Category: News

Covid-19 update	As of May 17	As of May 24
Total cases statewide	97,774	98,349
Total current infections statewide	1,169	411
Total deaths statewide	1,333	1,344
New cases	973 (May 11 to May 17)	575 (May 18 to May 24)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	349	124
Current infections: Merrimack County	98	36
Current infections: Rockingham County	194	82

Covid-19 news

New positive infection rates of Covid-19 continue to be on the decline in New Hampshire. According to state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan, the Granite State saw an average of 150 new cases per day in the week leading up to May 18. State health officials reported just 79 new cases of Covid-19 on May 23 — that’s the first time since Oct. 26 of last year that DHHS reported fewer than 100 new infections in a single day, public health update documents show.

As of last week, walk-ins are now accepted at all of New Hampshire’s state-run vaccination sites between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m. every day except Sunday.

During a May 18 press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu announced that New Hampshire would be terminating its participation in all pandemic-related federal unemployment compensation programs, including the $300 weekly unemployment benefits, on June 19. He also announced that the state will begin offering “summer stipends” totalling $10 million as an incentive to encourage people to find jobs. Effective May 18, anyone filing for unemployment in New Hampshire who returns to work for at least eight consecutive weeks will be eligible for a payment bonus — $1,000 for full-time workers and $500 for part-time workers. Payments are on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to people earning $25 per hour or less.

Ed funding lawsuit

New Hampshire school districts had until May 22 to join ConVal School District’s lawsuit against the state over equitable education funding, and now a total of 16 districts are co-plaintiffs in the suit. According to a press release, the plaintiffs argue that the State does not meet its constitutional obligation to provide adequate funding for all students, saying that base adequacy — which provided $3,636 per student in all districts in 2019 — is not sufficient. In March, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire rejected the State’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. The case now goes back to Superior Court Judge David Ruoff, who will hold hearings allowing the plaintiffs to present evidence that the State underfunds education; an evidentiary hearing isn’t expected until the summer of 2022, according to the release. The school districts involved in the lawsuit are ConVal, Claremont, Derry, Fall Mountain, Grantham, Hillsboro-Deering, Hopkinton, Lebanon, Manchester, Mascenic, Mascoma, Monadnock, Nashua, Newport, Oyster River and Winchester. “We all value public education because it uniquely serves our community honorably to make sure each and every student has an equal opportunity, no matter what circumstances, to lead educated, productive and engaged lives,” James Donchess, Mayor of the City of Nashua, said in a press release that was sent out following the Nashua Board of Education’s May 17 vote to join the lawsuit.

Covid Care Corps

The Covid Care Corps, piloted last summer as part of AmeriCorps, is looking for summer associates to serve in New Hampshire and Maine, building infrastructure and helping communities recover from the effects of the pandemic. According to a press release, the Covid Care Corps was so successful in New Hampshire that it was expanded into a year-round program. The summer positions are a 10-week, full-time commitment; members receive a biweekly living stipend and either scholarship money or a cash stipend upon completion of the service term. Members must begin by June 28. The application deadline is Thursday, June 4; contact Steve Niles at [email protected] or 207-370-3918.

Lowest unemployment

New Hampshire is tied with Nebraska, South Dakota and Utah for having the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 2.8 percent, according to April’s unemployment numbers from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Following the release of those numbers on May 21, Gov. Chris Sununu issued a press release saying the state should expect a “booming summer” that will build on its economic success. According to a press release, before the pandemic New Hampshire had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country at 2.6 percent. It has steadily dropped following a peak of 16 percent in April 2020, and the numbers in April 2021 show a return to pre-pandemic unemployment level, the release said.

New England College in Henniker announced last week that the Covid-19 vaccination will be added to the school’s list of required vaccinations. With limited exceptions, all students and staff who are attending classes or working on campus must be fully vaccinated prior to the start of the fall semester.

Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig will host community office hours throughout the city this summer, starting Thursday, May 27, from noon to 1 p.m. at Rock Rimmon Park, according to a press release. Next up, Craig will be at the Sheehan-Basquil Splash Pad on Monday, June 21, from 9 to 10 a.m.

