N.H. Daily Coronavirus Update—March 2021

Wednesday, March 31

Registration opens at vaccines.nh.gov today for residents age 30 and over for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Vaccination registrations open today for residents age 30 and over. Meanwhile, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced 408 new positive test results for COVID-19 and no new deaths on Tuesday. There were 2,864 active COVID-19 cases diagnosed statewide and 80 people were hospitalized. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Wednesday.

1. Vaccine Registration Opens Today to NH Residents Age 30 and Up. Vaccine eligibility in New Hampshire expands once again on Wednesday, with Granite Staters age 30 and up able to register for an appointment. By the end of the week, on April 2, vaccine eligibility will be open to everyone in New Hampshire over the age of 16. Monday started with those age 40 and up. While younger people are less likely to die or develop serious complications from the illness, doctors have stressed the importance of getting vaccinated to keep others safe. “I understand that some people may think that they might not die from this and they will be fine, but we have to remember what our responsibility to our neighbor is. They might be fine, but they may spread it to someone who’s not fine,” Chief Medical Officer at Catholic Medical Center Dr. Michael Gilbert said. Gilbert said there is a risk at any age to develop serious symptoms and he has seen a rise in younger people being hospitalized. (Source: WMUR) New Hampshire residents age 30 and over can register for an appointment at vaccines.nh.gov or use the 2-1-1 hotline.

2. Updated NH Vaccination Numbers Highlight New Patterns and Emerging Gaps. New vaccination data released by the state shows nearly a quarter of Granite Staters have received at least one dose of vaccine and 13% are now fully vaccinated. Efficiency is also on the upswing as over 80% of the doses available to the state have found their way into arms. The new data also reveals emerging patterns when it comes to who is getting vaccinated. Although women outnumber men in the Granite State by less than 1%, women lead men 57.9% to 40.5% when it comes to getting their first dose, and 59.6% to 39.7% for their second dose. The data also shows that while people in groups age 55 and over have been the most heavily vaccinated, efforts to fully vaccinate people in the most vulnerable age groups may be falling short. Only 39.7% of people between the ages of 65 and 84 have been fully vaccinated and only 25.9% of seniors age 85 and over. The new numbers also show that while vaccination rates for the state’s Black, Hispanic, and Asian residents have increased since the state’s last report, they continue to trail those of of White residents. As of March 28, 26.6% of White residents have received their first dose, but only 10.9% of Hispanic, 10.6% of Black, and 14.9% of Asian residents have had their first shot. Meanwhile, 12.3% of White residents have been fully vaccinated as compared to 5.2% for Hispanic residents, 5.6% for Black residents, and 5.6% for Asian residents. When it comes to the pace of vaccinations in disproportionately affected communities the news is mixed. In the period between March 8 and March 28, the percentage of first dose vaccinations among White residents increased 39.5% as compared to 51.3% for Hispanic residents, 49% for Hispanic residents, and 46% for Asians. However, the percentage of fully vaccinated residents increased 82.9% among Whites, but only 62.5% among Hispanic residents, 51.3% among Black residents, and 33% among Asian Granite Staters. (Source: N.H. DHHS)

3. Vermonters of Color to be Eligible for COVID-19 Vaccine Starting Thursday. Vermonters 16 and over who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color — along with members of their household — will be able to register for the COVID-19 vaccine starting Thursday, officials announced at a Tuesday news conference. The state also expanded eligibility to parents of children with severe medical conditions. They become eligible to register for the vaccine on Wednesday, March 31. Black Vermonters have had the highest rate of COVID, according to the Department of Health, with 741 cases per 10,000 people, compared to white Vermonters’ rate of 247 per 10,000 people. Asian people, Hispanic people and those of other races also have a higher COVID-19 case rate than white Vermonters. There’s also evidence that people of color have a higher hospitalization rate in Vermont. “Now that all Vermont residents at the highest risk of death from COVID — those in the most vulnerable age and high-risk condition groups — have been vaccinated, we can focus on preventing the other most serious risk of the virus, namely critical illness leading to hospitalization,” state health commissioner Mark Levine said.(Source: The Valley News) By creating a sign-up window for residents in groups disproportionately affected by the pandemic, Vermont has recognized their situation and prioritized them in a way that makes it possible for them to get an appointment earlier. In contrast, New Hampshire has chosen to set aside doses for these groups and rely on community groups and regional health networks to reach them. By the end of this week, New Hampshire will have opened up the registration process to all residents age 16 and over, regardless of factors such as race, ethnicity, medical conditions, or occupations that may place individuals at higher risk.

4. Pfizer Says COVID Vaccine Is 100% Effective in Kids Ages 12 to 15. Pfizer said Wednesday its COVID-19 vaccine was 100% effective in a study of adolescents aged 12 to 15, encouraging results that could clear the shots for use in middle school students before school starts this fall. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said the company plans to submit the new data on the vaccine, which is developed in partnership with German drugmaker BioNTech, to the Food and Drug Administration and other regulators "as soon as possible," with the hope that kids in the age group will be able to get vaccinated before the next school year. (Source: NECN) None of the vaccines currently in use have been approved for use in children under the age of 16. Pfizer’s vaccine is currently the only vaccine approved for use in 16 and 17 year-olds.

5. 'It's Scary': Seacoast Restaurants Can't Hire Enough Staff: Will Relief Funds Help? As Seacoast restaurants continue to struggle to staff their kitchens due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the local hiring pool, Jon Kiper is among the area restaurant owners who say they’ve turned to new strategies to fill open positions. “Four of my six employees are now high school students,” said Kiper, the owner of Jonny Boston’s International Restaurant in Newmarket, noting the employees had no kitchen experience. “Three years ago, I didn’t want to hire anyone under 18 because I was worried about liability and stuff. So far, they’ve been great.” Kiper was one of eight Seacoast restaurant owners who discussed food industry COVID-19 hurdles and the American Rescue Plan during a roundtable discussion Tuesday morning with U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire, at Chapel and Main in downtown Dover. Pappas, whose family operates a restaurant in Manchester, acknowledged hiring is a major challenge for New Hampshire restaurants due to the pandemic and expressed hope the $28.6 billion restaurant recovery fund and related other pieces of the American Rescue Plan, like funding focused on childcare and families, will make a positive impact. Restaurants are having an especially difficult time finding experienced chefs, cooks, dishwashers, and bartenders. (Source: Seacoast Online)

6. NH Gets Boost in Federal Funds to Help with Vaccination Efforts. More federal funding is flowing into New Hampshire to help with vaccination efforts. New Hampshire is one of 10 states receiving additional grant money. U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, said the state was among other small states underrepresented in the original federal funding calculations. U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, was one of the architects of the supplemental $30 million in funding after she cried foul on how the government calculated relief fund allocations in December using city population size. Shaheen said the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services is the first recipient of the grant money, and accelerating vaccinations is the priority. "It will cover the cost of the sites that we have to secure help with the cost of the people actually administering the vaccinations," Shaheen said. The first $12 million was paid to New Hampshire on Tuesday, and the rest will come in installments starting in April. (Source: WMUR)

7. ACA Healthcare Marketplace Reopens Thursday with More Coverage and More Financial Assistance. The largest expansion of benefits since the launch of the Affordable Care Act in 2013 will kick in Thursday, with new opportunities to enroll in health coverage through the Marketplace and get lower pricing.The change is part of the American Rescue Act from the Biden administration. New rules expand coverage options for those who currently have ACA insurance and will increase subsidies and lower monthly premiums. Anyone currently enrolled or those who are uninsured and need coverage can take advantage of expanded financial help, which means that many higher-income earners formerly ineligible for subsidies may now be able to qualify for lower-cost coverage. Additionally, uninsured people who received any unemployment compensation benefits in 2021 will have special access to free or reduced-cost plans. New Hampshire residents have from April 1 until August 15 to enroll in the program. New Hampshire Navigator is available at acanavigator.com or at (603) 931-3858 to provide free help with signing up and applying for subsidies. Those already enrolled must update their application to receive the new rates. (Source: Concord Monitor)

8. More Federal Money Headed to NH for Teacher COVID-19 Testing. More federal money for testing school teachers and staff for COVID-19 is coming to New Hampshire, but only one state school district has taken advantage of the program. Manchester is extending its pilot program to conduct COVID-19 testing on all teachers and staff. As part of the voluntary program, teachers and staff members can receive a test once a week through the district. This program is funded through money allocated in the original pandemic relief bill. The federal government recently allocated another $41 million for New Hampshire in the latest relief bill, 85% of which must be used for surveillance testing in K-12 schools. But according to the state Department of Education, other than Manchester, no other district used the original funding. "It's early," said U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire. "We also have about $350 million coming to help schools with all of the other expenses of bringing kids back full time, so there is funding coming. Schools need to know what's available. I hope the Department of Education in New Hampshire is going to get those dollars out and make school districts aware as soon as possible." (Source: WMUR)

9. Active Cases Rise at Dartmouth, Fall at UNH. Dartmouth College has identified two new clusters and 35 new active cases of COVID-19 among students. College spokesperson Diana Lawrence wrote in a statement that the jump in new cases can be linked to spring break travel and was “not surprising.” She added that the College will evaluate the number of active cases but currently has no plans to change the arrival quarantine conditions. (Source: The Dartmouth) Meanwhile, active cases at the University of New Hampshire’s Durham campus are down to 120 after being over 150 for more of last week. (Source: UNH COVID-19 Testing Dashboard) UNH also announced that it will cancel in-person, on-campus youth programs this summer. “The decision was made after careful review of available staffing, COVID-19 health and safety requirements, and the significant work required over the summer to ensure the university can open fully for the fall semester,” reads part of the UNH announcement. (Source: NHPR)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 30, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Tuesday, March 30

On Monday, New Hampshire public health officials announced no additional deaths and 272 new COVID-19 cases. Statewide, there were 2,785 active cases and 73 people were hospitalized with the virus. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Tuesday.

1. Vaccination Sign-Ups for Residents Age 40-49 Get Off to Smooth Start, Registration Tomorrow for Those Age 30-39. COVID-19 vaccination registration opened Monday to Granite Staters age 40 and older, and state officials said that by 11 a.m., 32,000 people had signed up to get vaccinated. When registration opened last week to Granite Staters age 50 and older, numerous problems were reported with the state's vaccination website, but Monday was a different story. Many people reported being able to sign up quickly for an upcoming appointment. Early birds were able to register well before the sun rose. The state estimates there are about 140,000 people in the 40-plus group, but many have already been vaccinated, so the actual number who would potentially schedule an appointment might be closer to 75,000. State officials said there are plenty of appointments. Registration opens Wednesday for residents age 30-39. (Source: WMUR)

2. Community Groups and Regional Public Health Networks Help Register N.H. Residents of Color. In the Seacoast region and Strafford County, community groups, like Black Lives Matter Seacoast, are helping people of color 18 and older schedule their appointments. The community groups are collecting the contact information of residents of color who want a COVID-19 vaccine, and passing the list to the region’s Public Health Network. The North Country and Greater Manchester Regional Public Health Networks are also scheduling residents of color through the state’s equity allocation. Greater Monadnock Public Health Network is operating a vaccine waitlist to provide vulnerable populations the opportunity to find earlier vaccine appointments. You can find your Regional Public Health Network here. (Source: NHPR)

3. COVID Tracker: Things Are Getting Worse Again Even as Vaccinations Increase. The average number of new cases has risen 25% in the past two weeks, the number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 hasn’t budged over that same period and, most distressing of all, the number of deaths has increased sharply since early March. That last is an unpleasant surprise because New Hampshire has done a great job vaccinating elderly people, yet the toll of people dying from COVID-19 in the category of “60 years of age and older” is rising. It’s unclear if the increase is due to any of the more contagious variants which are upending programs in parts of the world such as Brazil, which has seen hospitals overwhelmed by an unanticipated rise in cases. It’s at least as likely that we’ve dropped our guard due to COVID fatigue and are letting the virus spread again. We’re not alone. New cases are showing up around the country as more states “open up,” not just to economics but also to contagion. Since March 10, the two-week average of daily new cases has risen steadily to 326 as of Sunday, with no sign of slowing down. But the good news is that almost one out of every six New Hampshire residents is now fully vaccinated and this week’s rollout of appointments for everybody over age 16 means that figure should go up more quickly. (Source: Concord Monitor) Nationally, the news remains grim. As COVID-19 cases creep up again across the country, federal officials and epidemiologists say they're worried we could hit another tipping point, leading to a fourth significant surge of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. "We're skating on a knife's edge right now," said Nicholas Reich, a biostatistician at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Average daily reported cases are up 10% compared to a week earlier, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows, with more than 30 million COVID-19 cases reported since early last year. Hospitalizations and deaths, which usually lag cases by a few weeks, have inched upward as well, after a decline and plateau that began in early January. (Source: USA Today) More than 550,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus epidemic, according to Johns Hopkins University data late Monday, claiming the lives of 1 in every 600 residents.

4. Nashua's Board of Health Says Now is Not the Time to End the City's Mask Mandate. Resident Marian Knight submitted a request to the Board of Aldermen seeking to end the city’s mask mandate on Friday. That request was then forwarded to the board of health. “To give into frustration and quarantine fatigue now when we are on the cusp of having a plan, a way out, is premature by any measure and we need to really see what is going to happen in the next month,” said Dr. Stephanie Wolf-Rosenblum, member of the Nashua Board of Health. “I think we can’t let our guard down,” echoed Dr. Charles Cappetta, member of the Nashua Board of Health. Cappetta said he appreciates constructive feedback and recognizes that as the pandemic evolves, so too must the health recommendations. “But the masks are essential here,” he said, explaining that even though we may be close to the finish line, now is not the time to give up. (Source:Union Leader)

5. Anti-Mask Protester Flew Drone Over Gov. Sununu's Neighborhood, Says Prosecutor. An anti-mask protester arrested outside Gov. Chris Sununu's home in December is now on the hook for a $1,000 cash bail after prosecutors say he violated his bail conditions and flew a drone over the governor's neighborhood. Skylar Bennett, 38, must pay the bail before April 2 to remain out on release while awaiting trial on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. According to a motion to revoke bail, Bennett allegedly violated a condition of his release not to be at Newfields’ Hemlock Court when he allegedly flew a drone over a residence Feb. 14. Part of the motion to revoke bail asked a judge to issue a no-contact order against Bennett at several addresses in town. Bennett is also now prohibited from flying a drone over the Hemlock Court neighborhood. When reached for comment, Newsfields police prosecutor Michael Di Croce said he found out about Bennett's drone use last week after being alerted he posted aerial photos on Facebook. (Source: Seacoast Online)

6. Mayor: Portsmouth City Council Could Meet in Person By May. Mayor Rick Becksted said the City Council could resume in-person meetings at City Hall in May. The City Council, along with all other city committees and boards, has been holding Zoom video conference meetings since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. “I hope that at least the council will start getting back into City Hall chambers and have in-person meetings by May, at least the second meeting in May,” Becksted said during an interview Monday. He will continue consulting with the Health Department, City Manager Karen Conard and the rest of the City Council before making any decisions about when to resume in-person meetings. (Source: Seacoast Online)

7. HAVEN Says Sex Assault, Domestic Violence Reporting Up on the Seacoast. Reports of sexual and domestic violence on the Seacoast are going up as victims are finding ways to reach out for help after a year in isolation due to COVID-19. “We’re seeing more opportunity for folks to reach out, especially in the beginning of the day,” Devin Oot, development director at HAVEN in Portsmouth, said. Oot said between Feb. 22 and March 23, they went to 58 Child Advocacy Center appointments to provide support to nonoffending caregivers; accompanied victims in 16 court hearings; and took 420 hotline calls. HAVEN has a 24-hour support line. That number is 603-994-7233. (Source: Union Leader)

