous week. Test-positivity rates, hospitalizations and deaths due to the virus have all continued to climb in recent weeks. “We are … seeing an increasing number of deaths reported from long-term care facilities, although the majority of deaths continue to be in our community setting,” he said. Chan renewed the state’s recommendations for residents to get vaccinated if they have not already done so, adding the reminder that kids ages 5 to 11 are now eligible to receive their first shot. “We continue to work with our Public Health Networks to set up a combination of both school-based clinics [and] community-based pediatric vaccination clinics to support the vaccination efforts that are ongoing in our communities,” Chan said.
Gov. Chris Sununu also commented on the state Executive Council’s unanimous vote earlier that day to accept $22.4 million in federal Covid relief funds. “The vote … will definitely help speed up that distribution process, which is a good thing for all of our citizens, putting funding behind the efforts and help battle the pandemic,” Sununu said during the press conference.
As of Nov. 15 there were 6,295 active infections of Covid-19 in New Hampshire, up by more than 1,000 from just a week ago, with 260 current hospitalizations statewide. All 10 counties remain at substantial levels of community transmission.
Renting resolutions
The New Hampshire Judicial Branch has launched a new free mediation service to help landlords and tenants resolve conflicts before resorting to filing an eviction case in court. According to a press release, the “eviction diversion mediation program” is supported by federal funds through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery and administered by the Office of Mediation and Arbitration and the New Hampshire Circuit Court. To use the service, a residential landlord or tenant can request a remote mediation session with a neutral third-party mediator, who will assist the parties in talking through issues, such as paying back rent or applying for rental assistance, and drafting a contract of agreement to prevent an eviction case from being filed. “When parties can resolve a dispute without filing an eviction, everyone wins,” Circuit Court Administrative Judge David King said in the release. “Landlords avoid the time, expense, and uncertainty of going to court, tenants avoid the black mark of an eviction case on their records, and the courts see fewer new cases.”
Anti-discrimination webpage
According to a press release, a new webpage launched by the New Hampshire Department of Education will help “ensure that students and educators are free from discrimination, and that they have the opportunity to learn and teach in a safe environment.” The release said the website supports the New Hampshire Commission on Human Rights by giving parents an online site to report concerns that their child may have been discriminated against. Parents, guardians and teachers can submit a public education intake questionnaire that will be reviewed by a Commission intake coordinator to determine if there are grounds to file a formal complaint.
Education Freedom accounts
More than 1,600 children in New Hampshire have been approved for Education Freedom Accounts, and the first round of funding from the Children’s Scholarship Fund NH is being made available to eligible families this month. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education, the grants, which total $8,096,903, give families access to resources like customized learning, tutoring services, career schools, technical schools, home schooling, and non-public and private schools. Among the 1,635 participants, 88 are special education students, 81 are English Language Learners and 879 are eligible for free and reduced lunches. Manchester has the largest number of families enrolled throughout the state, with 166 students receiving Education Freedom Accounts, followed by Nashua with 64 students enrolled, Rochester with 52 students, Laconia with 52 and Concord with 46.
Funds for farmers
New Hampshire will receive more than $1.2 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support farmers in the state, according to a Nov. 2 press release from the office of U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Of those funds, $749,856 will be awarded to Land for Good in Keene through USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which helps beginner farmers develop the knowledge and skills to successfully acquire land for farming. Five hundred thousand dollars has been allocated through USDA’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to facilitate mental health services for farmers in the state. “Granite State farmers face a myriad of unpredictable and uncontrollable challenges that can create or exacerbate stress, anxiety and trauma,” Shaheen said in the release. “Now more than ever, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to address these mental health challenges must be a top priority.”
Affordable housing
The New Hampshire Housing Board has approved funding for three new multi-family affordable housing developments to be built in Concord, Newport and Rochester, providing a total of 83 units to help meet the need for more affordable rental housing in the state. According to a press release, the Concord development, Penacook Landing II, is a second-phase expansion of a new development on a brownfield property that was previously owned by the city. Thirty-four general occupancy units were created in Phase I; Phase II will build 20 additional general occupancy units, with a small portion of the site to be used for a public park. Funding for the housing developments is allocated through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits About 95 percent of publicly funded workforce housing in New Hampshire is LIHTC-funded, according to the release, and the Housing Board expects to allocate more LIHTC funds for additional housing developments by the end of the year.
NewDEAL
Last week Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig was chosen as one of 20 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a national network of state and local elected officials chosen from more than 1,650 nominations over its decade-long history. According to a press release, the nearly 200 members “work to enact pro-growth progressive solutions in a diverse array of communities” and are currently supporting each other in addressing the challenges created by the pandemic.
The national Choose Love wellness tour stopped at Gill Stadium in Manchester on Nov. 13, a free event promoting mental health for kids and adults and offering “Choose Love” lessons and strategies, plus activities, food, vendors and performances. According to a press release, the tour is a response to the increase in stress and anxiety that has resulted from the pandemic.
The Salem Police Department reported last week the community has seen an increase in reported car thefts and break-ins. According to a press release, several motor vehicles had been broken into and others were stolen over the course of a few nights last week. The investigations are ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to call the Salem police at 893-1911.
The Nashua Public Library is celebrating 50 years at its Court Street home, having moved from the Hunt Memorial Building at 6 Main St. in 1971. According to a press release, the library is celebrating its anniversary this month and next with a display of photos, posters, furniture, architectural drawings and other memorabilia, and it will have 50th-anniversary library cards for anyone who signs up for a new card or anyone who already has a library card and wants to replace it with a new one.