Deb Chabot and Peter Georgantas have been named the first recipients of the Goffstown Citizen of the Year award. According to a press release, during the height of the pandemic the two helped raise more than $5,800 for a local food pantry and started a campaign to encourage residents to support local restaurants.

Mark Threlfall of Merrimack will be a judge at the 145th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in Tarrytown, New York, on Sunday, June 13. According to a press release, Threlfall will be judging German Shorthaired Pointers, German Wirehaired Pointers, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, and Irish Red and White Setters. He has worked with dogs his whole life, including as a professional handler, winning best in show numerous times, the release said.

Covid-19 update	As of May 10	As of May 17
Total cases statewide	96,801	97,774
Total current infections statewide	1,492	1,169
Total deaths statewide	1,315	1,333
New cases	1,295 (May 4 to May 10)	973 (May 11 to May 17)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	474	349
Current infections: Merrimack County	114	98
Current infections: Rockingham County	304	194

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on May 13, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that positive case numbers of Covid-19 in New Hampshire continue to be on the decline, averaging between 150 and 200 new infections per day over the previous week, while the test positivity rate was at roughly 3 percent. As of May 13, there have been 178 confirmed “breakthrough” infections of the virus, meaning those that occurred despite individuals being fully vaccinated. “We are going to see vaccine breakthrough cases, but it’s a very low number when you consider the number of people that have been fully vaccinated,” said Chan, noting that it’s less than 0.1 percent of these cases relative to overall vaccinations.

Later during the press conference, when asked about the CDC’s new guidance released earlier that day saying fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks indoors or outdoors in most cases, Chan said he was “a little bit unhappy” with how it was rolled out. “The difficult choices have always been around what the correct timing is,” he said. “Anytime the CDC puts out this type of guidance, we never just simply adopt it because the CDC has put it out. We’ve always, throughout this pandemic, taken the time to review it, understand it, look at our own numbers, look at our own situation [and] make decisions based on our own local context, and we will do that in this situation as well.”

As of last week, children and teens ages 12 to 15 are now eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine. “We have already had 6,000 12- to 15-year-olds register out of the 60,000 people in this age group,” Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, said during the press conference. “We have seen even young, otherwise healthy people get hospitalized or have weeks or months of breathing problems that impacted their ability to play sports or exercise, so we do encourage all parents to make that choice to get their child vaccinated.”

Gov. Chris Sununu also announced during the press conference that beginning this week New Hampshire is opening up each of its state-run vaccination sites to walk-ins, with no appointments needed, between 3 and 6 p.m. Both Pfizer and Moderna are available at these sites. Second-dose appointments will still be scheduled at the time of the first vaccination.

Downtown development

Last week, Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig submitted proposals to transform two large city-owned downtown parking lots — the Pearl Street Lot and Hartnett Lot — into mixed-use, mixed-income housing developments in an effort to address the city’s housing shortage. According to a press release, Craig’s Requests for Proposals drafts, which were sent to the city’s Lands and Buildings Aldermanic Committee for approval, require that some units be affordable, based on Housing and Urban Development’s definition of affordable housing, and the number of affordable units will be the biggest factor in the evaluation criteria. Further, the proposals must not reduce any existing public parking spaces, and they must be architecturally pleasing and pedestrian-friendly. “Manchester has been named the hottest real estate market in the country for the second year in a row, and in order to keep up with demand, there is a desperate need for not only more affordable housing but more housing in general,” Craig said in the release. The Queen City’s Affordable Housing Taskforce, which was established in March 2020, released its final report last month, with the first recommendation being to “prioritize the development of affordable housing on City-owned parking lots and vacant City-owned land,” the release said. On May 18, Craig also announced a proposal to create a Housing Commission, which was another recommendation made by the Affordable Housing Task Force. “Through this commission, the City of Manchester will continue to engage members of our community in finding innovative solutions to the rising cost of housing,” Craig said in the release. The commission would be responsible for following up on the many recommendations made by the Affordable Housing Task Force. The proposal was scheduled to go before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen Committee on Administration on the evening of May 18.

Free class for grads

All 2021 high school graduates are being offered a free class of their choice at any of New Hampshire’s community colleges in the fall. According to a press release, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges have committed more than $1 million, plus advising and other services from the community colleges, to help students on their future educational and career paths. Any student graduating from a New Hampshire high school in 2021 can take any three-credit course at any of the seven colleges in the Community College System of NH, including courses that are part of certificate programs for skilled trades. The gift covers tuition and associated fees, and the colleges will work with students to help with course selection. Eligible students can contact the admissions office at their local community college.