8. Rye Man Sues State for Seeking Overpayments of COVID-19 Jobless Benefits. A Rye man has sued state officials over claims that he has to repay nearly $5,000 in unemployment benefits received during the COVID-19 pandemic. Filed in Merrimack County Superior Court, the lawsuit opens with a scathing critique of Gov. Chris Sununu's handling of the pandemic. And it raises federal law and constitutional challenges to efforts by the state Department of Employment Security to pursue overpayments to more than 10,000 New Hampshire residents. According to the lawsuit, Claude Pottier, 67, has received contradictory information from Employment Security about the overpayments, and the department allegedly ignored his requests for an appeal. "The easiest people to get money from are people who can't afford a lawyer. You want a quick fix in government, you go after people like Claude," said Michael Lewis, a former assistant attorney general who said he is representing Pottier for free. Deputy Employment Security Commissioner Richard Lavers referred questions about the lawsuit to the Attorney General's Office. The lawsuit faults Sununu for diverting $50 million in CARES Act money to the state unemployment trust fund to lower unemployment insurance taxes on businesses by a half-percentage point. And the suit says that efforts to pursue the overpayments contradict federal law. "As this case demonstrates, defendants opted to turn the screws instead," the suit reads. (Source: Union Leader)

9. After COVID-19 Hate and Atlanta-Area Shootings, Asian Americans Seek a Louder Voice at Dartmouth. Asian American community members at Dartmouth College are calling on the school to more forcefully respond to anti-Asian hate and resurfacing efforts to institute an Asian-American studies program following a national increase in reported harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders over the past year. Experts say the rise in hate crimes has been spurred in part by racist rhetoric surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the Upper Valley, that has translated to a sense of unease for Asian Americans. This month’s mass shooting in Atlanta – in which eight people were shot to death, including six women of Asian descent – has deepened those fears, many say. “Among the small group of Asian American postdocs and faculty, everyone is heightened, rattled, exhausted,” said Dartmouth College professor Eng-Beng Lim, who is Asian American and teaches women’s, gender and sexuality studies. Last week, Lim shared a petition calling for the college to create an Asian American Studies program, which would allow students to major or minor in that area of study. The petition, which had 500 signatures by Thursday, asks the college to hire a tenured professor to head the program and to create a $15,000 fund to promote the field. The decision to start the petition came after a year in which reports of anti-Asian hate crimes spiked, largely due to racist sentiments about COVID-19. In a Pew Research study last summer, 58% of Asian adults said it’s more common for people to express racist, anti-Asian sentiments during the pandemic than it was before the pandemic. (Source: Concord Monitor)

10. Shaheen and Seacoast Mayors Say Federal Funds Will Help With Education, Homelessness, Mental Health. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, appeared Monday with four Seacoast mayors at Dover City Hall to discuss how the American Rescue Plan will provide New Hampshire with more than $3 billion in combined financial relief for residents and local governments. The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, which was recently passed into law, supplies New Hampshire more than $1.5 billion in funding through state and local aid and just under $1.5 billion in stimulus payments that nearly 600,000 Granite Staters have received or will receive. However, there isn't a clear timeline on when those funds will be available or exactly how much money each city will receive. The plan gives mayors and municipalities more flexibility to spend the federal relief dollars based on town-specific needs. For the cities of Portsmouth, Dover and Rochester, funds will be directly distributed soon. Shaheen said the funds can also ease the tax burden on communities since the flexibility clause allows the cities to help replace lost revenue and reimburse fronted costs. (Source: Seacoast Online) The mayors said the funds will help them get children into school in-person full time and address issues such as mental health problems and homelessness within their communities. Portsmouth Mayor Rick Becksted said the past year has taught him about how his city helps surrounding communities with social issues. “I never knew how much we helped out Dover and Somersworth when it came to homelessness. We’ve got great organizations that are in there and we share. It’s important that we continue to share that, even after this pandemic is over,” Becksted said. (Source: Union Leader)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 29, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Monday, March 29

Vaccination registration is now open in New Hampshire to any resident age 40 or over.

Registration for COVID-19 vaccination appointments is now open via vaccines.nh.gov and the state’s 2-1-1 hotline. Today’s expansion of vaccination eligibility comes as a spring surge in new cases continues. On Sunday, New Hampshire public health officials announced two additional deaths and 301 new positive tests for COVID-19. There were also 2,766 active cases statewide along with 76 people hospitalized with the virus. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Monday.

1. Hoping to Avoid System Overload, N.H. Officials Urge Patience Ahead of Busy Week for Vaccine Website. State officials are urging patience ahead of a busy week for New Hampshire’s vaccine registration website and asking people to consider not registering first thing in the morning on their designated eligibility date. “We have made upgrades to the system which will allow more than 1,000 people per minute to register with plenty of appointments for everyone,” Gov. Chris Sununu said in a Sunday press release. “Also, instead of overrunning the system early in the morning, I ask individuals to consider registering during lower volume times to help ensure a smooth and orderly day for all registrants.” By the end of this week, every New Hampshire resident over age 16 will be able to register for a COVID-19 vaccine. Registration opened this morning for residents in their 40s. Those in their 30s will be able to register starting on Wednesday, and registration will open up to those over age 16 Friday morning. Eligible residents can sign up for an appointment using the state’s online registration system at vaccines.nh.gov or by calling 2-1-1. (Source: NHPR) Those registering today are expected to be able to book appointments within the next month. (Source: Seacoast Online)

2. COVID Vaccine Site Opens at Mall at Fox Run as Exeter High School Site Closes. A New Hampshire-run COVID-19 vaccination site is opening at the old Sears store at the Mall at Fox Run in Newington. The site has replaced the vaccination location at Exeter High School's football stadium parking lot, which has closed. The change is effective immediately with first appointments at the Mall at Fox Run today, Monday, March 29, at 8 a.m. People who had appointments today or in the future in Exeter have received communication from the state noting their appointment locations have been changed to Newington. (Source: Seacoast Online)

3. New Data Shows Rural Grafton and Coos Counties Lead N.H. in Coronavirus Vaccine Progress. New data from the federal government shows that New Hampshire's northern rural counties are closer to being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 than other more populous region. As of Sunday, about one in five Grafton and Coos County residents is fully vaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carroll County isn't far behind, with about 17 percent of its population fully covered. Hillsborough, meanwhile, trails the state with about 10 percent of its population fully vaccinated, according to the same data. At least part of that is likely due to differences in population: About 40,000 Hillsborough County residents have received all recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, about six times as many as in Coos County. Rockingham County, which has also fully vaccinated more than 41,000 of its residents, has reached about 13 percent of its overall population. But the coverage gaps are likely also driven by demographic differences. About 21 percent of Grafton County residents are over age 65, according to U.S. Census data. The same age group makes up about 24 percent of Coos County and 27 percent of Carroll County. Hillsborough County, meanwhile, skews younger. But even when looking only at vaccination rates among older adults, Hillsborough still falls behind the rest of the state: Only about 32 percent of its residents over age 65 have been vaccinated, compared to half of those in Grafton and Coos Counties. Until last week, the vaccine was only open to the general public over age 65 in New Hampshire — so it's not surprising that counties with more adults in that age bracket would be farther ahead in their vaccine progress. (Source: NHPR)

4. Inside the Push to Vaccinate New Hampshire's Homebound. The state has managed two mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics in recent weeks at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, a site all about efficiency and scale. But there are sectors of the population that are much harder to reach. That includes many homebound residents. While exact numbers are hard to come by, the state says there are at least 10,000 homebound residents and probably a lot more. Granite Staters are defined as homebound because of their health or medical condition or because of transportation barriers. Many in this population did receive the vaccine at senior housing clinics early on, or were driven to a site by a family member. But the remainder can be especially hard to reach. “These challenges already existed for North Country residents," said Kris Van-Bergen with the North Country Health Consortium, one of the 13 regional public health networks in the state. “They are the inequities that we're looking at, the poverty, the age, the level of chronic disease burden, and they're just exacerbated through something like a public health emergency.” Challenges around vaccine access are just one piece of the puzzle. If homebound residents are not associated with a home care agency or some other social service organization, the onus is on them, or their family members, to call 2-1-1 and schedule an appointment. That’s where they encounter another big access issue: transportation. That's a particular challenge in the North Country. “We do not have public transport," Van-Bergen said. "So transportation becomes a barrier to accessing health resources.” You may think a population that spends most of their time at home is safer than most. But nGallup says that's not the case. Many have health conditions that make them vulnerable to COVID-19. “And there's still people coming in and out of their house," said June Gallup, a manager with Cornerstone Visiting Nurse Association. "We've had a lot of patients that have gotten COVID-19 from family members because they're out and about in the world, and they're bringing it into grandma”. (Source: NHPR) Meanwhile, today Massachusetts starts a program to register and reach an estimated 25,000 home bound residents. (Source: NECN)

5. University of New Hampshire Pushes Back Commencement Ceremonies. The University of New Hampshire has pushed back its commencement ceremonies to May 23. The university president said in a message the move allows the ceremony to be held at Wildcat Stadium, on a weekend graduates requested. COVID-19 protocols will be in effect and no decision has been made on whether guests will be allowed to attend. (Source: WMUR)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 28, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Sunday, March 28

The United States is on track to provide more than double the amount of vaccine doses needed to immunize 100% of the US population. (Source: USA Today)

New Hampshire public health officials announced four additional deaths on Saturday, including two in long-term care facilities. The state also reported 401 new cases, 2,818 current infections statewide, and 78 residents in the hospital due to the virus. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Sunday.

1. COVID Cases Continue to Climb Up in NH. After a dramatic decline since mid-January, COVID-19 cases are rising again in New Hampshire. The state averaged 329 new cases per day for the week ending Thursday — up 37 percent from March 6, when the seven-day average hit a low of 240. The percentage of tests coming back positive has drifted up as well, hitting an average of 4.4 percent for the week ending Wednesday. Cases remain far below their peak in December and January, when they sometimes averaged more than 800 per day. But the recent uptick is something health experts had warned about as cases declined, saying that relaxing public-health measures amid the spread of more contagious variants could reverse that progress. It’s unclear how much new COVID-19 variants have played into the rise locally, said Dr. Aalok Khole, an epidemiologist with Cheshire Medical Center in Keene. More than 50 cases of the more contagious B.1.1.7 variant, first identified in the United Kingdom, have been detected in New Hampshire, according to the most recent count from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the state has no known cases of either the B1.351 or P.1 strains — first found in South Africa and in four travelers from Brazil on their arrival in Japan, respectively — both have been identified in Massachusetts. “We are testing more for these variants now compared to back in Jan 2021 — both within NH and across the US,” Khole said. “… But we still aren’t testing as much as we should be.” (Source: Keene Sentinel)

2. Dartmouth Unsure of Role It Will Play in Getting Students Vaccinated. In spite of New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu’s announcement that all Granite Staters 16 and older will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccines by the end of next week, it remains unclear whether Dartmouth College will play a role in getting vaccines to its students and younger employees, according to college officials. The college is currently helping to vaccinate New Hampshire employees of K-12 schools or child care providers, in Phase 2a, as well as residents who are between 50 and 64 years old, in Phase 2b, said Dr. Lisa Adams and Josh Keniston, the co-chairs of Dartmouth’s COVID-19 task force in a Friday message to the community. “We are exploring whether this partnership can be extended to permit Dartmouth to help schedule appointments for the next phase, announced by the governor yesterday,” Adams and Keniston wrote. In the meantime, they urged members of the Dartmouth community who are not yet eligible for vaccination in New Hampshire to “pursue any other options available to them to obtain a vaccine.” (Source: The Valley News) On Thursday, Sununu said out of-state college students are not eligible to be vaccinated into New Hampshire. While the colleges themselves have said little about the issue, leaders in several New Hampshire college towns have called on the governor to reverse the policy as a matter of protecting public health and safety in their communities. (Source: NHPR)

3. NHMS Hosts Second Mass COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic. Around 8,000 people will be getting their COVID-19 vaccines this weekend at the state's mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Around 4,000 people got vaccinated on Saturday with a first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. At one point Saturday, state health officials estimated they were vaccinated around 700 people an hour. This is the second time the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon has held a mass COVID-19 vaccination. Everyone who received a vaccine this weekend will have a second appointment scheduled for them the weekend of April 24 at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. (Source: WMUR)

4. Is Your Covid Vaccine Venue Prepared to Handle Rare, Life-Threatening Reactions? As the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines picks up across the U.S., moving from hospital distribution to pharmacies, pop-up sites and drive-thru clinics, health experts say it’s vital that these expanded venues be prepared to handle rare but potentially life-threatening allergic reactions. “You want to be able to treat anaphylaxis,” said Dr. Mitchell Grayson, an allergist-immunologist with Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “I hope they’re in a place where an ambulance can arrive within five to 10 minutes.” Of the more than 6 million people in the U.S. who have received shots of the two new covid vaccines, at least 29 have suffered anaphylaxis, a severe and dangerous reaction that can constrict airways and send the body into shock, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We are really pushing to make sure that anybody administering vaccines needs not just to have the EpiPen available but, frankly, to know how to use it,” said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Anaphylaxis typically occurs within minutes and can cause hives, nausea, vomiting, dizziness or fainting, and life-threatening problems such as low blood pressure and constricted airways. Initial treatment is an injection of epinephrine, or adrenalin, to reduce the body’s allergic response. However, severely affected patients can require intensive treatments including oxygen, IV antihistamines and steroids such as cortisone to save their lives. Community sites are unlikely to have these treatments on hand and would need quick access to emergency responders. Drive-thru sites, in particular, worry allergists like Dr. Kimberly Blumenthal, quality and safety officer for allergy at Massachusetts General Hospital, who said it’s crucial to recognize symptoms of anaphylaxis quickly. “If you’re in a car, are you going to have your windows open? Where are the medicines? Are you in a parking lot?” she said. “It just sounds logistically more challenging.” (Source: Kaiser Health Network) For more information about the available vaccines and how they compare, USA Today has created an excellent comparison of side effects, the technology used to develop them, development costs, and how much the federal government spent to subsidize their development and distribution. (Source: USA Today)

5. In-Home Vaccinations Coming to Homebound North Country Residents. A COVID-19 vaccination program targeting homebound people in the North Country is set to hit the road. Next week, the Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice of Carrol County and Western Maine begin in-home COVID-19 vaccinations. "What it is is looking at vulnerable populations of people who can't get out of their homes to get to a COVID-19 vaccine clinic," said Sandy Ruka, of VNHCH. Ruka said the organization hopes to vaccinate five to 10 people each week, but logistics will be the key. "Once the nurse punctures that vial, we have six hours to deliver all those doses, so you have to incorporate travel time into that getting into the home," she said. "Then, you have to do the proper observing, 15-30 minutes of observing after the vaccine." The organization hopes to vaccinate all 50 of its clients and qualified caregivers in about three to four weeks. Officials said the first round of shots will be the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (Source: WMUR)

6. New Hampshire Senate OKs Grant Distribution Plan for Broadband Projects. A key issue spotlighted early in the pandemic was the challenge of remote classes in locations where there is little or no broadband internet service. If a bill passed unanimously by the New Hampshire Senate late last week becomes law, the state would provide matching grants using federal money to build out broadband internet service in rural communities. Senate Bill 85 does not appropriate any money, but it does instruct the Office of Strategic Initiatives to set up a fund and competitive grant process to provide a 50% match with federal funds that the state receives, be it from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan or an even larger infrastructure plan that Congress is currently debating. The American Rescue Plan doesn’t provide for municipal or regional broadband construction, though it does earmark $7.2 billion for an Emergency Connectivity Fund for schools and libraries. The state is also expected to receive close to $1 billion in flexible funds, so there appears to be plenty of money available to fund such projects. (Source: NH Business Review)

7. Retail Relics Provide Space for Vaccination Sites. Where handbags once hung, people checked in for their COVID-19 vaccinations inside the empty Lord & Taylor in Salem. Then they rolled up their sleeves for shots in the former women’s shoe department. Three shuttered department stores have been converted to vaccination clinics around the state. At the former Lord & Taylor store at Rockingham Mall, designer names, including Coach and Michael Kors, could be spotted on walls or the remaining display cases. Empty jewelry cases still sported orange liquidation price stickers. Many people who came for shots recalled shopping excursions of years ago. Anna Boulia of Hudson recalled buying dresses for holidays and proms for her three daughters. “It makes me sad” the store closed, she said. Federal funds are covering the cost of renting space for the state vaccination sites, including the three in former big retail stores. JCPenney in West Lebanon and the former Sears store in Concord are also serving at vaccination sites. (Source: Union Leader)

8. COVID-19 Scams Cost US Consumers $358 Million. Research conducted by Rublon, revealed that COVID-19 scams, including promises of early vaccine trials and antibody tests, left victims out of pocket by $322 on average in 2020. Research from the Federal Trade Commission shows instances of scams that start on social media have continued to increase. In fact, Americans reported $134 million in losses to social media fraud in 2019. In the first six months of 2020 alone, there were already reported losses of over $117 million. The ‘early access vaccine’ scam topped the list of the most prevalent COVID scam, which began after the U.S. Government granted emergency authorization for the first COVID-19 vaccines to go ahead, and entailed emails, texts, and calls from fake organizations promising unsuspecting Americans early access to a vaccine. (Source: Concord Monitor)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 27, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Saturday, March 27

On Friday, New Hampshire public health officials announced 386 new cases. There were an average of 326 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period—an increase of 16%. Two additional deaths were reported and 71 people were hospitalized with COVID-19. Hospitalization numbers remain stable despite the recent surge in in cases. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Saturday.

