Category: News

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.

Covid-19 update	As of April 5	As of April 12
Total cases statewide	86,125	89,229
Total current infections statewide	3,287	3,384
Total deaths statewide	1,249	1,257
New cases	2,785 (March 30 to April 5)	3,104 (April 6 to April 12)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	1,083	1,002
Current infections: Merrimack County	320	297
Current infections: Rockingham County	826	846

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on April 8, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that the test-positivity rates and numbers of new infections and hospitalizations statewide have all been on a slow increase over the past weeks. About 450 new infections per day have been reported on average, WMUR reported on April 12, with the increase being more pronounced in younger people, according to Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services.

Gov. Chris Sununu announced during the April 8 press conference that, starting April 19, Covid-19 vaccine eligibility will expand to all individuals ages 16 and older regardless of their state residency. “We’re going to have a lot of vaccine [doses] here … so we want to get it out to anyone who might actually be here in the state,” Sununu said. As of April 8, roughly 20 percent of the state’s population (about 276,000 people) has been fully vaccinated, Daly said during the conference.

Thousands more, including both Sununu and DHHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette, received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine during the state’s third mass vaccination site at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, which was held the weekend of April 10 and April 11.

On Tuesday, April 13, the state announced that it has paused the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, based on the recommendation of the federal government after reports that six people in the country have developed a rare blood clot disorder within about two weeks after vaccination. “While the federal government has directed a brief pause in the J&J vaccine, the state is already working with our partners to ensure that they have an alternative supply of Pfizer or Moderna,” Sununu said in a press release.

According to the April 12 report from WMUR, three New Hampshire residents have contracted Covid-19 despite being at least two weeks past their second shots. “We know that these vaccines aren’t 100 percent effective,” Daly said, according to the WMUR report. “We are going to have what we call breakthrough disease, which is when someone acquires Covid-19 even though they’re fully vaccinated. For the most part, though, especially the vaccines that are currently in use right now, they’re very effective at preventing Covid-19.”

Waiver approved

The Manchester School District will resume in-person learning five days a week starting May 3, after state officials approved a request for a waiver to Gov. Chris Sununu’s mandate that all schools must start full-time in-person learning on April 19. According to a press release, the District requested the waiver April 6 due to concerns over staffing levels, and in consideration of the fact that the week of April 26 is school vacation. Several staff members plan to work remotely until they are fully vaccinated, according to the release, leaving the schools understaffed until May 3. According to an April 12 Union Leader report, Manchester Superintendent John Goldhardt said the waiver had been approved by state education officials, who are now requiring the District to eliminate Wednesday remote learning days altogether in order to reach the 180 days of school required by state law.

Affordable housing

Last week, Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig released the report from the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Taskforce, the first city housing initiative since the 2008 Affordable Housing Task Force created by then-Mayor Frank Guinta. According to a press release, the task force began its work in the fall of 2020, looking at funding and incentives, zoning, regulations, and land use and support services. There are 14 recommendations in the report, including updating zoning regulations, streamlining the permitting process for developers, compiling a comprehensive audit of all city-owned properties, and creating a housing-resource portal on the city website. The Taskforce also recommends creating a city Housing Commission. Rent prices in Manchester for a two-bedroom apartment increased 25 percent in the past decade, including a nearly 10-percent increase from 2020 to 2021, the release said.

Four New Hampshire schools have each been awarded $50,000 for Career and Technical Education students to build electric vehicles, according to a press release from the state Department of Education. The schools are Dover Regional Career and Technical Center in Dover, Nashua Technology Center in Nashua, Region 14 Applied Technology Center in Peterborough and Mt. Washington Valley Career and Technical Center in Conway.

Victoria Sullivan announced Monday that she will run for mayor of Manchester this year. 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.

Beaver Brook Association in Hollis is participating in a statewide backyard composting bin sale, offering a bin for $62 or a pail for composting kitchen organics for $12, according to a press release. Composters will be available for pickup in mid-May. Call 465-7787 to order.

As of April 12, the Nashua vaccination clinic at the Nashua High School South has relocated to the Pheasant Lane Mall, according to a press release. All appointments that were scheduled for the high school location will be honored at the new location for the same date and time.