Record lottery sales

On May 17, the New Hampshire Lottery announced that it has set an all-time annual sales record, with seven weeks still remaining in the fiscal year. Gross sales have exceeded $434 million, according to a press release, which is more than a 30-percent year-over-year increase. Net profit to date is approximately $107 million and is on pace to reach $130 million. The previous record net profit was $105.5 million, set in Fiscal Year 2019. That profit goes to the state’s public education system, which has received $2.2 billion since the lottery’s inception in 1964. “As we look ahead, the New Hampshire Lottery is well-positioned to continue building on this momentum to benefit the students and teachers of New Hampshire for years and years to come,” Charlie McIntyre, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Lottery, said in the release. Almost all of the state’s lottery games are ahead of last year’s sales pace, including Fast Play, which is up more than 200 percent; NH iLottery, which is up 136 percent; KENO 603, up nearly 52 percent; Gimme 5, up more than 37 percent; and scratch ticket sales, which are up more than 21 percent. Large Mega Millions and Powerball jackpots, which reached a combined $1.58 billion in January, also contributed to the sales record, the release said.

Ed funding lawsuit

Last week the Mascoma Valley Regional and Derry Cooperative school districts announced that they will join nine other school districts as co-plaintiffs in ConVal School District’s lawsuit against the state over equitable education funding. According to a press release, the plaintiffs argue that the state does not meet its constitutional obligation to provide adequate funding for all students, saying that base adequacy — which provided $3,636 per student in all districts in 2019 — is not sufficient. In March, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire rejected the state’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. The case now goes back to Superior Court Judge David Ruoff, who will hold hearings allowing the plaintiffs to present evidence that the state underfunds education; an evidentiary hearing isn’t expected until the summer of 2022, according to the release. The other school districts involved in the lawsuit so far are Oyster River, Grantham, Claremont, Fall Mountain, Hillsboro-Deering, Mascenic, Monadnock, Newport and Wincheste r. Ruoff has given New Hampshire districts until Friday, May 22, to decide whether to join the lawsuit. “As a regional school district, Mascoma Valley experiences the injustice of New Hampshire’s educational funding mechanism which pits community against community instead of uniting us in the common goal of education,” Tim Josephson, Vice Chair of the Mascoma School Board, said in the release. “The legislature’s lack of action since the Claremont lawsuits has deepened inequities, allowing the state to continue shrinking its constitutionally-mandated responsibility.”

Boscawen has been awarded a $500,000 Cleanup Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up the former Allied Leather site on Commercial Street. According to a press release, the site, which has housed various mill operations and a leather tannery, has been vacant since 1987 and is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum, metals and other contaminants. Grant funds also will be used to conduct community outreach activities. The Town of Jaffrey also received a grant: $300,000 to assess and develop cleanup plans for various sites in town.

Concord’s Giant Indoor Yard Sale returns on Saturday, May 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Everett Arena. There will be thousands of items, according to a press release, and admission is $5 for adults; kids 12 and under get in free.

High school students at Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies in Manchester helped Manchester Community College’s student senate for the second year with its Sleep In Heavenly Peace Build a Bed event, which brings together volunteers to build beds for local kids who are sleeping on the floor, according to a press release. Students from both schools built 15 bunk beds for local under-resourced families.

A team from Nashua Community College is one of 12 national finalists that has been selected to move on to the next phase in the 2021 Community College Innovation Challenge. According to a press release from the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Science Foundation, the team will attend a Virtual Boot Camp in June to interact with entrepreneurs and business experts, culminating in a Student Innovation Showcase with a pitch presentation to determine the winner. The Nashua group will present its EnviroMask project to develop an environmentally friendly, fully biodegradable face mask using cotton with bioplastic and non-woven bamboo fiber, the release said.