1. CDC Director Warns of Possible Covid Surge as U.S. Cases Increase by 7%. The U.S. could suffer another surge in COVID-19 cases unless pandemic safety measures are maintained, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Friday.The nation is recording a seven-day average of about 57,000 new Covid-19 cases per day, a 7% jump over the last week, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House news briefing on the pandemic. New hospitalizations are up "slightly" at roughly 4,700 admissions per day, she said. "I remain deeply concerned about this trajectory," Walensky said. "We have seen cases and hospital admissions move from historic declines to stagnations and increases. We know from prior surges that if we don't control things now, there is a real potential for the epidemic curve to soar again." (Source: NECN) The U.S. has vaccinated 1 in 4 people, and last week averaged about 2.5 million doses per day, according to Bloomberg’s Vaccine Tracker. That’s not enough to reach herd immunity and many public-health experts fear another surge could occur before the immunization push reaches full steam. (Source: Bloomberg News)

2. Correctional Facilities Absent from State’s Outbreak List for First Time Since December. In the most recent update of the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services list of active outbreaks in New Hampshire congregate living facilities, outbreaks at the New Hampshire State Men’s Prison and the Hillsborough County House of Corrections were closed. Only three facilities are currently experiencing outbreaks—the lowest number since late October when cases began to surge. Two of the facilities are nursing homes—the Alpine Center in Keene and the Bedford Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Granite Recovery Centers NFA Behavioral Health In Salem is also on the list. As of the time of the update, none of the facilities had experienced a death during this set of outbreaks. Last summer, 17 residents of the Bedford Nursing and Rehabilitation Center lost their lives during a severe outbreak. (Sources: InDepthNH and N.H. DHHS)

3. Dover COVID Vaccine Site Traffic Backed Up for 3-Hour Wait Times. The state-run COVID-19 vaccination site at the C&J bus terminal was the focal point of attention and frustration for some Thursday as traffic backed up along Glenwood Avenue all the way to Central Avenue. Some waited in line for vaccines for more than three hours. Lt. Col. Greg Heilshorn, director of public affairs for the New Hampshire National Guard, said there were several factors behind the long wait times. "There were a combination of different things happening all at the same time, but people showing up too early, or with unscheduled plus-ones in the vehicle requesting a shot, added to the wait time. It's not just the Dover vaccination site that our teams have been experiencing this, we've seen it at other sites as well." Sgt. Nathan Goard of the Dover Police Department said, "It happened very quickly. Basically there's just not enough places to stack all these cars. It is challenging for the police department to anticipate, we don't know what the traffic patterns will be like until the day starts." To keep the vaccination sites moving smoothly, Heilshorn suggests that people should only show up 10 to 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment time. (Source: Seacoast Online)

4. Some N.H. College Towns Want Their Out-of-State Students Vaccinated. Some New Hampshire college towns are questioning Gov. Sununu’s policy to not include out-of-state college students in the state’s vaccination plan, which will allow residents who are 16 and older to be eligible to register for the vaccine on April 2. College towns like Durham, Plymouth and Hanover have seen some of the highest per capita COVID-19 rates in the state in recent weeks. Hanover’s Town Manager, Julia Griffin, spent a good part of Friday morning answering emails from parents of Dartmouth students, who are wondering why New Hampshire isn’t vaccinating out of state college students. Griffin says getting college students vaccinated is important for towns like Hanover, which also saw a big jump in cases several weeks ago. “Because right now, they are and they always have been, here in this community, our most prevalent vector for COVID,” she said. In a statement, a government spokesperson said it could cause confusion if out-of-state college students got one dose in New Hampshire and needed a second one in another state. Griffin says it could be a “game changer” to keep college towns safe if the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be targeted to college students, and if colleges and towns could set up clinics on campus. (Source: NHPR)

5. NH Restaurants, Grocery Stores Wait on COVID-19 Shots. Though some front-line workers in the Twin States have been able to get COVID-19 vaccination shots — including health care workers; teachers and other school employees; corrections officers and first responders — grocery workers and others in food service have been left behind. “It just makes no sense to me,” said Paul Guidone, general manager of the Hanover Consumer Cooperative Society, which has stores in Hanover, Lebanon and White River Junction, as well as service centers in Hanover and Norwich and a kitchen in Wilder. Guidone noted that grocery workers have “constant contact with the public,” which puts them at higher risk for contracting COVID-19. Just last week, the Co-op Market on Lyme Road closed for four days after an employee tested positive for COVID-19 and four of the approximately 15 other employees at the store had to quarantine as close contacts. The store has since reopened, but is operating for limited hours until next week. While all New Hampshire residents—including essential workers—will be eligible to register for an appointment next week, the dates of the appointments are dependent on vaccine supplies and are expected to stretch well into May. (Source: The Valley News)

6. NHMS Mass Vaccination Clinic: What to Bring This Weekend. The New Hampshire Motor Speedway is holding its second mass vaccination clinic over the weekend. About 8,000 people will receive the Pfizer vaccine Saturday and Sunday at the racetrack, according to Perry Plummer of the state's COVID vaccine response team. Those receiving shots this weekend should remember these items: 1) VINI QR code from appointment registration, either printed or on a mobile device 2) Proof of residency, which can include a valid N.H. drivers license or state I.D., or a paystub or government-issued payment issued within 60 days and showing a local address. Plummer said appointments are unavailable to people who are not NH residents. Appointments for this weekend’s clinic are nearly full and will only open up if people cancel. (Source: WMUR)

7. Agencies Work to Help Prove Residency for Some to Be Vaccinated. New Hampshire will have half a million vaccination appointments open for registration by next Friday, with the main requirement being proof of residency, but that's not easy for some to provide. State officials said appointments have to be limited to residents because allocations are based on state population. But there can be some gray area in proving residency. Proof of residency is required, such as a valid driver's license or state ID, or a paystub or government check with a local address issued within the past 60 days. "There are people that don't have valid drivers' licenses, that don't have valid identification," said Bobbie Bagley, Nashua public health director. Public health networks like Nashua's are establishing proof at equity clinics in other ways. Someone who is an immigrant might bring in a utility bill, for example. "It might be an ID from Brazil, but they live here, so if they show us anything, we just want to verify it's who they say they are and that they live here in the state of New Hampshire," Bagley said.People who believe they have special circumstances that should make them eligible to get a vaccine in New Hampshire can contact the state at covidvaccine@dhhs.nh.gov. (Source: WMUR)

8. NH COVID Vaccine Q&A for Ages 16-Plus: How Fast Will I Get a Shot? What About Teens? All New Hampshire residents age 16 and up become eligible next week to make appointments to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Ages 40-49 can register starting Monday, March 29, followed by ages 30-plus Wednesday, March 31 and ages 16 and up Friday, April 2. The state is using supplies of the two-shot Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. You can register at vaccines.nh.gov using the state's new Vaccine & Immunization Network Interface, known as VINI. Residents can also call 2-1-1. The state expects people between ages 40 and 49 to be able to get their first dose within a month. There currently are open appointments at sites around the state, so some individuals may be able to get an appointment right away. Officials anticipate that first dose appointments for all age groups can be scheduled by the end of May. The federal government provides vaccine doses at no cost and vaccine recipients cannot be charged or pay any out of pocket costs for administration of the vaccine. Based on current supply, there is not an option for residents to choose a specific vaccine type at this time. But officials say all vaccination locations will have a supply of the Pfizer vaccine on hand, which is the only vaccine approved for sixteen and seventeen-year-olds. (Source: Seacoast Online)

9. Seacoast Doctors: ‘Masks Will Be The Last to Go’. The growing number of people being vaccinated for COVID-19 offers hope that we might be turning a corner, that there might be a time where we can return to normal, or at least a new normal. Dr. Evangeline Thibodeau, an infectious disease doctor at York Hospital, said it's still too early to abandon protective face coverings. “We are in the position now where most people want to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Thibodeau said. “We are seeing CDC recommendations on being able to get together, with other vaccinated people. If we are low risk it's fairly safe in a private setting. In a public setting, masks will be the last to go. I would wear a mask to go out to eat, to attend a concert,” she said. Dr. Thomas Wold, Chief Medical Office at Portsmouth Hospital, said the CDC’s loosening of restrictions for people who have been vaccinated is encouraging and shows some confidence that we are turning the corner. “If we continue masking and adhering to the other safety protocols, we can be in good shape,” said Wold. “We know precautions work. We saw it with this flu season, which really was insignificant. Respiratory illnesses of all types were down. There are lessons to be learned there. If we continue safely through summer, into fall, we can get out more, see more people who are vaccinated. We can get ahead of our senior isolation.” (Source: Seacoast Online)

10. Residency Issues Cause Vaccination Delay for Former New Hampshire Resident. A former New Hampshire resident now living in Barrington to take care of her sick father is facing challenges getting her COVID-19 vaccine. Kelly Shrimpton said she has been turned away from everyone she spoke with from the state about getting her vaccine. She arrived in Barrington a few weeks ago to take care of her dad, who is battling cancer. Shrimpton lived in New Hampshire her whole life until she moved to Florida six years ago. Before returning to Barrington, she tried to get a vaccine, but she couldn't schedule it quickly enough. "I thought, OK, I'll come back to New Hampshire. I've lived here my whole life. It will be so much easier, but when I get here -- brick wall," she said. The state told her she couldn't get the vaccine because she is not a resident. She wrote a letter to the state to prove she is living in New Hampshire temporarily, and she was told to get a nondriver's ID to get her vaccine. The appointment for her ID is April 10, and she is scheduled to get her first vaccine on April 15. She said she's hoping everything works out. (Source: WMUR)

11. With Appeal Pending on Remote Access to Sessions, NH House to Meet In-Person April 7, 8, 9. The New Hampshire House will meet for three days of sessions April 7-9 – just two days after a federal appeals court has scheduled oral arguments on whether the Speaker can be ordered to open the session to remote participation for people at heightened risk of serious complications from COVID-19. The appeal is being heard on an expedited basis, but whether a decision would be issued within only a day or two of the scheduled arguments is a subject of pure speculation. House Democratic Leader Renny Cushing said Friday that with the COVID vaccine more readily available, he expects some members who did not attend in February to attend in April. Meanwhile, the arguments of the seven Democrats, headed by Cushing, were spelled out in their brief filed by their attorneys two weeks ago. Among those arguments was a contention that because the plaintiffs have “qualifying disabilities” under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act, they have a right to “reasonable accommodations” providing them access to the sessions. (Source: WMUR)

12. Number of Firearm Background Checks Increases Significantly During Pandemic. A major increase in firearm background checks has New Hampshire State Police making adjustments to accommodate the demand. The increase in background checks has been happening nationwide, with the FBI reporting record numbers of firearm background checks across the country. Officials said the trend has been building in recent years, but it appears to have accelerated during the pandemic. More than 86,000 background checks were conducted by New Hampshire State Police in 2020. That number represents a 63% increase over 2019. "And in 2019, we had seen a 45% increase over 2018," said Maj. John Marasco. "So, the number of sales is increasing." State police added more troopers to keep up with the demand. The jump is causing concerns among gun safety advocates. "Particularly after a week that our country just experienced," said Zandra Rice Hawkins, executive director of Granite State Progress. With gun sales rising, Hawkins said the state and country need to create added protections. "Things like closing background check loopholes, making sure there's waiting periods between purchase and delivery of a firearm, extreme risk protection orders," she said. (Source: WMUR)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 26, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Friday, March 26

Gov. Sununu opens vaccinations to all residents age 16 and over, but in a controversial move excludes out-of-state college students. (Source: WMUR)

On Thursday, newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases and active cases statewide rose to their highest levels in over a month. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Friday.

1. Warnings of a Spring Surge as COVID Cases Continue to Rise. New Hampshire is experiencing a "spring surge" in COVID-19 cases, according to Gov. Chris Sununu, as he and health officials urged Granite Staters on Thursday to continue to take precautions to slow the spread of the virus. State health officials announced 418 new cases Thursday, the most in a single day since Feb. 17. The number of current cases rose to 2,856, the highest since Feb. 24 and an increase of 266 from Wednesday. Current hospitalizations rose to 82, and one more Granite Stater has died, a person associated with a long-term care facility. Health officials said they believe cases will continue to rise over the next few weeks, but the key is managing hospitalizations and deaths. With a 4.4% test positivity rate, community spread has been going up over the past few weeks, somewhat similar to what happened this time last year. At the time, there were no vaccines and testing was limited. The rise in cases is mostly being seen among younger people. There has been a slow but steady decrease in infections among those 60 and older, a decline health officials attribute to the vaccination program. (Source: WMUR) Cases are once again on the rise in Nashua and the city’s health director is warning residents that the pandemic is not over. As of Wednesday, there were 188 active cases in the state’s second largest city. According to city officials, the positivity rate was about 3% a few weeks ago, but is now nearly 7%. To date, more than 4,000 COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed by the Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services. Up to 3,000 more are expected to be administered this weekend during a two-day clinic hosted by the Nashua agency at Fidelity Investments in Merrimack. (Source: Union Leader) Portsmouth continues to hold steady with 41 active cases. (Source: N.H. DHHS)

2. Vaccinations To Open Next Week To All Over 16, But Not for Out-of-State College Students. Starting next Friday April 2, all Granite Staters age 16 and up will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Chris Sununu said Thursday at his regular news conference. “After this week, everybody who wants a vaccine can get a vaccine,” Sununu said. There is one important exception. Vaccinations will only be available for permanent New Hampshire residents, and does not include college students who live out of state but live here while attending college, Sununu said responding to a question from NHPR. “It’s for New Hampshire permanent residents. If you are a resident of Colorado, but going to school here no, you cannot get the vaccine,” Sununu said. “You can go to Colorado and get the vaccine…” A chart posted on Sununu’s Twitter account said New Hampshire people ages 40 to 49 can begin registering on Monday, March 29 and ages 30 to 39 on Wednesday, March 31, with anyone 16 and older registering Friday, April 2. Registrants should use the state’s registration system at vaccines.nh.gov. (Source: InDepthNH) The state is slated to receive approximately 45,000 doses next week, including 8,000 Johnson & Johnson vaccines. That’s a sharp increase from this week, when the state received around 35,000 doses. (Source: NHPR)