Covid-19 update	As of March 29	As of April 5
Total cases statewide	83,340	86,125
Total current infections statewide	2,785	3,287
Total deaths statewide	1,237	1,249
New cases	2,590 (March 23 to March 29)	2,785 (March 30 to April 5)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	948	1,083
Current infections: Merrimack County	214	320
Current infections: Rockingham County	727	826

Covid-19 news

As of April 2, all New Hampshire residents ages 16 and up can register for their Covid-19 vaccines through the state-run Vaccine & Immunizations Network Interface website, which can be found at vaccines.nh.gov. Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, said during the state’s weekly public health update on April 1 that only one of three vaccines being administered —‌ the Pfizer vaccine —‌ currently has FDA approval for use in children ages 16 and 17. “Not all vaccination locations have Pfizer but many do,” she said. “A parent or legal guardian does need to come to the vaccination site with their child for those 16- and 17-year olds.” For teens that do not have driver’s licenses or non-driver’s IDs, a birth certificate or passport is required to show proof of age. Parents must also bring their own driver’s license or other document that would show proof of New Hampshire residency. By 3 p.m. on April 2, nearly 150,000 new vaccine appointments were scheduled statewide over the course of the week, including more than 42,000 for people ages 16 and up, according to a press release.

Also on April 2, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 89, an order mandating that public K through 12 schools in New Hampshire return to full-time, in-person learning for five days a week starting April 19. “We have said all along, and it has been proven, that schools can reopen safely,” Sununu said during the April 1 press conference announcing the order. “We’re providing plenty of time to allow districts and parents to plan … [and] in a few short weeks, all teachers and school staff who want the vaccine will have received their second dose.”

The state will host its third mass vaccination site at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon the weekend of Saturday, April 10, and Sunday, April 11, according to an April 5 press release. This site will be by appointment only and not open to walk-ins. Only the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be administered —‌ according to the release, the state hopes to vaccinate 12,000 people over the course of the weekend. Appointments can be scheduled online.

On April 5, a member of the Governor’s Office tested positive for Covid-19, according to a press release. The individual is currently quarantining and was determined not to have been in close contact with Sununu.

Tuition freeze

The University System of New Hampshire, which includes the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, Keene State College and Granite State College, will freeze tuition for in-state students for the 2021-2022 academic year. According to a press release, this is the third straight year tuition has been frozen for New Hampshire residents. These schools have also committed to providing significant increases in financial aid to students, the release said. “This has been an incredibly challenging year in so many ways, and we continue to work to lessen the financial burden on our students and their families, many of whom have suffered job losses, business closures and other impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Cathy Provencher, USNH Vice Chancellor, said in the release.

Health savings

New Hampshire residents can now enroll in or change their health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace and get lower pricing, according to a press release. As of April 1, anyone who is not eligible for insurance through Medicare, Medicaid or employer-based insurance is eligible for Marketplace insurance under the Affordable Care Act, and new rules have expanded coverage options for those who currently have ACA insurance. From now through Aug. 15, consumers can enroll for the first time, or resubmit their application on healthcare.gov, to take advantage of lower monthly premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. Ambetter, Anthem, and Harvard Pilgrim will offer deductible and out-of-pocket maximum expense credits for consumers who want to change plans within the same company, the release said. Anyone who is uninsured and has received unemployment benefits in 2021 will have access to free or reduced-cost plans. NH Navigator, a non-profit enrollment assistance group, is available to assist people with the process; call 931-3858 for free assistance.

VNA merger

Concord Regional Visiting Nurse Association and Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice have merged, according to a press release. The organization is now called Granite VNA and will serve the home- and community-based health care needs of residents across 82 communities in the greater Concord area and Lakes Region of New Hampshire. More than 470 clinicians and staff members provide care through home care, hospice care, palliative care, pediatric and maternal child health and personal home services, and the agency offers community clinics and wellness programs, the release said.