Covid-19 update	As of May 3	As of May 10
Total cases statewide	95,506	96,801
Total current infections statewide	1,979	1,492
Total deaths statewide	1,305	1,315
New cases	1,571 (April 27 to May 3)	1,295 (May 4 to May 10)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	558	474
Current infections: Merrimack County	168	114
Current infections: Rockingham County	386	304

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on May 6, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire has averaged between 200 and 250 new infections of Covid-19 per day in the last week, a decrease from the week prior. The number of active infections has also been on a slight decline, while the number of hospitalizations has been steady.

According to Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, more than 1 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine have now been administered in the state, including to 725,000 people who have received their first dose. Of those, 505,000 people (just over a third of the state’s population) have now been fully vaccinated.

The state’s “Safer at Home” advisory, in place since June 2020, expired at midnight on May 7. In its place as of that date are now “universal best practices” guidance documents for state businesses. They can be viewed online at covidguidance.nh.gov. “There are no further requirements that we are going to be instituting for large gatherings,” Sununu said later during the press conference when asked about the new guidance documents. “[The best practices guidelines are] all-encompassing and just reminding folks of how they can keep themselves, their employees and their customers safe without the actual statewide-driven mandate.”

Also on May 7, Sununu issued Executive Order 2021-8, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to the pandemic for another three weeks through at least May 28. It’s the 20th extension he has issued since declaring a state of emergency in March 2020.

Queen City ARP funds

Last week Mayor Joyce Craig released the results of a survey that asked Manchester residents how they want the city’s American Rescue Plan funds — about $44 million — to be spent. According to a press release, of the 159 residents who responded, nearly 32 percent want to spend the money on improving roads, connecting the rail trail, and promoting a more walkable and livable city. Approximately 28 percent said their top priority was affordable housing and assisting those in Manchester experiencing homelessness. Ten percent want to see education improvements, 10 percent want the money spent on downtown improvements and local businesses, and 7 percent want the funds to go to public health. As part of the survey, most respondents noted the social isolation, anxiety and financial impacts brought on by the pandemic, but nearly 24 percent also talked about the positive impact that the past year has brought: “It has slowed us down in a way where we value our local community and realize the dependencies we have on each other. We’ve learned to love our neighbors more and to support ALL the businesses and people that are working hard each day,” one resident wrote, according to the press release.

“The results of our community feedback survey show that our residents are ready to bounce back from this Covid-19 pandemic and address important issues like infrastructure, housing and education,” Craig said in the release.

Property tax relief

The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration is once again offering low- and moderate-income homeowners the opportunity to apply for property tax relief, according to a press release. The Low and Moderate Income Homeowners Property Tax Relief program is now accepting applications through June 30. Eligible applicants are either single with adjusted gross income less than or equal to $20,000 or married or head of New Hampshire household with adjusted gross income less than or equal to $40,000, and have owned and resided in a home that is subject to the State Education Property Tax and resided in as of April 1, 2020. The application is available at revenue.nh.gov or by calling 230-5001. Individual income tax returns must be submitted with the application.

Tax exemptions

On May 5, Mayor Joyce Craig and the Board of Assessors announced a change to tax exemptions that expands the eligibility requirements for elderly and disabled Manchester residents. According to a press release, income limits for this population are increasing from $37,000 to $41,000 for single individuals, and from $50,000 to $55,000 for married individuals. Asset limits are increasing from $90,000 to $100,000 for single individuals and $115,000 to $130,000 for married individuals. Elderly residents must be 65 or older as of April 1, must have been a resident of New Hampshire for three consecutive years on or before April 1, and must be the owner of record of the property in question. Disabled residents must be eligible for payments under Title II or Title XVI of the federal Social Security Act, must have been a New Hampshire resident for at least five years as of April 1, and must be the owner of record as of April 1. Residents who now qualify based on the expanded exemption have until Friday, June 18, to file an application and can call 624-6520 or visit manchesternh.gov.

Education funding

Last week the Oyster River Cooperative and the Grantham school districts announced that they will join the school districts of Claremont, Fall Mountain, Hillsboro-Deering, Mascenic, Monadnock, Newport and Winchester as co-plaintiffs in ConVal School District’s lawsuit against the state over equitable education funding. According to a press release, the plaintiffs argue that the state does not meet its constitutional obligation to provide adequate funding for all students, saying that base adequacy — which provided $3,636 per student in all districts in 2019 — is not sufficient. In March, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire rejected the state’s request to dismiss the lawsuit. The case now goes back to Superior Court Judge David Ruoff, who will hold hearings allowing the plaintiffs to present evidence that the state underfunds education; an evidentiary hearing isn’t expected until the summer of 2022, according to the release.