3. Durham Administrator to Sununu: Let All NH College Students Get COVID Vaccine. Durham Town Administrator Todd Selig is urging Gov. Sununu to "rethink this approach" to excluding out-of-state colleges students from the state’s COVID-19 vaccination program. In a prepared statement, Selig expressed concern about the impact of the decision on the Durham community. "Vaccinating college students as soon as possible in host communities with large concentrations of students like Durham, Keene, Plymouth, Hanover, New London, etc. is very important for the health and welfare of all of our municipalities, our residents, and for the state as a whole," said Selig. Selig noted that as of Thursday, the town of Durham had 110 active coronavirus cases, third most of any community in the state. He noted it was largely attributable to students at UNH, which was reporting 164 active cases (155 of them students) as of Wednesday, with some students living in surrounding towns. (Source: Seacoast Online)

4. With Push from New Boston Vet and Sen. Hassan, All Vets, Caregivers and Spouses Can Soon Get Vaccine Appointments Through the VA. Randy McMullen served in the U.S. Air Force for 18 years, but when he tried to get a COVID-19 vaccine at the VA earlier this month, he was refused — because he made too much money. In frustration, he called the office of Sen. Maggie Hassan, who then helped push a bill to let all veterans be vaccinated against the coronavirus through the Department of Veterans Affairs without the income restrictions that govern other VA services. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law earlier this week. Soon, all veterans will be able to get COVID-19 vaccines through the VA, as well as veterans’ spouses and caregivers. The “Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize all Veterans and Every Spouse Act,” SAVE LIVES for short, makes all veterans, spouses and caregivers eligible to sign up for vaccination appointments at the VA. Hassan introduced the SAVE LIVES Act in the Senate. The bill passed in both chambers, and President Biden signed it into law on Wednesday. Nationwide, the act will make more than 20 million more people eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine through the VA rather than through their states’ vaccination programs. (Source: Union Leader)

5. NH Mask Mandate to Remain in Effect For at Least Three More Weeks, Governor Says. Gov. Chris Sununu announced Thursday that the state’s mask mandate will continue to be in effect for at least 21 more days. "We are re-upping it for 21 days, same with the state of emergency and all that," Sununu said. The governor said the mandate needs to stay in place because many vulnerable folks, including people 65 and older and other medically vulnerable individuals, aren't fully vaccinated and there also has been a recent uptick of cases in the state. (Source: WMUR) Meanwhile, a civil lawsuit claiming the governor and the city of Nashua overstepped their authority during the COVID-19 pandemic has been dismissed. Andrew Cooper of Nashua filed suit last year, contending Gov. Chris Sununu lacked the legal authority to declare a state of emergency in New Hampshire because of COVID-19. The complaint also claimed Nashua officials lacked the authority to adopt an ordinance requiring the use of face coverings by patrons of local establishments and businesses. (Source: Union Leader)

6. Mass. Confirms 2,274 New COVID Cases, the Most in the Last 6 Weeks. Massachusetts public health officials confirmed 2,274 new coronavirus cases Thursday, the highest increase since Feb. 7. Like New Hampshire’s, Massachusetts' coronavirus metrics had been trending downward to start the year, though some, like the average number of new cases per day and average number of tests returning positive, have leveled off in recent weeks, according to the Department of Public Health's interactive coronavirus dashboard. (Source: NECN)

7. Theater Operators to Sununu: Let Us Seat More People. Earlier this month, theater operators petitioned the state’s Reopening Task Force to adjust the guidelines for capacity. The capacity for audience members, since theaters were able to reopen last year, was for each audience party to be separated from other parties by at least six feet. That effectively reduces capacity to around 25 percent of a theater’s given size, operators say. They would prefer a three-foot requirement, with the added proviso that audience members keep their masks on even while seated — the six-foot provision permits audiences to remove their face coverings while seated. The Reopening Task Force agreed, including the three-foot distancing in its draft proposal dated March 9. But when Gov. Chris Sununu released the updated list of guidelines for performance venues on March 18, the old distancing guidelines — six feet between parties, with the ability for audience members to remove their masks while seated — remained. Instead, what Sununu expanded was the number of actors permitted on a stage. “If it doesn’t change, then I’ll have to change my season quite a bit,” said Ethan Paulini, artistic director of the Weathervane Theater in Whitefield. He currently has a total of 11 shows in mind for his theater, including Hello Dolly, Kinky Boots and The Addams Family, as well as some one- and two-person shows. His bets are hedged for the time being, but he is anxious about damaging his brand. “I can’t pay 15 actors if I only sell 70 seats,” Paulini said, adding, “After a while, we’re going to need to go back to what we’re known for, which is lavish Broadway shows with large casts.” Asked to explain the decision to remain with the six-foot rule, a representative of Sununu’s office issued the following statement, suggesting that health experts intervened: “All recommendations made by industry stakeholders and the Reopening Task Force are subsequently reviewed by Gov. Sununu and public health officials. Gov. Sununu and public health officials continue to look at the data, which shows that a distance of six feet remains the safest distance at this time when with individuals who are not from your household.” (Source: Laconia Daily Sun)

8. Citing Child Mental Health Crisis, N.H. Senators Push For Legislation. New Hampshire Senate Democrats are pushing for bills they say would address the growing crisis of children awaiting psychiatric care in the state's hospitals. That number has increased to historic levels during the pandemic in New Hampshire and across the United States. In a virtual conference on Thursday, Senator Tom Sherman, of Rye, described a recent tour of a local hospital. "Children were along the walls in the emergency room like we’ve seen after a hurricane, like we’ve seen after a major crisis in other towns and cities,” he said. “But this is in New Hampshire, and these children are lying there waiting for beds - in mental health crisis.” Sherman’s bill, SB70, would require insurance companies to cover the initial costs and services without prior authorization for children in "psychiatric distress.' Another, SB157, would give the state health department another year to use about $13 million in unspent funds. This money was set aside in 2019 to improve children's access to mental health services. (Source: NHPR) Also on Thursday, the longstanding problem of people suffering from a mental health crisis being boarded in hospital emergency rooms for days and weeks because there’s no room in the state’s psychiatric facility was taken up by the state Supreme Court on Thursday. The problem has been around since 2012, but has worsened over time and become even more acute during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Source: InDepthNH)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 25, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Thursday, March 25

The seven-day average of daily new cases in New Hampshire has risen from 232.6 on March 6 to 315.1 on March 23. But hospitalizations over the same period have remained steady near 70 per day. Earlier in the pandemic, increases in hospitalizations often lagged increases in new cases by 1-2 weeks. If hospitalizations remain steady even as new cases increase, this could be a sign that vaccinations are having a real impact in reducing the number of at-risk people who develop serious complications. (Date Source: N.H. DHHS)

On Wednesday, the state reported that 10 more people have died from COVID-19, including six from earlier months that were recently confirmed. 360 new positive tests were recorded and the number of known current cases of COVID-19 climbed to 2,590, the highest total since Feb. 27. Hospitalizations inched up to 70. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Thursday.

1. State Officials to Announce Today When Anyone Age 16 and Older Can Get a COVID-19 Vaccine. New Hampshire officials plan to announce Thursday the dates for the next phases of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, which will include all Granite Staters age 16 and older. Officials said there are more than 100,000 open slots for people who already qualify for vaccination. They said that when registrations start slowing down, they know they're ready to move on to the next phase of vaccinations. A mass vaccination event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is planned for this weekend, and anyone age 50 or older can register to get a vaccine through the state's vaccination website. The Pfizer vaccine will be distributed and appointments are available to eligible residents at vaccines.nh.gov. (Source: WMUR) Next up on the state’s vaccine allocation plan are those eligible for Phase 3a—medically vulnerable people under age 50 with one or more conditions placing them at moderately higher risk. Phase 3b includes all remaining New Hampshire residents age 16 and over. (Source: State of NH)

2. Portsmouth High to Stay in Remote Learning Mode Through End of School Year. Only one-third of Portsmouth High School students stated in a survey they would be comfortable returning to in-person school full-time this spring. Parents gave the opposite response with 65% saying they felt it is safe for their children to go back full-time. The district is siding with the kids: Portsmouth High School will remain in its current hybrid learning mode for the remainder of the academic year. Superintendent Steve Zadravec announced the findings and recommendation regarding its learning mode and the coronavirus pandemic made by the school district's task force during Tuesday’s School Board meeting. “And I do think when we’re making these plans, students' anxiety and wellness are at the top of our list,” Zadravec said. “I do have concern with increasing anxiety with students who may not feel safe coming back into school.” (Source: Seacoast Online) Meanwhile, for the first time in a year students and teachers are in classrooms in all SAU 21 schools. According to interim SAU 21 Superintendent Caroline Arakelian, schools from South Hampton to Winnacunnet are open to students five days a week, a first since the coronavirus pandemic locked down schools statewide last March. SAU 21 is still maintaining 6-foot social distancing, she said, even though 3-foot social distancing is now being discussed for schools. In addition, plexiglass barriers are present where appropriate – such as in lunchrooms – and masks are mandated. (Source: Seacoast Online)

3. Brighter Outlook for US as Vaccinations Rise and Deaths Fall. More than three months into the U.S. vaccination drive, many of the numbers paint an increasingly encouraging picture, with 70% of Americans 65 and older receiving at least one dose of the vaccine and COVID-19 deaths dipping below 1,000 a day on average for the first time since November. Also, dozens of states have thrown open vaccinations to all adults or are planning to do so in a matter of weeks. And the White House said 27 million doses of both the one-shot and two-shot vaccines will be distributed next week, more than three times the number when President Joe Biden took office two months ago. Still, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease expert, said Wednesday he isn’t ready to declare victory. “I’m often asked, are we turning the corner?” Fauci said at a White House briefing. “My response is really more like we are at the corner. Whether or not we’re going to be turning that corner still remains to be seen.” What’s giving Fauci pause, he said, is that new cases remain at a stubbornly high level, at more than 50,000 per day. Nonetheless, the outlook in the U.S. stands in stark contrast to the deteriorating situation in places like Brazil, which reported more than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths in a single day for the first time Tuesday, and across Europe, where another wave of infections is leading to new lockdowns. (Source: Associated Press)

4. NH Colleges Pivot in Response to Ups and Downs in COVID-19 Cases. Saint Anselm College has announced it will pivot to remote classes after a surge in COVID-19 cases. The move came as students at Colby-Sawyer College recently returned for in-person learning. Instead of leaving campus for Easter next Wednesday, Saint Anselm College students have been asked to leave campus by the end of the day Thursday. School officials said the decision was made because the 3% positivity rate has not fallen. Students are planned to return to campus the Wednesday after Easter. A Saint Anselms spokesperson said students will be tested twice upon their return. Meanwhile the news at Colby-Sawyer College was more positive as nearly 900 students returned to class in person on Wednesday after a week and a half of remote classes. The school’s peak of 55 new weekly cases dropped to eight by Monday. In Durham, case numbers at the University of New Hampshire have dropped since a jump last week. The town and university have been collaborating to crack down on off-campus parties and active cases on campus are down slightly to 153 as of Tuesday. (Source: WMUR)

5. House Finance Division Approves Plan to Limit Governor’s Power to Declare Emergencies. Republicans on the New Hampshire House Finance Committee appear to be moving toward limiting the governor’s current unilateral power to keep a state of emergency in place indefinitely. House Finance Committee Chair Kenneth Weyler on Wednesday brought forward a last-minute budget trailer bill (House Bill 2) amendment to Finance Division III that would put in the hands of lawmakers the power to continue a state of emergency beyond 21 days. Weyler said he brought up the amendment because other House Republicans told him it was a condition of getting their votes in favor of the budget when the full committee issues a vote in the coming weeks and when, eventually, the full House votes. Weyler’s amendment was approved by Division III on a 4-3 party line vote, with the three Democrats – Reps. Mary Jane Wallner, Sharon Nordgren and Katherine Rogers -- opposing it because they said it was not well-thought-out, created too many unanswered questions and was brought up at the last minute without a public hearing. Reacting to new GOP amendment on emergency declarations, Sununu said: “This amendment restricts management of the state in a time of crisis and puts the health and well-being of our citizens in danger.” \The House Finance Committee’s three divisions are expected to finish their work on the budget by Thursday and the full committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday to make its final decisions on the two-year budget package. The House is expected to vote on the budget April 7. (Sources: WMUR and InDepthNH)

6. A COVID-Era Election Reform Could Mean Fewer Tossed Absentee Votes In N.H. In each major election, hundreds of New Hampshire absentee voters are disenfranchised because of simple paperwork mistakes — and often, they might not know until it’s too late to fix their error. But a new proposal, building off of changes implemented during the pandemic, could provide a solution that ensures more people can have their votes counted in elections to come. Nearly a quarter of a million people voted absentee in New Hampshire last November, many of them doing so for the first time because of the pandemic, three times as many as the 2016 presidential election. Despite this increase, the share of absentee ballots rejected due to paperwork mistakes or other errors actually went down from past elections, according to new state data. Part of that is likely tied to a policy change that, while intended to help local pollworkers deal with a deluge of absentee ballots due to COVID-19 concerns, could become a permanent fixture of New Hampshire elections. This week, the New Hampshire Senate is taking up a package of election reforms that would give local election officials more time to review returned absentee ballots before the polls open. But the same proposal would also give voters more opportunity to correct problems with their absentee ballots before it’s too late for their vote to count. And in a rarity for election policy at the New Hampshire State House, this appears to have bipartisan support. The new bill would require local election officials to “attempt to contact” a voter if their absentee ballot affidavit contains a mistake, “such as having a missing signature or an incorrect name.” (Source: NHPR)

7. Theater Chains Announce Reopening Plans. Regal Cinemas, the second largest movie theater chain in the U.S., will reopen about 500 of its 549 locations beginning April 2, according to an announcement from its parent company, Cineworld Group. Among its theaters are the 10-screen Regal Concord and eight-screen Regal Hooksett. The company has not said which theaters will remain closed, although its statement emphasized that large city markets are most likely to be profitable. (Source: Concord Monitor) Meanwhile, Epping's O'Neil Cinemas will be reopening its theaters May 7. For the last few months, the chain has been offering private auditorium rentals to customers willing to observe COVID-19 guidelines. Though O'Neil's reopening is a step toward normal, it's the new normal, Marketing Director Loni Dirksen cautioned. "We will be paying close attention to the state and federal guidelines (mask-wearing and social distancing) and to guidelines in the local community," she said. (Source: Seacoast Online)

8. Hugs... Smiles... Live Music: Seacoast Dreams of What Life Will Be Like Beyond COVID-19. With the mass rollout of vaccines brightening spirits, Seacoast Media Group asked locals what they’re most looking forward to when COVID-19 restrictions are eased. It seems what people miss most are the simple things: giving hugs, seeing smiles, laughing over cherished memories and grieving in person with loved ones over heart-wrenching losses. More. (Source: Seacoast Online)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 24, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Wednesday, March 24

New cases are popping up in Rockingham County at a greater rate than the rest of the state, including Manchester. The state’s COVID-19 Schools Dashboard is also showing more active cases and clusters across New Hampshire school districts, including three at Portsmouth High School. (Source: N.H. DHHS)

State health officials announced an additional COVID-19 death Tuesday along with 386 new cases, 2,476 active infections, and 64 hospitalizations. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Wednesday.