State rec director

New Hampshire has its first director of Outdoor Recreation Industry Development, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs. In this new position, Scott Crowder will support the state’s outdoor economy as a primary way to grow the state’s workforce and attract businesses. Crowder is the founder of the North American Pond Hockey Classic, was a founding partner of Ekal Activity Center in Meredith and has served on various tourism, economic development and nonprofit boards around the state. “We have an amazing opportunity in the state to leverage our outdoor assets to enhance the lives of our residents and visitors, our communities and our overall economic position,” Crowder said in the release.

The city of Franklin will soon be home to the only whitewater park in New England, according to a report from WMUR. With construction set to begin in July, downtown Franklin will be home to Mill City Park, as well as a camping area and an amphitheater. Campsite and cabin rentals will help fund the free community adventure park, which will also feature mountain biking and climbing, the report said.

Manchester Fire Chief Dan Goonan will retire on April 30, according to a March 26 report in the Union Leader. He joined the department when he was 21 and has served 36 years there, becoming chief in 2016, the report said.

Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains is offering a free kindergarten readiness series, Make New Friends, to any girl entering kindergarten this fall in Bow and the surrounding area at Bow Elementary School each Wednesday from April 14 to May 19 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., according to a press release. There will also be a Make New Friends group for girls in the Manchester area at the Girl Scout Discovery Zone in the Mall of New Hampshire, each Saturday from April 10 through May 15 at 1:30 p.m. No membership is required for either group. Find the series on eventbrite.com to register.

Seventh- and eighth-graders at World Academy in Nashua are learning about personal finance and banking from real-life bankers through the new “Millyard Bank University” educational series. According to a press release, the 12-week financial literacy program offers practical experience with savings and checking accounts, plus lessons on borrowing, credit scores and the banking industry as a career path. In the future, the program will be open to all students as an elective at World Academy.

Covid-19 update	As of March 22	As of March 29
Total cases statewide	80,750	83,340
Total current infections statewide	2,334	2,785
Total deaths statewide	1,217	1,237
New cases	1,937 (March 16 to March 22)	2,590 (March 23to March 29)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	756	948
Current infections: Merrimack County	195	214
Current infections: Rockingham County	633	727

Covid-19 news

State residents between the ages of 40 and 49 became eligible to register for the Covid-19 vaccine on March 29, through the state-run Vaccine & Immunizations Network Interface website at vaccines.nh.gov. On March 31, those between the ages of 30 and 39 became eligible. Starting on April 2, everyone between the ages of 16 and 29 will be able to register. “We feel fairly confident that everyone should be able to get their first shot by Memorial Day,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a March 25 press conference.

On March 26, Sununu issued Emergency Orders No. 87 and No. 88. Emergency Order No. 87 extends the statewide mask mandate for another three weeks through at least April 16. Emergency Order No. 88 extends the stay-at-home advisory, also through at least April 16.

Also on March 26, Sununu issued Executive Order 2021-5, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to the pandemic for another three weeks through at least April 16. It’s the 18th extension he has issued since declaring a state of emergency in March 2020.

New NH AG

John Formella was confirmed on March 24 as New Hampshire’s next Attorney General after a 4-1 Executive Council vote. “John’s work ethic is unmatched, and I have no doubt he will make an exceptional Attorney General and advance the best interests of Granite Staters,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a statement.

State budget

The NH Fiscal Policy Institute is hosting a free webinar on Monday, April 5, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. to provide a closer look at the House Finance Committee’s budget proposal for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023, according to a press release. Examining the State Budget: The House Finance Committee’s Proposal will be held virtually via Zoom and will include a discussion of key changes from the governor’s budget proposal and the current operating budget, and the potential impact of federal aid that’s expected from the American Rescue Plan Act, as well as a question and answer session. Pre-registration is required. Visit NHFPI’s online at nhfpi.org,

At 57, Barb Higgins of Concord is the oldest woman to give birth in New Hampshire, according to a report from the Concord Monitor. Higgins gave birth March 27 to a healthy boy, whom she and her husband, Ken Banzhoff, named Jack Kearsley Banzhoff, according to the report.

A new resale shop has opened in Contoocook, according to a press release. On March 26, the Contoocook Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Granny Chic Boutique, which offers clothing and home items from a variety of eras and genres. Owner Elizabeth Catalena said in the release that she has spent many hours looking for unique items that express individualism.

Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies in Manchester is sending four two-member robotics teams to compete in the NH SKILLS USA Mobile Robotics Competition on April 2, according to a press release. The Spark Robotics teams will have their robots perform tasks both under driver control and autonomously, based on their programming. The winner will compete at the national level in June, according to the release.

Covid-19 update	As of March 15	As of March 22
Total cases statewide	78,813	80,750
Total current infections statewide	2,064	2,334
Total deaths statewide	1,199	1,217
New cases	1,753 (March 9 to March 15)	1,937 (March 16 to March 22)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	640	756
Current infections: Merrimack County	211	195
Current infections: Rockingham County	509	633

Covid-19 news

On March 15, the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services issued a notice of potential community exposures connected to positive Covid-19 cases associated with the King of the Mat wrestling tournament, which was held on March 6 at The Rim Sports Complex in Hampton. Anyone who attended the tournament between 5 and 10 p.m. that day, according to health officials, should be monitoring symptoms and should seek testing.

The state launched its new Vaccine & Immunizations Network Interface website on March 17, at 8 a.m., according to a press release, just in time for Phases 2A and 2B vaccine appointment scheduling to begin. The new VINI platform is a state-run site, transitioning New Hampshire away from the federally run VAMS portal. During the state’s public health update in a March 18 press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu said the system was loaded with about 200,000 first-dose appointments through the month of April. He said the state is on pace to expand vaccine access to all adults over the age of 16 in New Hampshire within weeks. “We don’t have a firm date on that yet,” he said, “but it really is just weeks away that any adult citizen in the state of New Hampshire will be able to go to VINI and sign up for their vaccine as well.” As of March 18, about 12 percent of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated, according to Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services. “To date, 31 regional clinics have been held with 6,500 people in Phase 2A vaccinated,” Daly said later during the press conference. “An additional 36 regional clinics are scheduled through the end of March, with plans to vaccinate another 20,000 people.”

Registration for Phase 2B, which includes people between the ages of 50 and 64, opened on March 22, with the first appointments beginning on March 25. Hundreds of thousands of newly eligible registrants encountered problems on the site as soon as they were able to log in at 8 a.m., according to a report from WMUR, with many others who called 211 not being able to get through on the phone. “An unprecedented volume of web traffic was experienced this morning, a good sign that Granite Staters are ready and eager to receive their vaccine,” Sununu said in the March 22 report. “Registrations have been accepted and continue to be processed at an increasing pace, with over 35,000 having scheduled an appointment within the first three hours.”

Funding input

The office of Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig issued a press release last week asking Queen City residents to share ideas on how to spend the federal funds that the city will be getting from the American Rescue Plan Act. According to the press release, Manchester will receive approximately $44 million over two years. Though it’s waiting for more guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury on how exactly the funds can be used, the idea is to help with local economic recovery, which includes things like assistance to households, small businesses and nonprofits, assistance to hard-hit industries like tourism, travel, and hospitality, premium pay for essential workers and infrastructure investment. Craig is asking residents to share their Covid-19 stories, specifically how it’s impacted them and how they’d like to see the funds used. “For over a year, our community has felt the widespread negative impacts of Covid-19. This is the first time the City of Manchester is receiving direct funding, and we want to ensure it’s used to best meet the needs of our community,” Craig said in the release. Contact the mayor’s office or fill out a form at bit.ly/ARP4MHT.

Homeless Assessment

Last week the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development released its 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report Part 1 and, according to a press release, the report found that 1,675 people experienced homelessness in New Hampshire on a single night in 2020, which is an increase of 20 percent from 2019. HUD releases its report in two parts; Part 1 is a snapshot of homelessness on a single night, conducted during the last 10 days of January each year, so these numbers are pre-Covid. Other key findings in New Hampshire: Unsheltered homelessness increased 133 percent, with 199 people counted in 2019 compared to 348 in 2020. Also seeing increases were family homelessness, veteran homelessness and chronic homelessness. Youth homelessness is down 22.6 percent, according to the press release.