The Centennial Hotel in Concord has been nominated for the annual Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, according to a press release, along with 30 other hotels and ski resorts in the state, most of which are in the White Mountains. The cities of Manchester and Concord were also nominated and will go up against the best in class for special recognition in the magazine’s November issue, the release said.

The historical Stone House in Hooksett will stay standing, the Hooksett Heritage Commission announced in a press release. RCA Holdings is not moving forward with plans to demolish the building and replace it with a storage facility, and the property is on the market again, for $675,000, the release said.

UpReach Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Goffstown is hosting a Community Horse Drive Thru on Saturday, May 15, from 10 to 11 a.m., according to a press release. Meet the nonprofit’s horses and horse handlers, whom you’ll be able to visit with right at your car window. To RSVP visit upreachtec.org or call 497-2343.

Several properties have been added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places, including the Morrison House, circa 1760, in Londonderry, one of the oldest standing capes in town and the only surviving building from one of its earliest settled areas, according to a press release. Other properties include the Association Hall in Derry, Andover Town Hall and the Keene Unitarian Universalist Church.

Covid-19 update	As of April 26	As of May 3
Total cases statewide	93,935	95,506
Total current infections statewide	2,717	1,979
Total deaths statewide	1,21,2860	1,305
New cases	2,152 (April 20 to April 26)	1,571(April 27 to May 3)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	806	558
Current infections: Merrimack County	225	168
Current infections: Rockingham County	477	386

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on April 29, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire has averaged between 250 and 300 new infections per day over the previous week, numbers that continue to trend down. He later added that, as of April 29, New Hampshire has seen a total of 88 confirmed “breakthrough” infections of Covid-19, meaning those that occurred despite individuals being fully vaccinated. “The majority of these are not variants of concern,” Dr. Chan said, adding that only seven of the 88 infections were with the B.1.1.7. variant. “Whether it’s a variant of concern or not, we know that breakthrough infections can and do occur, but the vaccine continues to be important for limiting the burden of disease, preventing hospitalizations, preventing deaths and preventing asymptomatic infection.”

Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, also provided an update on vaccine distributions in the state. As of April 29, roughly 50 percent of New Hampshire’s population (about 687,000 people) has received at least one shot, while a third of the population (about 446,000 people) is now fully vaccinated. An additional 4,500 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which was recently recommended by the CDC and the FDA to resume administration, were allocated across three fixed sites in Concord, Nashua and Newington on May 2.

Later during the press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu announced that the “universal best practices” guidance documents for state businesses would be released that day, with the guidance itself going into effect May 7. “What we’re really trying to do is keep it truly universal,” he said. “We’re just kind of re-emphasizing the most important parts of the guidance and mandates that we previously had in place. … This is a bit of a reminder going into the long-term.” Separate “overnight congregate settings for children” guidance documents have also been released, for businesses like overnight summer camps. Both sets of documents can be viewed online at covidguidance.nh.gov.

Housing markets

New Hampshire has two of the top 10 emerging housing markets in the country, according to a study released last week by the Wall Street Journal and realtor.com. Concord and Manchester-Nashua ranked 8th and 9th, respectively. The new Emerging Housing Markets Index used housing market, economic vitality and quality of life metrics to determine its rankings for 300 of the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S., according to realtor.com. “Out of the top emerging 10 housing markets in the country, New Hampshire was the only state in the nation with two markets in the top 10,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement following the study’s release. “With a superior quality of life, thousands of high-paying jobs, and no income or sales tax, it’s no surprise people are looking to move to New Hampshire.” According to realtor.com, the top 10 housing markets have strong demand and somewhat limited supply, and home prices are expected to continue rising; they’ve seen an appreciation of about 27 percent, on average, in the last year, compared to 14 percent across all markets.