1. As New Cases Tick Upward, Rockingham County Risk Level Outpaces Statewide Risk Level. While most observers have focused on the uptick in new COVID-19 case statewide—a 13% increase over the most recent seven-day period—there are significant variances depending on which county you live in. Statewide, New Hampshire is reporting 300 new cases per 100,000 people over the most recent 14-day period and a 4.3% PCR + Antigen seven-day positivity rate. Meanwhile, data for Rockingham County shows 363.9 new cases per 100,000 people over the same 14-day period and a more serious 6.5% PCR + Antigen positivity rate. By comparison, Manchester, the state’s largest city and a COVID hotbed throughout the pandemic, has better numbers than Rockingham County that are more in line with the state average. In Manchester is showing a rate of 311.6 new cases per 100,000 people over the most recent 14-day period and a positivity rate of 5.0%. (Data Source: N.H. DHHS)

2. K-12 School Cases on the Rise. The Litchfield School District is experiencing an increase in positive COVID-19 cases among students. As of Tuesday, Griffin Memorial School had seven students and two staff members positively diagnosed, as well as three staff under quarantine and 16 students under quarantine; 20 teachers from Griffin were out Tuesday — 12 who had called out sick and eight who were on leave. On Monday, 32 students at Campbell High School were under quarantine with four students who have tested positive for COVID-19. Last week, two staff members at the high school also contracted the virus, and about 26 students and seven staff members were quarantined. (Source: Union Leader) As of 9:44 a.m. Wednesday morning, the new Litchfield cases have yet to be added to the state’s COVID-19 Schools Dashboard. But worth noting is that as more school districts are increasing in-person learning days, more cases and clusters are showing up on the dashboard. At this writing, the dashboard is reporting 167 active cases in New Hampshire schools and three current on-site clusters. (Data Source: N.H. DHHS)

3. Mass Vaccination Event This Weekend at Speedway. Another mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic is planned for this weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. State officials said 100,000 people have registered for appointments since Phase 2B started Monday, and 100,000 appointments are still available. The phase includes anyone age 50 or older. Appointments are required for the clinic on Saturday and Sunday at NHMS in Loudon. "We'll vaccinate somewhere around 8,000 people in two days, and it will be a two-dose presentation, so we'll be doing a second dose as a super site as well," said Perry Plummer, who is leading the state's COVID Vaccine Response Team. Plummer said more than 25% of those getting shots choose the "plus-one" option to bring along an eligible spouse. Plummer said there are some appointments still available for the NHMS event, including for people who want to move a later appointment earlier. (Source: WMUR) If you are age 50 or over—or if you meet the eligibility requirement for Phase 1A, 1b, or 2a,—and would like to schedule an appointment, register at vaccines.nh.gov or phone the state’s 2-1-1 hotline.

4. Sununu Defends Shaky Rollout of NH Vaccination Registration System. The state’s new vaccination scheduling system slowed but “didn’t crash” during Monday’s rollout and already has been improved, Gov. Chris Sununu said Tuesday. “It didn’t crash, it didn’t fail; it did slow down and that was a little bit frustrating, more than frustrating for folks,” the governor said. “We are trying to widen the pipe.” U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., said she heard of the problems with the vaccine kickoff and urged residents to contact her Manchester district office if they continue to have difficulties. “Yes, I have been hearing about the rollout of the website, people not able to get on it, that this is crashing,” Hassan said on the NH Today radio program with Chris Ryan. “I know the state is working hard to get it working better.” Hassan also raised concerns over the accessibility of the website and all vaccines for people with disabilities. “We also know that some (parts) of the website have not been accessible for people with visual impairments, and some of the delivery sites have not been accessible for people with disabilities,” Hassan said. Sununu is considering opposing Hassan in 2022. He has said he likely will make a decision about his political future this summer. Sununu said he remains dissatisfied with the work of Congress in dealing with the pandemic. “I don’t think anyone in the congressional delegation deserves to get elected,” Sununu said. “I think I speak for most of New Hampshire on that one. You have to stand up for New Hampshire first. They just do what their party leaders tell them what to do. They don’t stand for anything.” (Source: Union Leader)

5. Everyone Age 50 and Older Eligible for COVID-19 Shot in Maine. Maine expanded eligibility for the coronavirus vaccine to everyone age 50 and older on Tuesday. Like New Hampshire, the state is using age-based tiers to apportion the limited number of coronavirus vaccines it has access to. Everyone age 16 and older will become eligible on April 19. “I’ve heard enthusiastic responses by e-mail, by letter, by constituent communication. People are excited about this,” said Maine Gov. Janet Mills during a press event at the Blaine House, the Maine governor’s mansion, on Tuesday. Mills’ statement was supported by anecdotes of at least some people in the 50-59 age group who tried to sign up for appointments right away. Some of them were immediately able to find appointments in Portland when select health groups began offering them on Monday, even when they were more 1,600 places down on the sign-up line. Others on the unofficial “Fans of Dr. Nirav Shah” Facebook page, dedicated to the director of Maine's Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said they had been able to secure appointments in Bangor for early next week. (Source: NECN)

6. Massachusetts Governor Requests Mass Vaccination Site from FEMA. Gov. Charlie Baker told state lawmakers Tuesday that Massachusetts has requested a FEMA-sponsored mass vaccination site. The federal government has been setting up vaccination sites to reach some of the hardest hit communities. "We’re working closely with the federal administration and, with the support and advocacy of our Congressional delegation, have applied for a FEMA-sponsored mass vaccination site here in Massachusetts," Baker said. State lawmakers argued that the governor should rely more on local health departments to distribute the vaccine. But Baker defended the use of mass vaccination sites, citing the large numbers of people that can be served and the race against time to blunt an upswing in cases. Massachusetts is now the nation's leader for vaccinations administered per capita among the 25 states with more than 5 million people, and it has the second-highest rate of Black residents with at least one dose. (Source: NECN)

7. 2,100 N.H. Households Apply For Rental Assistance Program In Its First Week. One week after its launch, about 2,100 households have applied to the New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The $200 million program covers current and past due rent, as well as utility and home energy costs, including internet, and is funded through last December’s federal coronavirus relief package. Dean Christon is the executive director of the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, which is helping oversee the program. He says getting about 200 applications per day is a good start, but there’s no single data point that indicates what the demand is for this assistance in New Hampshire. That’s because, Christon says, there’s been other assistance provided to residents through enhanced unemployment benefits and stimulus checks over the past year. As of Tuesday, funds have been distributed in fewer than 20 cases. Property owners can submit an application for rental assistance on behalf of their tenant, with the tenant’s cooperation. Applications are available at www.capnh.org. The program ends on Dec. 31, 2021 or when funds are expended. (Source: NHPR)

8. Chiropractors, Massage Therapists Seeing Increase in Patients. Many businesses have seen a decrease in customers because of COVID, but chiropractors and massage therapists have been busier than ever. With the pandemic shifting many to work from a home office, the kitchen table or the couch there have been physical impacts. “The reality of life in the last year is that people are sitting more than we were ever designed to sit,” chiropractor Dr. Brandon Linatsas said. “We are built to move and working from home, we aren’t even going to the car to do our commute, we are just stuck on our chair.” Doctors recommend looking at your workspace to help improve how you feel. Setting a timer on your phone as a reminder to get up and move while working from home was also recommended.“Everything needs to be 90 degrees, from your ankles to your knees to your hips,” said Dr. Edward Rusher from Amoskeag Chiropractic and Amherst Family Chiropractic. “And then, your elbows at 90 degrees and your wrists in a neutral position.” (Source: WMUR)

9. Motorcycle Week to Return With Lower Level of COVID Precautions. The Laconia City Council voted council on Monday to support holding Motorcycle Week during the traditional mid-June dates, but to limit by as much as half the number of vendors due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19. However, the council said the restrictions could be loosened over the next three months if data regarding vaccinations and infection rates continues to improve. The councilors said the approach would provide an economic boost to businesses which suffered last year when Laconia Motorcycle Week was postponed until the second half of August and commercial vendors, beer tents and pop-up outside entertainment stages were banned. (Source: Laconia Sun)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 23, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Tuesday, March 23

The message displayed Monday on the state’s vaccination registration website as thousands of residents trying the register for Phase 2b ran into timeouts, error messages, and other technical glitches.

On Monday, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services reported 227 new cases. Active case statewide rose to 2,334, 72 people were hospitalized, and no additional deaths were reported. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Tuesday.

1. Granite Staters Struggle to Schedule Vaccinations; Sununu Says System 'Performed as Expected'. The start of the next phase of New Hampshire's COVID-19 vaccination program got off to a bumpy start Monday when many Granite Staters ran into error messages while trying to book appointments. People in Phase 2B, which includes Granite Staters age 50 or older, encountered problems with the state's vaccination registration website, VINI, and others who called 211 could not get through on the phone. But despite the problems, Gov. Chris Sununu insisted that VINI didn't crash. "The system did not fail," he said. "It performed as we expected." That's a tough sell for Renae Lias Claffey, of Nashua, who said she was stung by the process of trying to get her elderly parents registered on the old website run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so this time around, instead of using the new state website, she just went straight to 211. "I get on 211 on hold 40 minutes, thinking, 'Oh, this is great. Somebody picked up already,' at which point he said to me, 'Yeah, the registration website is down. We are having some problems,'" Claffey said. "He said try calling back at 8." Dozens of emailers sent News 9 screenshots of problems, and some reported refreshing their email and browser for hours Monday. According to state officials, more than 200,000 people were trying to log into the website Monday morning, creating a traffic jam -- but not a crash -- and by midday, more than 100,000 had booked their appointments. "It's kind of like if everyone in your town were to show up at your door on Halloween at the exact same time," Sununu said. "You've got enough candy for everyone, but you've got to get it out." (Source: WMUR) If you didn’t get through Monday, try to register again today at vaccines.nh.gov or call 2-1-1 to schedule an appointment.

2. Local Health Departments Work to Get Vaccine to Communities with High COVID-19 Risk. To stop the coronavirus spreading, just about everyone will need to be vaccinated — including people who, for one reason or another, are not connected to the health care system. State data has shown these people — immigrants and refugees, people of color, people living in deep poverty and those grappling with a substance use disorder or experiencing homelessness — are disproportionately likely to be infected, hospitalized and die from COVID-19, in part because their jobs or living situations often mean they are exposed to more people and more potential virus-carriers. New Hampshire has committed to setting aside 10% of its vaccine doses for these groups, calling it the “equity allocation,” and has charged local public health networks with connecting that allocation with the people who need the shots. But so far, fewer Black, Latino and other Granite Staters of color have received COVID-19 vaccines than White and Asian residents, according to data from the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control. As of last week, Manchester has vaccinated about 2,000 people with small clinics targeted to the city's poor and vulnerable, including clinics at the senior high-rises downtown, and a clinic for 120 people one evening last week at an elementary school. Nashua also has been using community health workers to reach out to vulnerable communities in the Gate City and has also vaccinated more than 2,000 of its most vulnerable people, said health department director Bobbie Bagley. The outreach effort is not just to poor people in New Hampshire's cities. Community health workers and local health departments have also tried to reach homebound people and isolated people in rural areas. (Source: Union Leader)

3. In America, Covid Vaccine Eligibility Is a ‘Crazy Quilt’ of State Rules. In Mississippi, more than 30,000 covid vaccine appointments were open Friday — days after the state became the first in the contiguous United States to make the shots available to all adults. In California — along with about 30 other states — people are eligible only if they are 65 or older or have certain health conditions or work in high-risk jobs. How does any of this make sense? “There is no logical rationale for the system we have,” said Graham Allison, a professor of government at Harvard University. “We have a crazy quilt system.” The federal government bought hundreds of millions of doses of covid vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — as well as other vaccines still being tested — but it left distribution largely up to the states. Some states have prioritized people age 75 and older, while others have also allowed people who held certain jobs that put them at risk of being infected or had health conditions that put them at risk to be included with seniors for eligibility. The assorted policies have also prompted thousands of people to drive across state lines — sometimes multiple state lines — for an open vaccine appointment. Some states have set up residency requirements, although enforcement has been uneven and those seeking vaccines are often on the honor system. Todd Jones, an assistant professor of economics at Mississippi State University near Starkville, said the confusion signals a need for a change in how the government handles the vaccine. “The Biden administration should definitely be thinking about how it might want to change state allocations based on demand,” Jones said. “If it does become clear that some states are actually not using lots of their doses, then I think it would make sense to take some appointments from these states to give to other states that have higher demand.” (Source: Kaiser Health Network) In New Hampshire, Gov. Sununu, like most governors, prioritized health care workers, nursing home residents, people with two or more serious health conditions, and first responders in the first phase of vaccinations. Unlike governors in other states, he also made ski patrol members eligible in the first phase. But two populations included by many states in their first phase, teachers and prison inmates, were excluded. While teachers were eventually added to the second phase, he has thus far not chosen to expand vaccinations to at-risk essential workers or prison inmates even as vaccinations were extended to healthy people 50-64.

4. Newly Vaccinated Teachers Report Side Effects. Hundreds of teachers and staff members were vaccinated against COVID-19 Sunday as part of the newest phase of New Hampshire’s inoculation plan, which prioritizes school staff. On Monday, school was canceled in Concord and Hopkinton after many employees called out sick, citing vaccine side effects. About one-third of Concord’s 1,042 school employees received their vaccine Sunday, at New Hampshire’s state-run site located in the former Sears building of the Steeplegate Mall, according to interim Superintendent Kathleen Murphy. The Concord School District canceled both remote and in-person classes Monday, citing a large number of school staff members who called in sick, Murphy announced to families early in the morning. (Source: Concord Monitor)

5. COVID Tracker: Out of the Woods? We’re Heading Back Into Them! In its weekly analysis of COVID-19 metrics in New Hampshire, the Concord Monitor reports that in the past week, the average number of new cases of COVID-19 reported in New Hampshire each day has risen by 10%, from 261 to 287, and the average number of deaths has increased by almost one-third, from 1.9 a day to 2.6 a day. The problem is likely being caused by 1) the circulation of new, more contagious variants of the SARS-CoV2 virus or 2) people are tired of COVID that they’ve simply stopped taking precautions. “Whatever the reason, it tells us that, as glorious as the speedy creation of vaccines has been, they are not a silver bullet that kills the COVID werewolf; they only wound it. We have to keep the masks in public, stay out of crowds, yadda, yadda, yadda – you know the drill – until enough of us are vaccinated to squelch the virus’ transmission.” (Source: Concord Monitor)

6. Still No $1,400 Stimulus Check? Here's What You Can Do If You're Waiting for the Money. Even as the U.S. government has deployed about 90 million $1,400 stimulus checks, you may still be asking, "Where is my money?" The IRS and Treasury Department announced last week it had sent out the first batch of stimulus checks totaling more than $242 billion. But many New Englanders are still waiting. Some suggestions: 1) The IRS Get My Payment website will show you the status of your payment. it’s updated regularly as payments are processed. 2) File your 2020 tax return. If the IRS has received and processed your 2020 filing, your third stimulus check will be based off that. Filing your 2020 tax return promptly has several advantages. First, you can update your direct deposit information, if necessary. Second, filing as soon as possible may reveal that you were eligible for additional stimulus funds from the previous two rounds of payments. Third, there may be other stimulus benefits for which you qualify. That includes the earned income tax credit, child tax credit or other tax benefits. (Source: NECN) Meanwhile, a second batch of $1,400 Covid stimulus checks is scheduled to land in people's bank accounts on Wednesday, March 24. Those checks began processing on Friday and may be available in some accounts even earlier, according to the Treasury Department, IRS and Bureau of the Fiscal Service, which announced the payments on Monday. The latest batch also includes a "large number" of mailed paper checks and prepaid debit cards, according to the agencies.

7. Cases Rising Again at UNH. After two weeks of active cases on campus in the 100 range, the University of New Hampshire’s COVID-19 Dashboard’s most recent report shows 152 active cases on campus. There have been 116 new positive tests in the last seven days. 144 students who have tested positive remain in isolation on campus and 261 who have had close contact with a person testing positive are in quarantine. (Source: UNH COVID-19 Dashboard.)

