CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on Monday ordered that hotels, inns and short-term rental services such as AirBnb be restricted to “vulnerable populations and essential workers only” during the coronavirus pandemic, including children in emergency placement, victims of domestic violence, and people receiving specialized medical care.
The order also applies to people made homeless if their hotels or other lodging accommodations are being used as emergency shelters; residents who are self-isolating; people unable to return to their homes outside of the state due to flight cancellations; and workers employed by a business or organization that qualifies as an essential business.
The order does not apply to campgrounds.
The order, in effect through May 4, follows similar orders in Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont.
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PRISON WORKER TESTS POSITIVE
An employee who works at the New Hampshire state prison for men in Concord has tested positive for the coronavirus and is now quarantined at home, the Department of Corrections said Monday.
The department learned late Friday that the employee had tested positive, spokeswoman Laura Montenegro said in a news release.
The employee last worked at the prison on March 25 and did not return until Wednesday, April 1, but was denied entry based on the COVID-19 screening process and was directed to follow up with a health care provider, Montenegro said. That follow-up resulted in the positive test confirmation, she said.
The screening for staff includes a temperature and visual check, Montenegro said. The prison suspended visitation and volunteer services on March 16 and is promoting social distancing by reducing movement and transfer with other correctional institutions.
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MOBILE TESTING SITE SUSPENDED
A mobile testing site for the coronavirus at the Armory in Manchester was suspended and resources are being pooled to be used at an expected community surge at hospitals, city organizers said.
Shortages in personal protective equipment and testing swabs and the need to clean and service equipment at the site were factors in suspending the site Friday, according to a statement from Manchester’s Emergency Operations Center.
The facility tested more than 1,000 people from March 14 through Friday, the statement said.
Testing capabilities will continue at Catholic Medical Center, Elliot Health System and Dartmouth-Hitchcock, as well as private entities such as ConvenientMD.
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THE NUMBERS
As of Monday, over 700 people have tested positive for the virus and nine people have died from COVID-19 in New Hampshire. Ninety-two people have been hospitalized for the virus. Of the total cases, about 190, or 26%, are health care workers.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
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HIKERS’ MASKS
New Hampshire’s Fish and Game Department is asking hikers to include face masks and latex gloves in their outdoor gear.
“With the current situation of COVID-19, people are putting emergency personnel and volunteers at a great risk when they get injured,” the department said in a statement Monday.
Officials point to the rescue of a man who slipped on some rocks and hurt his ankle while hiking down Mt. Major trail on Saturday. The man was with a group of friends. A fire department crew drove to the site and carried him to their ambulance, which brought him to a hospital.
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