Job fairs

The State of New Hampshire is hosting 10 virtual job fairs between the first week in May and the first week that the work search requirement resumes, on May 23. Those collecting unemployment will need to show proof that they are searching for work while collecting benefits. “This return to our traditional, more normalized system is a sign that we are getting back to normal,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a press release. The virtual job fairs are:

May 6 veteran virtual job fair in partnership with NH DMAVS

May 11 student virtual job fair in partnership with Pinkerton Academy

May 11 student and adult education virtual job fair in partnership with Pinkerton Academy

May 13 construction industry virtual job fair in partnership with ABC NH/VT

May 18 Great North Woods region & Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region

May 19 Seacoast region

May 20 White Mountains region

May 25 Lakes region

May 26 Monadnock region

May 27 Capital & Southern region

Employers looking to register their company and job seekers looking for work can register for one of the job fairs by going to virtualjobfairs.nh.gov. All New Hampshire Works Jobs Centers across the state will be open to the public by May 10, the release said.

The New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton recently recognized 29 employees with 460 years of combined service to the State of New Hampshire, according to a press release. The employees who were honored have been working at the home for at least 10 years, and the longest-serving employee has been there for 35 years, according to the release.

Sarah Lenau of Manchester has been named a 2021 Camp Champion by Camp Casco, a nonprofit organization offering free camps and socials for childhood cancer patients, survivors and siblings in New England, according to a press release. She will soon join a crew of athletes to take on the Presidential Traverse to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer survivors.

Bedford residents are invited to a virtual public information meeting Thursday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m., when the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services will provide updates on the status of PFAS in the community. According to a press release, the meeting will include information on the current status of PFAS in Bedford, what it means to residents, actions to help mitigate exposure, a question-and-answer session and more. Pre-registration is recommended; visit bedfordnh.org for the link.

Exeter High School graduate Hunter Long has joined the Miami Dolphins, according to an April 30 report from WMUR. Long, who helped earn Exeter a state title in 2015 before playing for Boston College, was the 81st pick in the third round of the NFL draft and is seen as one of the best tight ends in the nation, according to the report.

Covid-19 update	As of April 19	As of April 26
Total cases statewide	91,783	93,935
Total current infections statewide	3,329	2,717
Total deaths statewide	1,270	1,286
New cases	2,554 (April 13 to April 19)	2,152 (April 20 to April 26)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	1,002	806
Current infections: Merrimack County	270	225
Current infections: Rockingham County	746	477

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on April 22, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire has averaged about 350 new infections of Covid-19 per day, while the test-positivity rate was at 4.5 percent.

Over the last several weeks, the number of active infections in the state has hovered around either side of 3,000, while the total number of positive cases since the start of the pandemic last year is creeping toward 100,000.

According to Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, roughly 47 percent of the state’s population (about 637,000 people) have received at least their first shot as of April 22, while 28 percent of the population (about 387,000 people) has been fully vaccinated. “We continue to receive around 50,000 first doses of vaccine each week, between the doses that are allocated to us at the state, as well as our pharmacy partners,” she said. “We still have thousands of open appointments available … at over 200 different locations where you can get vaccinated.”

Thousands more people received their shot at a mass vaccination site at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon on April 24. Unlike previous sites at the Speedway, this one was only held by appointment for people to receive their second shot.

Later during the press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu said that the state would likely resume administration of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine “in a matter of days.”

The following day, April 23, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food & Drug Administration issued a joint statement lifting the recommended pause of the vaccine, saying that its “known and potential benefits outweigh its known and potential risks in individuals 18 years of age and older.” Federal health officials had recommended a pause of states’ usage of the vaccine on April 13 following six reports of a rare blood clot disorder, a condition the CDC is now calling “thrombosis involving the cerebral venous sinuses, or CVST (large blood vessels in the brain).”

Re-election campaign

On April 27, Mayor Joyce Craig announced that she will be running for re-election for mayor of Manchester. She is currently serving in her second term and is the first woman to serve as mayor in the Queen City, according to a press release. “Manchester is a city on the rise. When the pandemic hit, our progress was interrupted, and we focused our efforts at City Hall on keeping our community safe while still providing essential services,” Craig said in the release. “I’m running for Mayor in 2021 to ensure our city fully recovers from this pandemic, builds upon our progress and comes out of this stronger than before.” This announcement comes after Victoria Sullivan announced her run for mayor last week. According to a press release, Sullivan is a former New Hampshire state representative and assistant majority leader who served two terms on the House Education Committee.