Rachel Budd from Bow High School has been selected as the alternate winner of the 2021 New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud High School Championship, according to a press release from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. Budd will fill in for winner Lilla Bozek from Newmarket High School if Bozek can’t participate in the national finals. Bozek received $200 and Newmarket High School got a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books, while Budd received $100, plus a $200 stipend for Bow High School’s poetry book collection.

Detective Justin Breton has been named 2020 Officer of the Year for the Manchester Police Department, where he’s served since 2010, according to a press release. He has been a patrol officer, a juvenile detective, a detective with the Investigative Division and a SWAT negotiator, he is the director of the Manchester Police Critical Incident Stress Management Team, and he’s the primary handler of Manchester’s comfort dog, Patch.

Beth Greenwood of Amherst is the first American-born female catcher of an NCAA baseball team. According to a report from WMUR, Greenwood is a junior at the University of Rochester in New York, and she has earned a spot on the roster of her school’s baseball team. She has never played softball; she was on the baseball team at Souhegan High School, according to the report.

The CHaD NH East-West High School All-Star Football Game, which will feature more than 80 of New Hampshire’s best football players taking the field to raise money for Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock, will also be a tribute to Londonderry High School football captain Jacob Naar, who was killed in a car accident on March 12. According to a press release, his family has chosen to fulfill his wishes of fundraising for the game, and his team will not replace Naar on the roster; instead his teammates will honor his memory at the game, which is scheduled for July.

Covid-19 update	As of March 8	As of March 15
Total cases statewide	77,060	78,813
Total current infections statewide	2,036	2,064
Total deaths statewide	1,184	1,199
New cases	1,472 (March 2 to March 8)	1,753 (March 9 to March 15)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	581	640
Current infections: Merrimack County	163	211
Current infections: Rockingham County	470	509

Covid-19 news

During the state’s weekly public health update on March 11, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that there continue to be about 200 to 250 new infections of Covid-19 on average per day in New Hampshire, numbers that have been “relatively stable over the last couple of weeks.” Hospitalizations and deaths from the virus, meanwhile, are still trending downward. “We’re seeing the number of people dying from Covid-19 in long-term care facilities continue to decrease, as we roll out vaccines to those settings, and as we have a higher proportion of our long-term care facility residents vaccinated,” Chan said.

Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, said later during the same March 11 press conference that 10 percent of the state’s population (about 132,000 people) have now been fully vaccinated. Phase 2A of the state’s vaccine administration plan, which includes K through 12 teachers, school staff and child care workers, began March 12. “Our regional public health networks have scheduled 39 regional clinics through the end of the month, with plans to vaccine 17,000 school, child care and youth camp staff,” Daly said. “Phase 2A people who are not invited to one of these regional clinics will be able to register to get vaccinated at a state- or hospital-run site beginning March 17 on vaccines.nh.gov.” She went on to say that registration for Phase 2B, which includes people between the ages of 50 and 64, will open on March 22.

Gov. Chris Sununu also announced that, effective immediately, restrictions and guidelines for several sectors in New Hampshire are being relaxed, including quarantining requirements for all out-of-state travel. “We still recommend folks to quarantine … but it is no longer a requirement going forward,” he said. “Likewise, residents from outside of New England no longer have to quarantine prior to arrival in New Hampshire. … This change applies only to domestic travel, not to international travel.” Capacity at retail stores has also returned to 100 percent, and barbershops and salons are now allowed to have walk-in customers without reservations. Restaurants and bars are also now allowed to resume karaoke, pool, darts and other games, as well as small live bands of three members or less.

Applications for the state’s emergency rental assistance program opened on March 15, according to a press release. The program, which was established through the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, is providing financial aid to Granite Staters who have experienced difficulty paying their rent, utilities and heating costs due to the pandemic. To be eligible, at least one person per household must qualify for unemployment benefits, have had their income reduced or have had some other financial hardship due to the pandemic. The household must be at risk for homelessness, be paying more than 30 percent of its income for rent and utilities, or be in an unsafe or unhealthy environment. Payments are processed through the state’s five regional Community Action Partnership agencies. Visit capnh.com to submit an application.

Details of Sununu’s emergency and executive orders, as well as the state’s reopening guidance documents, can be found at governor.nh.gov.

