9 More Die In NH Due To The New Coronavirus: Data Update

CONCORD, NH — Nine more deaths related to COVID-19 were announced by state health officials Wednesday, bringing the fatality count to 223 or about 5 percent of all positive cases in New Hampshire.

Eight of the nine people were 60 years of age or older with seven living in Hillsborough County and two living in Rockingham County. Five were men and four were women.

The state also announced 56 new positive case results bringing the state's total to 4,268. Four of the new patients have incomplete investigations but four others were children, 55 percent were women, and 45 percent men. Fifteen of the new cases live in Hillsborough County, 14 live in Manchester, 12 reside in Rockingham County, three live in Merrimack County, and two in Nashua. Five of the new cases were hospitalized bringing the total number of cases in need more extensive care to around 10 percent of all infections.

Six of the new cases also have no identified risk factors while the rest became infected due to being in contact with a confirmed case or by traveling.

According to the state, 63 percent of cases, 2,691, have recovered from the virus, while nearly 77,000 tests have been issued. About 4,025 people are under public health monitoring.

To view the latest COVID-19 state update, including charts, visit this link, in .pdf format.

U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Reach the 100,000 Milestone: That and more on the Across America Patch Live Blog.

New Treatment Save Life At Southern NH Medical Center

Joseph Jozitis was admitted to the Southern NH Medical Center ICU with COVID-19 April 3 and after a brief rally, his health quickly declined.

His care team, according to hospital officials, thought he would not survive. However, Jozitis was treated with a new option — a convalescent plasma treatment, as part of a nationwide clinical trial, with the Mayo Clinic.

"We are able to take donated plasma from a person who has recovered from COVID-19 and developed antibodies against the illness," said Dr. Timothy Scherer, the chief medical officer at the center. "When we give that plasma to a patient gravely ill with COVID-19, the hope is they will be able to fight the infection more efficiently."

In Jozitis' case, the treatment was seemingly effective — after his transfusion, his health took a dramatic turn and he was able to breath again on his own.

Jozitis was released from the hospital after more than six weeks Wednesday, recovering from the new coronavirus.

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Prisoner Tests Positive; Quarantined

The New Hampshire Department of Corrections reported Wednesday that a man transferred to the state prison for men from another state, to serve time here, tested positive for COVID-19.

Laura Montenegro, the public information officer for the department, said corrections took "proactive measures" and "he was immediately brought to a health services single-observation room for a 14-day quarantine," and is being monitored. Staff tested the prisoner before being transferred to the general population and the test was confirmed.

"This resident was transferred by NHDOC staff who were in full personal protective equipment as recommended by CDC guidelines for correctional facilities during the transport," she said. "The resident has had no contact with other residents. Staff who have been in contact with the resident have donned full personal protective equipment prior to contact."

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Senators Comment On 100,000 Deaths

Both Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, and Maggie Hassan, D-NH, offered comments after the announcement that 100,000 Americans had died due to COVID-19.

"This is a devastating marker for our country," Shaheen said. "My heart goes out to the millions of Americans who have lost a family member or friend to this virus. I'm grateful for the medical workers, first responders and essential workers who continue to make incredible sacrifices to steer our country through this crisis, and we owe an eternal debt to those who lost their lives in the line of duty. COVID-19 has taken so much from so many, and New Hampshire is united in our grief for those we have lost and in our hope that better days will come. Today is a solemn reminder that we must continue to work together and remain committed to protecting each other."

Hassan said it was a time to mourn and offer condolences to the families and friends lost.

"As we pass this solemn milestone, I also want to thank all of the people who have served our communities during this time: health care workers, law enforcement, grocery store employees, postal workers, and the countless Granite Staters who are doing their part to contain the spread of this virus and support our recovery efforts," she said. "The road ahead will not be easy, but I am confident that the American spirit of perseverance and resilience will prevail, and that we will get through this. In the meantime, I will continue to do everything in my power to push for additional legislation that meets the magnitude and seriousness of this crisis and supports our families and businesses during this challenging time."

Learn More About The Spread Of COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus is spread through respiratory droplets, usually through coughing and sneezing, and exposure to others who are sick or might be showing symptoms.

Health officials emphasize residents should follow these recommendations:

• Avoid any domestic and international travel, especially on public transportation such as buses, trains, and airplanes.
• Practice social distancing. Stay at least 6 feet from other people, including distancing while in waiting areas or lines.
• Anybody who is told to self-quarantine and stay at home due to exposure to a person with confirmed or suspect COVID-19 needs to stay home and not go out into public places.
• If you are 60 years or older or have chronic medical conditions, you need to stay home and not go out.
• Avoid gatherings of 10 people or more.
• Employers need to move to telework as much as possible.
• There is increasing evidence that this virus can survive for hours or possibly even a few days on surfaces, so people should clean frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, grocery carts and grocery basket handles, etc.

Take the same precautions as you would if you were sick:

• Stay home and avoid public places when sick (i.e., social distancing).
• Cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
• Wash hands frequently.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.

More information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services about coronavirus can be found here on the department's website.

• Guidance to schools can be found can be found here.
• Instructions for returning travelers to self-observe for symptoms of COVID-19 are available are available here.
• For more information on COVID-19 in NH, visit its site here.
• For the latest information from the CDC, visit its site here.

ALSO READ:

• NH Coronavirus Cases, Deaths, Hospitalizations Trend Down: Data
• 3 Staffers Test Positive For Coronavirus At NH's Psychiatric Hospital
• Health Official: NH Seeing Downward Trend In Coronavirus Cases
• Testing Opportunities For Coronavirus To Expand In New Hampshire
• Hillsborough County Continues To Be NH's Coronavirus 'Hot Spot'

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