Unemployment

The work search requirement for people getting unemployment benefits will be reinstated starting May 23, Gov. Chris Sununu said in a press conference on April 22, so anyone receiving benefits after that date will have to show proof that they are looking for work. The requirement has been waived during the pandemic, but Sununu said that the state now has a 3 percent unemployment rate, one of the lowest in the country. “Our economy is very, very strong,” he said during the conference. “And it also unfortunately means that we’re, if anything, facing a workforce shortage. … There are tens of thousands of high-paying jobs across the state available today.” The state has hosted 15 virtual job fairs since last summer to help employers find employees, he said, but there haven’t been nearly as many potential employees attending these fairs as there are jobs. Several more job fairs are planned, including one on Thursday, May 6, aimed toward veterans, and one Monday, May 10, for students and recent graduates, as well as one on Thursday, May 13, for those in the construction industry. Sununu encouraged anyone seeking employment to get details about those and other upcoming job fairs at unemploymentbenefits.nh.gov. Meanwhile, he said, all NH Works Centers will be back open to the public by May 10.

Virtual urgent care

Instead of traveling to an emergency room or urgent care clinic, people who need non-emergency care can now connect with a provider by phone or by video on their laptops or mobile devices with the new D-HH Virtual Urgent Care. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health’s Connected Care and Center for Telehealth has partnered with MDLIVE to launch the new service, which provides patients with 24/7 access to urgent care by fully licensed providers from Dartmouth-Hitchcock or MDLIVE-affiliated physicians who are board-certified, licensed, telehealth-trained and have an average of 15 years of experience, according to a press release. Once they sign on, patients can wait for an available provider — the wait time is usually less than 15 minutes — or schedule an appointment for later that day for common health concerns like cold, flu, and other upper respiratory illnesses, allergies, bug bites, rashes, gastrointestinal issues, urinary tract infection and more. They can get prescriptions sent to their pharmacy, if necessary, the release said. The cost is $59 per visit, and the service is currently available to those with private insurance or those who can self-pay. In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), patient and visit details are shared only with the patient’s primary care physician, the release said. Visit go.d-h.org/virtualurgentcare.

Stock your backyard ponds with rainbow and brook trout, available in 6- to 8-inch and 10- to 12-inch sizes from the Merrimack County Conservation District in Concord, according to a press release. The order deadline is Tuesday, May 11. Any trout sized 6 to 8 inches can be picked up on Sunday, May 16, from 1 to 1: 30 p.m. at 10 Ferry St. in Concord, while the larger trout will be directly delivered to your pond. Call 223-6023 or order at merrimackccd.org. Anyone from any county can participate.

The Manchester Board of School Committee has been named the 2021 School Board of the Year by the New Hampshire School Boards Association, according to a press release. “In addition to its response to the pandemic, the board has maintained its focus on implementing a long-term strategic plan,” the release said.

The Upper Room and the Marion Gerrish Community Center in Derry are relaunching the On My Own Series, a virtual way for teens to explore skills such as cooking, painting, drawing and yoga. According to a press release, the program will be offered Wednesdays from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., and all classes are free. Visit urteachers.org to register.

The Friends of the Plaistow Public Library are asking gardeners to consider splitting some of their perennial plants and donating them to the library’s upcoming plant sale, proceeds of which will benefit the Friends of the Library. Donations should be in pots and labeled with the plant name; they will be accepted beginning Monday, May 3.

Covid-19 update	As of April 12	As of April 19
Total cases statewide	89,229	91,783
Total current infections statewide	3,384	3,329
Total deaths statewide	1,257	1,270
New cases	3,104 (April 6 to April 12)	2,554 (April 13 to April 19)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	1,002	1,002
Current infections: Merrimack County	297	270
Current infections: Rockingham County	846	746

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on April 15, Gov. Chris Sununu announced that he would not be renewing the statewide mask mandate, citing a more than 95 percent drop in seven-day average daily deaths from Covid-19 from Nov. 1. The mandate, which required everyone over the age of 5 to wear masks in both indoor and outdoor public spaces where social distancing wasn’t possible, was originally issued on Nov. 20 and extended twice before it expired on April 16. Despite the lifting of the statewide mandate, those in several cities and towns remain in effect. Concord’s citywide face covering ordinance, for instance, is still valid through at least June 1, while Nashua’s will remain in place “until further notice,” according to an April 16 press release. Private businesses such as retail stores also reserve the right to continue enforcing masks or face coverings when entering their establishments.