Political climate

According to a March poll by the Saint Anselm College Survey Center at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, President Joe Biden’s job approval among registered New Hampshire voters has narrowed since February. In the February poll, 53 percent of respondents said they “approve” and 45 percent said “disapprove.” In March that narrowed to 50 percent and 49 percent, respectively. The poll also showed that Democrats hold a 48-40 percent advantage on the generic congressional ballot. New Hampshire’s senators’ job approval numbers have slipped in the last month: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s approval-disapproval margin is now 51-43 percent, down from 54-38 percent, and Sen. Maggie Hassan has gone down to 47-44 percent from February’s 49-40 percent. Meanwhile, Congressman Chris Pappas and Congresswoman Annie Kuster both saw slight improvements in their approval ratings. “While Democrats still enjoy a numerical advantage among voters, the independent nature of our state tends to be suspicious of a unified federal government, and this may be contributing to the relatively short duration of President Biden’s honeymoon period,” New Hampshire Institute of Politics Executive Director Neil Levesque said in a press release. The survey also looked at a hypothetical matchup between Hassan and Gov. Chris Sununu, with Sununu being the preferred candidate by a margin of 47 to 41 percent. Sununu’s job approval has fallen somewhat since the last poll but still sits at 67-31 percent, with approval from virtually every demographic group, but Hassan would benefit from her party’s strength, according to the press release. “This sets the stage for what may become one of the most closely watched races in the nation this cycle as Gov. Chris Sununu has signaled the possibility of challenging incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan,” Levesque said in the release.

Access to CTE

The New Hampshire Department of Education has released a report called “Increasing Equitable Access to Career and Technical Education,” a comprehensive review of the state’s career and tech ed programs, as part of an ongoing effort to make those programs more accessible to students, according to a press release. The programs give students hands-on learning experience in high-demand employment fields and can be used to earn college credit, and the report outlines some of the current barriers that might be preventing students from taking advantage of CTE programs. For example, 71 percent of students enrolled in programs have a CTE center co-located in their high school, while 29 percent but must be provided transportation to participate. According to the press release, the report suggests ideas to help overcome this accessibility concern, including better coordination of scheduling and transportation, as well as calendars, between districts. “This research confirmed many of the important issues CTE leaders and other educators have been aware of for many years,” Eric Frauwirth, director of the Bureau of Career Development, said in the release. “Now we have a set of strategies to explore, and will continue to engage with stakeholders and local communities to determine the best options for the students and families they serve.”

Wildlife funding

The New Hampshire delegation announced last week that the Granite State will get more than $8.75 million through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support the state’s wildlife and sport fish restoration and vulnerable species conservation. According to the announcement from U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan and Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas, the funding will help state wildlife agencies pursue conservation projects and programs like hunting and fishing education, fish and wildlife management, scientific research, and habitat restoration and protection. “New Hampshire is home to some of the most beautiful land in the country, and we have a responsibility to protect it,” Kuster said in the release.

On March 15, work began on Route 13 at Exit 2 off Interstate 89 in Concord, part of a project that includes painting structural steel on six bridges on and above I-89 between Exit 2 and Exit 5 in Concord and Hopkinton. According to a press release, the work will be done during the day and evening, and once the Concord bridge is complete, painting on the next bridge will begin, with work progressing north until the final bridge in Hopkinton is completed. The project is expected to be completed in December, the release said.

The Manchester Police Department has announced that it has a new training program for all sworn officers, stemming from Gov. John Sununu’s recent executive order calling for law enforcement reforms. According to a press release, the 40-hour week of training includes topics like use of force, implicit bias, cultural responsiveness and ethics.

On March 12, crews removed sections of the three waterslides at Cascade Waterslide at Hampton Beach, according to a report from NHPR. The landmark has been there for more than 35 years, the report said, and there is no word on what might take its place.

Boston Billiard Club & Casino in Nashua announced in a press release that it is the exclusive spot in the region where people can play 21STUD, a new two-card blackjack game that was created and recently patented by New Hampshire-based game designer Brandon Zyxnfryx of ZFX Gaming, also in Nashua.