8. Dartmouth College Identifies New Cluster of Student Cases. Just as it looked like the Dartmouth outbreak was on its way to being closed, the College has identified a cluster of at least nine linked COVID-19 cases among students at the Tuck School of Business. As of Monday evening, the College’s dashboard lists 10 active student cases, with nine students in quarantine and 10 in isolation. Additionally, two faculty and staff members are in quarantine, and seven are in isolation. (Source: The Dartmouth)

9. Keene State to Host Memorial Tonight for Victims of COVID-19. The Keene State College Wellness Center will host a memorial event tonight in honor of the more than half a million Americans who died from COVID-19. The “A Year of COVID” event will mark the passing of one year since the coronavirus outbreak was officially declared a pandemic. Those who attend the event will be able to dedicate a luminary to someone or something that they lost during the COVID crisis, which will be displayed along Appian Way at the college. In addition to the placing of luminaries, there will also be music and a reading of the names of the dead by campus and community leaders. This part of the event will take place between 5 and 6 p.m. in front of the Student Center. Masks will be required during the event and at all times while people are on the Keene State College campus. Due to the pandemic, all buildings on campus are closed to the public. (Source: Keene Sentinel)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 22, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Monday, March 22

Vaccination Phase 2b opens at 8:00 a.m. Monday for residents ages 50-64. An estimated 200,000 additional Granite Staters will be eligible to register for appointments in March and April.

New Hampshire public health officials reported 241 new positive test results for COVID-19 Sunday and 2,377 active cases statewide. Hospitalizations increase to 72 but no additional deaths were reported. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Monday.

1. NH Vaccination Phase 2b Opens Today: Registration for Residents Ages 50-64 Starts at 8am. An estimated 200,000 additional Granite Staters age 50 and over will be eligible to register for an appointment today to receive one of the three available COVID-19 vaccines. Those who qualify for Phase 2b will be able to register at vaccines.nh.gov. or by phoning 2-1-1. Once registered, a confirmation email will be sent, and u can choose their appointment time. “Right now, the system is loaded with 200,000 first dose appointments through April,” Gov. Chris Sununu said. “It’s a huge number. So folks shouldn’t have to worry about being first in line. There will be plenty of room.” On Sunday, about 24% of the state’s population had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and about 12% are fully vaccinated. (Source: WMUR) Residents eligible for previous phases 1A, 1b, and 2a who have yet to make an appointment can also do so. This tipsheet provides a preview of what to expect when you register. It also contains a list of the paperwork you’ll need to bring with you at the time you receive your vaccination. Videos are also available to preview and help guide you through the process.

2. Doctors: Avoid Pain Meds Before Getting a COVID Vaccination. In an advisory about the COVID-19 vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising people not to use over-the-counter pain and inflammatory medications before they get the vaccine. Specifically, the CDC says people should avoid taking ibuprofen (which is sold under the brand names Motrin and Advil), acetaminophen (which is sold under the brand name Tylenol), aspirin, or antihistamines before their shots. The reason is that the over-the-counter (OTC) medications might impact the effectiveness of the vaccines. In the same advisory, the CDC says it’s fine to use the medications after the vaccine, but only if the person has a post vaccination side effect and they are needed to treat symptoms. “The theoretical concern is that these substances might have a negative effect on the vaccine,” said Dr. David Itkin, infectious disease specialist at Portsmouth Regional Hospital. “An article in the Journal of Virology poses the theory that if a person uses these, their bodies might not produce as much antibodies as they would without it. So, if there is even a small chance that acetaminophen or ibuprofen might blunt the effect, why would you take the chance?” (Source: Seacoast Online)

3. More Essential Workers Eligible for Vaccine Monday in Mass. Here's What to Know. Beginning Monday, Massachusetts residents at least 60 years old and a new group of essential workers will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. That means grocery store employees across the Bay State become eligible for vaccination on Monday, along with retail and food service workers, convenience store workers, transit workers, public works and sanitation workers, utility workers and people in public health. Additionally, those working in the court system, food pantry workers and volunteers, vaccine development workers and medical supply chain volunteers are eligible. This is a huge relief for many Massachusetts essential workers who must continue working around other people during the coronavirus pandemic. The next group expected to be able to become vaccinated in Massachusetts includes those aged 55 years or older, as well as residents with one specified medical condition. (Source: NECN)

4. Seeing 'You Do Not Have A Current Claim' For Your N.H. Unemployment Insurance? It's OK. “You do not have a current claim.” That's not the message you want to see when you’re collecting unemployment benefits. But it's one that some Granite Staters are seeing as they check their claim information. Richard Lavers, Deputy Commissioner with New Hampshire Employment Security, offered some reassurance. Lavers says the confusing claim status is going to people who have either exhausted their benefit year or currently available benefits, and that they will continue to get benefits if they're eligible for the twenty-nine additional weeks authorized under the American Rescue Plan. He advises them to “continue to file your claim like you have done in the past,” and follow any instructions from the department. The "You do not have a current claim" status should have changed by yesterday (Sunday), as people file their claims. Those eligible for unemployment benefits are payable under the American Rescue Plan will begin receiving those benefits on Tuesday. (Source: NHPR)

5. A ‘Tsunami’ of Summer Tourism Expected in Portsmouth. Mark Stebbins, the principal of XSS Hotels, believes Portsmouth could see a “tsunami” of activity this summer. As a growing number of people receive their COVID-19 vaccinations, Stebbins and others in the arts and hospitality industry believe Portsmouth could have a great comeback summer. “The big thing is that many people are still not going to feel comfortable flying, so they’re going to get in their cars and go somewhere here,” Stebbins said during a recent interview at the fifth floor Rooftop at the Envio restaurant and bar in downtown Portsmouth. “I think that’s how it’s going to create this tsunami for Portsmouth.”’ Tina Sawtelle, executive director of The Music Hall in Portsmouth, is also feeling hopeful about the summer. “We’re excited to build upon things we tried out last summer, like our outdoor programming, our Live Under the Arch (outdoor) series,” she said. “We’re super excited to bring a bigger lineup of local and regional artists and find a way to appeal to as many people as we can.” “We are eyeballing September as a point in time where we hope we’ll be able to return to larger audiences. Right now we’re at 250 seats maximum, we’d love to be back to capacity (895 seats) or close to it in the fall,” she said. “Anything north of what we’ve been doing is a good thing.” The Music Hall has been following the state’s COVID protocols for social distancing, which calls for keeping people 6-feet apart in the theater. (Source: Seacoast Online)

6. Tallying a Year of COVID-19 Deaths in New Hampshire. This week New Hampshire will mark a grim anniversary: A full year of COVID-19 deaths. On March 23, 2020, the state’s first official death was announced due to what we were calling “the novel coronavirus.” The virus hasn’t seemed novel for a long time now but the deaths have kept coming: The total topped 1,200 this month, which is more people than live in 45 of New Hampshire’s towns. The daily toll has declined since January but it isn’t going away. In recent weeks it has plateaued and shows signs of increasing again. We may be ready to be done with COVID-19 but it isn’t done with us. Epidemiologists will be poring over medical and death-certificate data for years to parse out the exact effect of this pandemic. No matter the conclusion, we all know that the pandemic has taken a toll that goes beyond mere numbers. That’s why we’re still wearing masks and not gathering in groups and doing all those other annoying things to limit the spread of viruses while we wait for vaccines to boost our natural immune systems. We don’t want to still be tallying the pandemic’s toll when another anniversary comes around. (Source: Concord Monitor) To mark the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 death in New Hampshire, NHPR is gathering and posting stories and photos of people who passed away due to the pandemic to put in perspective the losses we've faced over the past year. You can view them here. (Source: NHPR) As of Sunday, the pandemic has claimed the lives of 1,217 Granite Staters, including 10 healthcare workers and 870 people connected with long-term care facilities. (Source: N.H. DHHS)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 21, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Sunday, March 21

New cases are up 22% over the last seven day period. In the seacoast area, Durham leads with 105 cases, Dover has 55, Portsmouth has 41, and Hampton has 37. (Source: N.H. DHHS)

On Saturday, New Hampshire public health officials announced four additional deaths and 344 newly-identified COVID-19 infections. The seven-day average of new daily cases stood at 303 — a 22% increase as compared to the prior 7-day period. The state also reported 2,241 active cases and 63 hospitalizations. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Sunday.

1. Reminder: Registration for Phase 2b Starts Monday Morning. Tomorrow, New Hampshire residents age 50 years of age and older—along with any resident in Phase 1A, 1b, or 2a who hasn’t yet signed up for the vaccine—can register at vaccines.nh.gov or by phoning the state’s 211 hotline. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. Monday. (Source: N.H. DHHS)

2. New Hampshire Families Continue to Fight Food Insecurity Made Worse by Pandemic. In January, more than 1-in-4 Granite Staters reported that it was at least somewhat more difficult than usual to pay for typical household expenses, including food. And yet, New Hampshire ranks among the lowest in the nation for people making use of food assistance programs. This data compiled in a February 8 report from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI) explains the struggle to put food on the table continues to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Low-income families already tend to have higher levels of food insecurity before taking into account the struggles of COVID-19. Nutritional Aid Programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Food Stamps in New Hampshire) are available for families who need it, but lack of awareness of these programs and a stigma surrounding food insecurity interfere with families accessing support: “Stigma is a huge enemy, and it’s unnecessary,” said Eileen Liponis, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Food Bank. New Hampshire’s unemployment rates rose higher than the national average in 2020. New Hampshire unemployment continues to be highest among industries with low wages – such as the Food Service Industry – and according to Opportunity Insights’ Recovery Tracker, unemployment rates remain significantly higher than normal for low wage workers in New Hampshire, while higher-wage industries have seen their unemployment rates return to nearly pre-pandemic numbers. Despite the need, data shows that New Hampshire’s participation in several of these Nutritional Aid Programs is lower than most other states according to New Hampshire Hunger Solutions. To check eligibility and to learn more about SNAP, visit the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services website. More info about upcoming mobile food pantries and where to find them can be located at nhfoodbank.org. (Source: Granite State News Cooperative)

3. Pandemic and Protests Spur Increases in Police Spending At Local and State Levels. COVID-19 brought broad changes for the Concord Police Department. Calls for service dropped 40% in the early weeks, while parking fines – like commerce in general – took a hit. But a year later, one factor for the department has gone up: payroll and overtime. The increase isn’t by accident. Concord’s City Council decided to give the Police Department nearly $1 million extra last June, cranking up pay in the middle of a pandemic and as national protests for police reform grew one month after the death of George Floyd. Between the calendar year of 2019 and 2020, total police payroll – including wages and overtime – went up 8.8%, rising from $8 million to $8.7 million. Overall, citywide payroll increases averaged 5%. Overtime grew by $50,000 over that year’s time, from $1.22 million to $1.27 million, salary records indicate. That represents a 4% increase even as city-wide overtime decreased overall during the pandemic, by about 1%. Concord is not alone in seeking an increase in police funding. Gov. Chris Sununu’s budget proposal, delivered to the Legislature in February, also would direct more money to New Hampshire State Police and the criminal justice system, even as allocations for general government and education are suggested to be cut. An analysis by the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute found that Sununu’s budget for Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 includes a 10% increase for “justice and public protection” programs – a jump of just over $100 million. But the “general government” category of programs is being cut about 8% overall, and the education category is seeing about a 2% cut. That evens out to about $50 million less in proposed funding in each of those categories. (Source: Concord Monitor)

4. Here Are the Fall Plans for New England's Colleges and Universities. Colleges and universities across New England shifted campus life to a virtual setting last March as the coronavirus pandemic took hold. A year later, as vaccine distribution ramps up, many schools are planning for a more typical fall semester in 2021–even as some, like the University of New Hampshire, continue to deal with campus outbreaks. Here's a look of what universities across the region are saying about their fall semesters. (Source: NECN) Meanwhile, Dartmouth College has announced it will partner with the state to host a vaccination clinic for students and staff on March 23. In line with New Hampshire’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, appointments will only be available to Dartmouth students and staff who are New Hampshire residents and qualify for the state’s 2A or 2B vaccine phases. Those eligible under phase 2A include the staff of K-12 schools, licensed child care facilities and licensed youth camps. Phase 2B covers people between 50 and 64 years old. (Source: The Dartmouth) While the eligibility requirements for Tuesday’s clinic will exclude most students and staff under age 50, Gov. Sununu has promised the state will open registration to all adult residents “in just a few weeks”. But even so, a requirement of proof of New Hampshire residency to receive the vaccine could dramatically reduce the number of students who can be vaccinated on campuses like Dartmouth and UNH, where many students come from out of state.

5. SAU 21 School Staff Get First Dose. Members of the Hampton Fire Department expected to administer about 900 Moderna vaccines this weekend, inoculating teachers and other school staff against the COVID-19 virus. The two-day clinic started on Saturday with the vaccination of a portion of SAU21 staff and staff of Sacred Heart school. On Sunday, remaining staff in SAU21 will get their first doses along with staff in SAU90, which is Hampton Academy, the Marston School and Center School. (Source: Seacoast Online)

6. Vaccination Booster Shot May Be Needed. It’s possible that people who get vaccinated for COVID-19 will need a booster shot at some point, according to the state’s epidemiologist. Dr. Benjamin Chan said the pharmaceutical companies that have made the three vaccines Americans are receiving have begun testing whether a booster would be needed. The booster might be needed if it’s determined that protection from the vaccine wears off or that it will combat new variants of the coronavirus. “It’s unclear at this point,” Chan said. “This could be something that is done once, like a booster, or becomes an annual vaccination which we have for the flu because of the new strains.” (Source: Union Leader)

7. 10 Things The Fully Vaccinated Need to Know. If it has been at least two weeks since you received your last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, congratulations! You are now considered “fully vaccinated.” You are armed with our best weapon against a virus that has killed more than 2.6 million people worldwide and upended our lives in unimaginable ways. That is truly something worth celebrating. But before you toss aside your mask and throw a party, it's important to remember that the coronavirus is still spreading and the majority of Americans have yet to be vaccinated — so precautions continue to be necessary to protect yourself and the people around you. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published some specific guidance about what the fully vaccinated can do and cannot do, and AARP has asked experts to answer other common questions about life after vaccination. Here are 10 things you should know now that you've been jabbed. (Source: AARP)

8. With Vaccination, Life at Upper Valley Senior Facilities is Looking More Like Normal. Once among the most at risk of serious illness should they contract COVID-19, most residents of senior living facilities in the Twin States and beyond have by now been vaccinated, including 100% of those living in the 63 apartments at the Woodlands, an independent living community on the campus of Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon. Walgreens provided shots to staff and residents at three clinics beginning in late January and ending earlier this month, said Cindy Jerome, the administrator for APD Lifecare, which in addition to the Woodlands includes the nearby Harvest Hill assisted living facility. “Now that everybody’s vaccinated, we’re all feeling like we’re going to get through,” Jerome said. There are signs of reopening at other senior living facilities around the Upper Valley, including some of those most affected by the virus. Visits resumed earlier this month at Sullivan County Health Care in Unity, which had five deaths during an outbreak this winter, and at Woodlawn Care Center, which had four deaths, according to their Facebook pages. At Woodlawn, visitors are still required to wear masks, practice social distancing and participate in health screening, but children under 12, who had previously been barred from visiting, can now visit if they can comply with safety precautions. Though some people continue to die of COVID-19 in New Hampshire, the majority of such deaths are now occurring outside of long-term care facilities, Dr. Benjamin Chan, New Hampshire’s state epidemiologist, said during a Thursday news conference. Facilities have resumed social activities among residents and in-person dining in dining rooms is back after a year of meals being brought to rooms. (Source: The Valley News)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 20, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Saturday, March 20

State health officials announced six new COVID-19 deaths Friday. The state also reported 334 new positive test results for the coronavirus. Officials are tracking 2,345 active infections, and 74 Granite Staters are currently hospitalized with the virus. Here is the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Saturday.