On April 16, Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 90, an order extending Emergency Order No. 52 regarding public health guidance for business operations and advising Granite Staters they are safer at home, through at least May 7. During the press conference, Sununu said that the restrictions outlined in the guidance “will transition from required mandates to universal best practices” beginning May 7. “Whether you’re talking about the restrictions we have in a retail store or a restaurant, or a large venue, all of that stays in place until May 7,” he said.

Also on April 16, Sununu issued Executive Order 2021-6, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to the pandemic for another three weeks through at least May 7.

According to an April 18 report from WMUR, Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical advisor to President Joe Biden, said he expects there will be “a resumption in some form” of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine by Friday. State health officials had announced April 13 that they would pause the use of the vaccine based on a recommendation from the federal government, following six reports nationwide of a blood clot disorder.

School support

Schools, students and families will get a little extra support with two programs launching this summer, both of which are efforts to address the negative effects that the pandemic has had, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education. The first is ReKINDling Curiosity: Every Kid Goes to Camp, whichwill give children the opportunity to attend approved overnight and day youth recreation camps, with a focus on promoting social, emotional and mental wellness. The program will be run by the state and will pay up to $650 for camp fees at approved recreation facilities for qualifying students. DOE is also offering grants to school districts to create District Learning Pods this fall through a program called Recovering Bright Futures, the release said. The Learning Pods are designed for five to 10 students and follow a trauma-sensitive instructional model, providing students with in-person learning and peer interaction outside of traditional school. DOE will also support the creation of Community Learning Pods, especially for families who do not have a District Learning Pod available to them.

Ethical issues

The Center for Ethics in Society, whose mission is to encourage constructive conversations surrounding ethical questions, is the new name for the Manchester organization formerly known as the Center for Ethics in Business and Governance. The Center, which is located at Saint Anselm College, wanted to expand ethical issues pertaining to business and corporate governance. Its advisory board includes 18 leaders from New Hampshire’s business, nonprofit, and public policy communities and is a partnership between Saint Anselm and the people who live and work in New Hampshire. The Center has been involved in the housing crisis, having assembled a task force to provide recommendations for the state’s housing action plan, and its housing research has impacted advocacy in the field, the release said. It is also hosting a new series called Corporations and the Common Good: How Should Businesses Respond to Social Issues? Upcoming programs include an April 22 Ethics Lab on Ethics and Economics of Health Insurance and an April 27 Honorable Business webinar and panel discussion with Notre Dame professor James Otteson.

Humane treatment

The Governor’s Commission on the Humane Treatment of Animals has been reestablished after Gov. Chris Sununu issued an executive order April 19, charging the commission with preparing a report that includes the number of animal cruelty-related convictions; the number of animal cruelty-related cases; relevant proposed or enacted legislation; and suggested legislation as necessary to ensure the safety and welfare of domestic animals and New Hampshire citizens, according to a press release.

The Warner Historical Society presents “Social History of the Mink Hills,” a virtual talk about the history of the 15,000+ acres of land in Warner that once encompassed 10 independent school districts, 13 burial grounds and several small mills, according to a press release. The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28, at 7 p.m.; register for the Zoom link at bit.ly/3rerX7O.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services recently issued two registration certificates for new therapeutic cannabis dispensary locations, according to press releases. One allowed Prime Alternative Treatment Centers to begin operations in Chichester, and one allowed Temescal Wellness to begin operations in Keene. At the end of 2020 there were 11,161 qualifying patients and 564 designated caregivers participating in the state’s Therapeutic Cannabis Program, according to the release.

Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to visit New Hampshire on Friday, April 23, according to a report from WMUR. The April 19 report said a source has confirmed that Harris will discuss the American Jobs Plan at the IBEW headquarters in Concord.

National Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 24, in towns and cities across the state, coordinated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to allow people to properly dispose of prescription medication. In Manchester, the event will be held between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Elliot at River’s Edge at 175 Queen City Ave. The DEA will accept pills and patches and vaping devices and cartridges but no liquids, needles or sharps, the release said. Check with your town for similar events on that day.