1. State Senator Asks for Investigation into Deadly COVID-19 Outbreak at NH Veteran's Home. More than 100 long-term care facilities in New Hampshire have dealt with a COVID-19 outbreak since the start of the pandemic, according to the Department of Health. Sen. Cindy Rosenwald said last spring she asked the department to keep a watchful eye on the New Hampshire Veteran's Home in Tilton. Rosenwald is demanding an independent investigation of the outbreak and has filed Senate Bill 132 to fund it and hire an outside contractor. Brandon Pratt from Governor Sununu's office defended the state’s review. "The review conducted by experts at the Department of Human Services was comprehensive and thoroughly examined all practices and protocols from the top down," Pratt said. (Source: WMUR)

2. Portsmouth Schools to Expand K-8 In-Person Learning to 4 Days a Week in May. Kindergarten through Grade 8 students in the city's public schools can return for in-person learning four full days a week starting Monday, May 3. All learners will be required to abide by three feet of social distancing, according to a school district newsletter released Friday afternoon. The newsletter states while elementary and middle school students will see their face-to-face learning increase following April vacation week, there is no immediate plan for Portsmouth High School students to return with a similar uptick in face-to-face instruction. Portsmouth Superintendent Steve Zadravec said Friday all students will have the ability to opt in or out of returning for more time in the classroom. “We’re working through a lot of the details, trying to minimize any changes for kids in terms of teachers they might have and again trying to put the plans in place for finishing the school year,” he said. (Source: Seacoast Online)

3. Updated CDC Guidance Says 3 Feet of Physical Distancing is Safe in Schools. Students can safely sit just 3 feet apart in the classroom as long as they wear masks but should be kept the usual 6 feet away from one another at sporting events, assemblies, lunch or chorus practice, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday in relaxing its COVID-19 guidelines. The revised recommendations represent a turn away from the 6-foot standard that has sharply limited how many students some schools can accommodate. The new guidance advises at least 3 feet of space between desks in elementary schools, even in towns and cities where community spread is high, so long as students and teachers wear masks and take other precautions. Spacing can also be 3 feet in middle and high schools, so long as there is not a high level of spread in the community. If there is, the distance should be at least 6 feet. The CDC said 6 feet should still be maintained in common areas, such as school lobbies, and when masks can’t be worn, such as when eating. Also, students should be kept 6 feet apart in situations where there are a lot of people talking, cheering or singing, all of which can expel droplets containing the coronavirus. That includes chorus practice, assemblies and sports events. (Source: Associated Press) Megan Tuttle, who leads New Hampshire’s largest teachers union, said it is important to take the CDC’s revised guidance in context. “We believe that the change to three feet distance for students in schools will be particularly challenging for large urban school districts and those that have not yet had access to the resources necessary to fully implement the very COVID-19 mitigation measures that the CDC says are essential to safe in-person instruction, no matter how far apart students in classrooms are,” said Tuttle. “Distancing is one important strategy, but we must also continue to prioritize all mitigation strategies including vaccinations, wearing masks, hand washing, healthy school buildings and a system of testing, tracing, and quarantining. We know there is much work still to be done on aging and inadequate HVAC systems.” (Source: NEA-NH)

4. ‘A Huge Relief': Clinics at Schools Help NH Teachers Get COVID Vaccines. According to state officials, every New Hampshire teacher who wants the coronavirus vaccine will be able to get it by the end of March. To speed up the rollout for educators, the state is allowing school districts to host their own vaccine clinics. Some teachers in the Sanborn Regional School District say that having a vaccine clinic inside their own gymnasium is more than just convenient -- it also calmed any nerves they had about getting the shot. "It feels like the light at the end of the tunnel," said Sanborn High School teacher Nicole St. Jean. Meanwhile, SAU 16 Assistant Superintendent Esther Asbell said Friday’s vaccination clinics at Lincoln Street and Main Street schools was a "clear sign of hopefulness" as the two schools prepare to welcome students back five days a week May 3. The Exeter Fire Department held its latest mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic Friday at both schools with the help of nurses and other surrounding town first responders. They vaccinated 70 educators and staff at both schools, as well as staff from surrounding childcare centers and private schools. The clinics are all hosted by the regional public health networks, which are nonprofits that get doses from the state. "We gave the option to our regional public health networks to take their allocation and give it to schools through those clinics," said Perry Plummer, the head of the state's vaccine response team. Plummer says it's a multi-pronged approach with the intent of getting educators vaccinated as quickly as possible. Not every school district in the state has had the option for a local clinic, but Plummer says there are enough available appointments at other sites that all educators should be able to have their first shot before the end of the month. (Sources: NECN and Seacoast Online)

5. Keene Nursing Home Outbreak Prompts Question: ‘If I'm Vaccinated, Can I still Get COVID?’ Starting late last month, yet another COVID-19 outbreak hit a nursing home in the Monadnock Region, this time Keene’s Alpine Healthcare Center. But this outbreak is different than the others. While most occurred before or at the start of vaccine distribution, Alpine’s started after a majority of its residents and employees had received their full dose, according to its owner, Avi Goldstein. This left people wondering how Alpine can be seeing an outbreak. According to local health experts, it’s possible to contract the virus after vaccination, though it’s rare and symptoms are less severe. “It’s important to remember that no vaccine is 100 percent effective,” said Dr. Michael Lindberg, chief medical officer at Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough. “That is true with the COVID vaccines. As good as they are, they aren’t 100 percent.” It also typically takes two weeks after vaccination for the body to build immunity against the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because of this, it is possible for a person to get COVID-19 before or just after vaccination, and then get sick because the body hasn’t had enough time to develop protection. (Source: Keene Sentinel)

6. Maine Vaccine Timeline Speeds Up: Ages 50-plus Start Tuesday, Ages 16 and Up in April. Maine Gov. Janet Mills announced Friday a more aggressive timetable for expanding vaccination eligibility, making them available to people 50 and older this Tuesday and to all 16 and older on April 19. The new timetable boosts eligibility by about a week to two weeks from the previous timeline. The state is also following the Biden administration directive to move teachers to the front of the line. (Source: Seacoast Online)

7. Maskless Meetings Prompt Richmond Resignation. A longtime member of the Richmond Planning Board has resigned, and another official may step down, citing health concerns over what they say is poor adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols at public meetings. Both of them, and another Richmond official, claim the selectboard has created a dangerous environment at those meetings by not requiring attendees to wear masks, presiding over some sessions unmasked and never having allowed people to watch remotely. Ludger “Butch” Morin resigned his post as an alternate planning board member last November because several officials at board meetings refused to wear masks, he said Thursday. Morin, 70, said he joined the board in 1987 and has since served as its chairman, vice chairman and, in recent years, as an alternate member. Morin said he was concerned that Douglas Bersaw, the selectboard’s representative on the planning board, did not wear a mask at that session. Morin said two planning board members, whom he declined to identify by name, joined Bersaw in not wearing masks at a Nov. 10 meeting. Worried for his health, Morin resigned. “If you don’t wear a mask, you’re disrespecting me,” he said. “If you listen to all the experts … that’s the minimal thing you can actually do to help stifle this virus.” (Source: Keene Sentinel)

8. Head of North Country Hospital Consortium Warns of Second Health Crisis After COVID-19. Because patients are delaying or missing medical visits and testing during the pandemic, the head of the North Country’s three-hospital consortium is warning about the “next health-care crisis” coming as soon as 2022. On Thursday during a Zoom conference, Tom Mee, the CEO of North Country Healthcare, touted his organization’s pandemic response, including a heated, drive-in vaccine clinic. But he also echoed concerns voiced in New Hampshire and the U.S. about what Bloomberg.com in a Feb. 9 article by Emma Court called a “shadow health crisis” created by COVID-19. “I don’t know when the bubble is going to burst but it is coming,” said Mee, adding that “we’re one to two years away” from hospitals in Coos County seeing an influx “that could have been prevented” of people with advanced, chronic health conditions. While Mee cautioned that he didn’t “want to sound overly dramatic,” he explained that what is laying the potential for “the new health-care crisis” is the fact that “40% of the U.S. population has foregone some kind of care in the last 12 months.” When those people eventually do show up at hospitals, “we’re going to see advanced heart disease, advanced cancers … things that could be detected had COVID not come,” Mee said. (Source: Union Leader)

9. Excitement Builds for Better Summer in New Hampshire. This summer won't look exactly like 2019, because there will still be COVID-19 protocols. But there is still excitement because a lot of things that shut down last summer are opening up. Many events are set to return, including stage performances, Children's Week and the seafood festival. "Fireworks every Wednesday night, movies on the beach, sand sculpture competition -- all the things we've been doing for years," said Chuck Rage, chairman of Hampton Beach Village District. Because of ongoing COVID-19 precautions, indoor venues, such as the Casino Ballroom, may take longer to open. "If we move to a 3-foot distance, possibly we could do some reduced capacity shows in June, and then I think July, certainly August, and I think the fall will be pretty great," said Andy Herrick, of the Casino Ballroom. Parking lot limits that caused frustration last summer will be expanded, with parking allowed all along Route 1A, leading to easier public access. Capacities at state parks across the state are expanded, but the reservation system will remain. (Source: WMUR)

10. 'Hit the Decks' Returns in Portsmouth for 5 days in May. Food, fellowship and the shared hope for lasting warmer weather will be in full force again this spring, as the city’s annual “Hit the Decks” celebration is set to return. After being canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic last year, Hit the Decks, presented by the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth, won’t be limited to just one day of fun like it has in years past. Instead, this year, the fanfare will be spread out over a full five days. Taking place from Wednesday, May 12 through Sunday, May 16, Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth president Valerie Rochon said she is hopeful that Hit the Decks will be the catalyst to a safe, successful tourism season. Straying away from years past, though, Hit the Decks is unlikely to see throngs of guests descend upon the waterfront and gather on downtown decks. Whereas one restaurant with a deck has been designated as the Hit the Decks "party headquarters" in years past, the idea this year to expand the event ensures that there isn't one clustered party that goes against COVID-19 protocol. (Source: Seacoast Online)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 19, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Friday, March 19

Source: N.H. DHHS

On Thursday, New Hampshire public health officials announced 24 percent of people in New Hampshire have had their first dose of vaccine, 12 percent are fully vaccinated, and over 60,000 doses were administered in the last week alone. The uptick in vaccinations coincides with an uptick in new cases and active cases statewide. Five additional deaths were reported on Thursday along with 347 new cases. 2,340 active cases were reported along with 75 residents hospitalized. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Friday.

1. No Date Yet for All NH Adults to Sign Up for Vaccine. While other states in New England have announced the day when all adults will be able to get registered for the COVID vaccine, Gov. Chris Sununu is not yet ready to do the same for New Hampshire. The state is "weeks away" from making the announcement, Sununu said at a news conference in Concord Thursday, noting "that'll be a very large cohort of individuals." Massachusetts unveiled its eligibility timeline on Wednesday, but Sununu said he wants to make sure the state's new vaccine registration system can handle the influx of new appointments. But Sununu said he plans to open registration well ahead of May 1, when President Joe Biden is urging states to have opened up registration to all adults. (Source: NECN) On Thursday, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee announced Rhode Island residents ages 16 and older will be eligible to get a coronavirus vaccine starting April 19. Vermont Governor Phil Scott will hold a press briefing at 11:00 a.m. today to unveil his state’s timeline for distributing doses to residents age 16 and over.(Source: NECN)

2. Sununu Releases Report from Veterans Home Probe Containing No Explanation for Outbreak that Killed 37 Vets. A state examination of infection control at the Tilton Veterans Home, released Thursday, offers no insight into what went wrong in November and December as one of the state’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks raged. Ninety-two residents were infected, out of about 130 who lived in the Veterans Home last November, when the outbreak began. The outbreak left 37 veterans dead — more than a quarter of those who lived in the facility. Only the outbreaks at the much-larger Hillsborough County Nursing Home in Goffstown have claimed more lives. Officials from the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control within the state Department of Health and Human Services visited the Veterans Home on March 12, almost two months after the outbreak ended. Using a rubric from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state officials ran through the home’s current infection control measures. The inspection did not look back to the time of the outbreak. According to the report, just one staff member has been trained in infection control. The report did not address staffing levels. (Source: Union Leader) The report was released by Gov. Sununu following Thursday’s press conference. This meant reporters were not able to ask questions. During the outbreak, several families of veterans accused the facility of neglect after witnessing their loved ones not being properly monitored or cared for. (Source: Concord Monitor) The report mentions none of this. You can read the full report here.

3. More Slots for Veteran Vaccines. VA Manchester Medical Center is seeking to enroll any eligible veterans who would like to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday in Manchester. The clinic is by appointment only. All veterans who are enrolled in the VA health care system are eligible to receive the vaccine regardless of age and can call VA Manchester’s Call Center at (800) 892-8384, ext. 3199. To get the latest updates and sign up to stay informed about COVID-19 vaccines, vets are urged to go to va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine. (Source: Concord Monitor)

4. Salem Recovery Center Joins State List of Active Outbreaks. In the state’s weekly update of COVID-19 outbreaks in jails, nursing homes and other congregate living centers, a new facility joined the list. Granite Recovery Centers NFA Behavioral Health in Salem is currently dealing with an outbreak that has infected 36 residents and 3 staff. But today’s report contained positive news. Of the five facilities listed, only two are nursing homes. (Source: N.H. DHHS) Two correctional facilities were also listed, including the NH State Men’s Prison, which has been dealing with a stubborn outbreak since December. However, the N.H. Department of Corrections is reporting that while one staff member is currently infected, there are no longer any active cases among inmates. (Source: N.H. DOC)

5. Colleges Urge Students to Take Precautions as Campus COVID-19 Cases Rise. Several New Hampshire college campuses are experiencing an uptick in COVID-19 case numbers, and college officials are reminding students that the pandemic is not over yet. Officials said the rise in case numbers seems to correlate with students leaving campus and letting down their guard. St. Anselm College officials said the campus is seeing its highest number of cases to date, a pace they called unsustainable in terms of capacities for quarantine and isolation. Students have been asked to stay on campus on weekends. "Students and others are allowed to leave, but we really ask them to make it essential travel only," said Paul Pronovost, St. Anselm College spokesman. A reminder letter was sent to University of New Hampshire students, as well. The college's 15-case daily average jumped up to 25 the past two days. Durham police said they broke up more than a dozen off-campus parties last Thursday and Friday where there was no mask-wearing or social distancing. "We had parties of 100-plus kids," said Durham Police Chief Rene Kelley. "The chances are very good that somebody in that crowd is going to be infected." UNH students won't have a spring break, but they will get two days with no classes. The first is Friday, and the college has set up Wildcat Wellness Weekend with a range of programs and opportunities to encourage students to stay local. (Source: WMUR)

6. UNH Announces Plans to 'Fully Open' in Fall 2021. The University of New Hampshire is planning a full opening for the fall semester, the school announced to its students and community members Thursday. The joint message from university President James W. Dean Jr. and Provost Wayne Jones comes exactly one year since the school suspended all in-person courses for the remainder of the 2020 spring semester due to COVID-19. Dean and Jones said that, though vaccinations are likely to be available to more American citizens by early summer, some mitigation tactics will likely remain in place next fall. Such preventative measures include testing, the use of face masks or facial coverings and decreased density as recommended by state public health officials or by the Center for Disease Control. The school’s COVID-19 dashboard reported Thursday that, as of the end of Wednesday, there were 102 active coronavirus cases on campus. (Source Seacoast Online)

7. Child Care Tax Credit in Stimulus Bill Could Be a ‘Game Changer’ for Families. The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan’s funding for child care businesses — a total of almost $78 million for New Hampshire — promises to prop up a struggling industry, but parents and advocates expect the bill’s tax credits will have the most tangible impact on families. “Food on the table, being able to put gas in the car,” said Korin Suarez, a Franklin mother of six, during a Tuesday video meeting with Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., and child-care providers about the stimulus bill. “A big one for my family would be getting me back into the workforce.” But a few hundred dollars per month per child is still not enough to pay for child care, cautioned Jackie Cowell of Early Learning NH, a child care advocacy group. Care can cost hundreds per child, per week, she said. New Hampshire is projected to get almost $48 million from the American Rescue Plan to prop up floundering child care businesses, and another $30 million to help the industry in the longer term. But Cowell isn’t celebrating just yet. “I’m not sure it’s enough, even though it sounds like a lot,” Cowell said. The state has yet to start distributing the money made available in the December stimulus bill. Cowell said Wednesday was the deadline for child care centers to apply for a piece of the $20 million in aid, and she expected about 500 businesses to apply. (Source: Union Leader)

8. Senators Urge Biden to Rescind Trump-Era Ban on Seasonal, Employer-Sponsored Visas. A group of U.S. senators, including Sen. Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire, is urging President Joe Biden to rescind the Trump administration’s ban on seasonal, employer-sponsored and cultural exchange visas. The processing of non-immigrant visas was halted in June and is expected to expire on March 31, but businesses that rely on the temporary workers, especially during the summer, have struggled to fill jobs, Shaheen said in a letter to Biden dated Wednesday. The ban “continues to harm a wide cross-section of families, businesses, and communities across the country,” said the letter, also signed by Democrats Cory Booker and Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Michael Bennet of Colorado, and Angus King of Maine, an independent. (Source: Concord Monitor)

9. Massachusetts Changing COVID-19 Rules for Travel, Announces Phase 4 Plans. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced Thursday the state will replace the state's COVID-19 travel order with a travel advisory, one that no longer requires people entering the state to complete a travel form. Under the advisory, anyone arriving in Massachusetts after being elsewhere for more than 24 hours will be advised to quarantine for 10 days upon their arrival, but won't be required. The change will take effect on Monday. That same day, Phase 4 of the state's coronavirus reopening plan will begin. Step 1 of the reopening plan allows large-scale venues like indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas and ballparks to open at 12% capacity and increases gathering limits at event venues and public settings to 100 people inside and 150 people outside. (Private gathering limits remain in place, at 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.) Summer camps, exhibitions and convention halls will also be allowed to operate under Phase 4, and weddings and other events may include dance floors. (Source: NECN)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 18, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Thursday, March 18

New Hampshire’s new vaccination registration system is up-and-running at https://www.vaccines.nh.gov

On Wednesday, New Hampshire public health officials announced 327 new positive tests for COVID-19 and no additional deaths. Hospitalizations rose to 79 and active cases increased to 2,212. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Thursday.

1. 'VINI,' New Hampshire's New Vaccine Scheduling System, Off To A Strong Start. A new state-managed COVID-19 vaccine scheduling website that went live Wednesday appears to be handling demand with no reported technical issues. The Vaccine & Immunization Network Interface, or VINI, processed more than 6,700 scheduling requests as of 4pm, according to state officials. Eligible residents can access the system at vaccines.nh.gov, or call 2-1-1 for assistance. VINI replaces the federally-run VAMS system, which New Hampshire utilized during Phase 1 of its vaccine rollout. VAMS was plagued with technical issues, and its limited interface left many residents confused and frustrated as they attempted to schedule appointments. “I thought it went really well today. I would give it a ten,” said Debra Corsetti, a school lunch aide from Weare who successfully registered using VINI Wednesday morning. “There were just no problems at all.” Among other changes to the vaccine roll out in New Hampshire, eligible residents can now schedule appointments directly for Walgreens locations, in addition to state-run sites and a limited number of hospitals. Residents aged 50 to 64 can begin scheduling appointments next Monday in New Hampshire as Phase 2b begins. (Source: NHPR)

2. State Legislators, Spouses, Legislative Staff Age 50+ to Receive COVID Vaccine Next Week at Concord Clinic. Qualifying state lawmakers and their State House staffers have been invited to show their interest in receiving COVID-19 vaccinations ahead of a clinic for them scheduled for March 26 in Concord. An internal email was sent Wednesday afternoon to legislators and legislative staffers by the director of the General Court Administrative Office, Jennifer Becker. To qualify, they must be age 50 or over or qualify for phase 1A, 1B, 2A or 2B. Becker said in an interview that legislators, staffers and spouses who are in Phase 2B—which opens for registration on March 22–can show their interest beginning tomorrow, but will not be registering for appointments at least until Monday, March 22 when Phase 2B registration opens for all residents age 50 over over in the general population who qualify. “Nobody is getting preferential treatment,” she said. Becker also told the lawmakers and staffers in her email that the vaccine being offered has not yet been determined. (Source: WMUR) The legislature is next scheduled to meet indoors, in-person at the SportsPlex in Bedford on April 7, 8, and 9 to vote on the state budget and hundreds of bills. While any legislators being vaccinated at the March 26 clinic will not be fully immune in time for the three early-April House session days, being vaccinated will reduce the risk of severe symptoms in any legislators who may contract COVID. Since December, several legislators have been severely sickened by the virus. One legislator, newly-elected House Speaker Rep. Dick Hinch, died from COVID less than a week after assuming his new office. On a personal note, I’m 64-years old and I’m eligible for Phase 2b starting on March 22 anyway. I’ll be following the advice I’ve been giving others by rolling up my sleeve and getting the vaccine at the earliest possible date. I strongly urge everyone else to do the same as soon as you are eligible.

3. In Concord Visit, Dr. Jill Biden Tells N.H. Schools: 'Help is Here'. Dr. Jill Biden visited the Christa McAuliffe School in Concord on Wednesday to tout the nearly $2 trillion American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Biden last week. After visiting students, the first lady spoke of the toll that remote schooling and limited child care has had on parents, especially mothers. She promised that the millions of dollars headed to New Hampshire schools would change this. "When schools like Christa McAuliffe open and childcare providers are safe and affordable, parents can focus on the careers that they love and support their families,” she said. The Biden family are longtime friends of McAuliffe’s widower, judge Steven McAuliffe. Biden said Christa McAuliffe was an inspiration to generations of girls and teachers, like her. Christa McAuliffe School Principal Kris Gallo said some of the millions of dollars headed to the Concord School District with the American Rescue Plan will be dedicated to summer and fall programming. “Not just for special education but for all kids - focused on learning loss, focused on social emotional learning, but focused on fun,” she said. “We’ve lost so much fun this year: no field trips or guest speakers or guest readers. This are the things that kids live for, so we can’t wait to bring that in.” (Source: NHPR)

4. Saint Anselm College Sees Biggest Ever One-Day Spike in COVID-19. Saint Anselm College logged 14 cases of COVID-19 on Monday, its largest-ever one-day outbreak of the disease, according to the college website. Another three cases were confirmed over the weekend, prompting college officials to urge students to monitor themselves and to quarantine and contact the college Health Service at any sign of a cold or allergy symptom. All the on-campus isolation rooms are filled, and the college is now doubling up in the isolation rooms, according to Maura Marshall, the director of college health services, in a post on the college website.“We have to dial this back,” wrote Dean of Students Alicia Finn in a post on Wednesday. Twenty people tested positive in the first half of this week, a pace she called unsustainable. (Source: Union Leader)

5. Colby-Sawyer COVID Outbreak Triggers New Restrictions. Colby-Sawyer College is enacting a modified stay-in-place rule as a campus COVID-19 outbreak finds 68 students infected with the virus. Students were given until Monday to stay on campus or return home for remote learning. The students who stay are being told to remain on campus, with masks on, during the outbreak. Trips off-campus are prohibited. The outbreak began with 55 active positive cases discovered in the March 7-13 testing window, according to the school. There are 16 students in isolation on campus, and another 28 in quarantine. (Source: Union Leader)

6. Four More COVID Cases Reported at Alpine Healthcare Center in Keene. Four more residents at Alpine Healthcare Center have tested positive for COVID-19 amid an outbreak at the Keene nursing home, a spokeswoman for the state health department said Tuesday. The new cases bring the total number to 15 residents and five employees, according to N.H. Health and Human Services spokeswoman Kathy Remillard. As of Tuesday afternoon, no deaths had been associated with the outbreak. (Source: Keene Sentinel)

7. Exeter High, Other SAU 16 Schools to Return to 5 Days a Week In-Person Learning. SAU 16 Superintendent David Ryan announced Tuesday the district’s largest elementary schools, as well as the Cooperative Middle School and Exeter High School, will resume five-day in-person learning starting May 3. Ryan made the announcement during a brief public session of the SAU 16 Joint School Board meeting. “We believe we’ve achieved a place where we believe it’s safe for our students to be in school (with) all of our staff being vaccinated,” Ryan said. “We have been working with teachers’ groups, we’ve had very positive conversations. This board will be working through final agreements over the next couple of weeks.” (Source: Seacoast Online)

8. N.H.'s Interstate Teachers Say They're Stuck In COVID Vaccine No Man's Land. New Hampshire residents who work as teachers in nearby states say they're having a hard time getting vaccinated, despite New England's efforts to give shots to educators. Under New Hampshire’s current vaccine plan, people who teach in K-12 schools in New Hampshire can get a vaccine, even if they live in another state. But New Hampshire is not prioritizing vaccines for Granite Staters who teach outside the state. Anna Leijon-Guth of Portsmouth said that’s a problem for her and a handful of her colleagues who work at schools across the border in Kittery, Maine. "You live in a twilight zone and you're in the crack and you can't get vaccinated,” she said. (Source: NHPR)

9. Vermont Department of Health Advisory Group calls for Vaccination of Inmates, But Scott Administration Says No. Vermont Department of Health advisory panel has penned a letter calling on Gov. Phil Scott’s administration to “immediately” reverse course and vaccinate all prisoners in its custody — but the governor continues to oppose the proposal. “We call on the administration to immediately amend its vaccination policies to provide access to COVID-19 vaccines to all incarcerated individuals in its care,” committee members wrote in bold font. “Taking a responsible population health-based approach to equitable and effective vaccine allocation includes prioritizing those who work and live in these high-risk environments,” the letter reads. “Vermont must offer COVID-19 vaccines to all incarcerated and detained individuals as soon as possible.” Scott and members of his administration have reiterated their position that incarcerated individuals should be eligible for vaccinations when they fall within the qualifying age bands or meet medical condition requirements. (Source: The Valley News) In New Hampshire. Gov. Sununu has mirrored Vermont’s policy. While several states, including Massachusetts have conducted mass vaccination clinics for inmates, New Hampshire has only vaccinated inmates who fall into one of the state’s vaccination phases because of age or having two or more qualifying health conditions. However, corrections officers and staff in New Hampshire were eligible for doses in Phase 1b in New Hampshire. According to Department of Corrections Commissioner Helen Hanks as of March 8, 58.9% had been vaccinated.

10. Some NH Colleges Announcing Plans for Full Return to In-Person Learning in Fall. After a year of hybrid courses and remote learning -- with some students never even stepping foot on campus – Plymouth State University says that if the pandemic is under control, students will return to classrooms this fall. The university will likely continue its COVID-19 testing program. “Our students have told us that they want to be here. They want to be in the White Mountains. They want to be in person,” Marlin Collingwood, Plymouth State’s vice president of communications, enrollment and student life, said. Keene State College also plans to be fully in-person in the fall. It expects masking requirements to remain in place, and it will able to fall back on remote learning and distancing protocols. In a statement, Dartmouth College said: "We are hoping to return to a normal, in-person, residential operation this fall. If vaccination progress slows, case counts substantially increase over spring and summer, or new variants emerge, we will be guided by the data and will adjust if and as needed." There has been no official announcement on specific plans from the University of New Hampshire yet. (Source: WMUR)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 17, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Wednesday, March 17

It took NHPR filing a Right to Know request, but the state has finally released vaccination data for racial and ethnic minorities in the state—and the news isn’t good.

On Tuesday, state public health officials announced three additional COVID-19 deaths, increasing New Hampshire’s death toll for the pandemic to 1,202 deaths. The state also reported 286 new cases, 2,074 active infections, and 66 hospitalizations. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Wednesday.

1. New NH Vaccination Scheduling System Launches Today. Making a vaccine appointment online in New Hampshire will look very different Wednesday morning when the state's new scheduling website goes live. The Vaccine and Immunization Network Interface, or VINI, goes live at 8 a.m. for people who are eligible for Phase 2A of vaccinations. That includes teachers and school staff for kindergarten through 12th grade, along with child care and youth camp workers. State officials said they're confident the system is ready to go, and there is a web team on standby in case something goes awry. The new system requires people to create an account, and it will screen them for eligibility. The system will immediately send a link to a person's email address. That link takes the person to the booking options. (Source: WMUR) To register for an appointment, go to https://www.vaccines.nh.gov People eligible in Phase 2b—those between age 50s and 64–may register starting Monday March 22.

2. ALERT: Londonderry Vaccination Center Moving to Salem. Starting today, appointments scheduled at the Londonderry COVID-19 vaccination site will now be held at the mall in Salem at the former Lord and Taylor. State officials said even if those with appointments were not notified, anyone with a Londonderry appointment should now go to Salem. If you cannot get to Salem, officials said to call 211 or 603-271-5980 to reschedule. (Source: WMUR)

3. Black, Latino Residents Falling Behind in N.H.'s Vaccine Rollout. Black and Latino people in New Hampshire have faced disproportionate harm from the COVID-19 pandemic, including higher rates of infection. But they're falling behind in New Hampshire’s vaccine rollout, according to new data from the state health department. As of March 8, according to the new data provided in response to a public records request from NHPR, Black and Latino residents have received the vaccine at roughly half the rate of white residents. About 16 percent of New Hampshire’s white population has received their first dose, compared with about 7 percent of the Black and Latino populations. Similar gaps exist in the state’s fully vaccinated population: About 6.5 percent of white residents have received all recommended doses, about two times the share of Black and Latino residents. The overwhelming majority of those who've been vaccinated in New Hampshire so far have been white. Latino residents make up about 4 percent of the state's overall population, according to Census Bureau data cited by state health officials, but less than 2 percent of those vaccinated. Black residents make up about 1.4 percent of the population but account for less than one percent of those vaccinated so far. (Source: NHPR)

4. UPDATE: 58.9% of Corrections Officers in NH State Prison System Have Now Been Vaccinated. With other states struggling to reach the 50% mark, the N.H. Department of Corrections as of Tuesday has vaccinated nearly 60% of its 785 staff members. In a response to my inquiry, DOC Commissioner Helen Hanks said that while fear of side effects and “distrust” are causing hesitancy in some staff, an educational campaign to dispel myths and inform staff has made a difference. As of Tuesday, an outbreak at the Men’s State Prison in Concord is now in its fourth month. During the outbreak, one inmate has died and 266 inmates and 75 staff have been infected. In New Hampshire, corrections officers and staff are eligible to be vaccinated in Phase 1b, which also includes residents age 65 and over as well as people of any age with two or more qualifying medical conditions. (Source: N.H. DOC and Personal Notes)

5. Vatican and US Bishops Clarify Stance on Vaccinations. According to the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Bishops, Catholics should avoid the Johnson & Johnson vaccine if given a choice. However, they went on to say that Catholics have a moral duty to protect themselves and others from COVID-19 by being vaccinated and receiving the J&J vaccine if it is the only one available. Should they choose not to be vaccinated, the Vatican said Catholics have a moral obligation to mask, socially distance and "do their utmost" to avoid becoming infected or infecting others. The message comes after the Diocese of Bismarck in North Dakota issued a statement on March 2 saying the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is "morally compromised and therefore unacceptable" to be given or received by Catholics because a cell line from aborted fetal tissue was used in its development and production. Additionally, both Pfizer and Moderna both used fetal cells from an abortion for early testing, though not in the actual production of the vaccine. The resulting controversy has led some Catholics to decline to be vaccinated and has made others hesitant. However, the Vatican statement said Catholics' duty is to protect "the common good” and that the vaccines "can be used in good conscience with the certain knowledge that the use of such vaccines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion from which the cells used in production of the vaccines derive." Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI both received their first doses of the Pfizer vaccine on Jan. 13. (Source: USA Today)

6. Colby-Sawyer College Outbreak Grows. Colby-Sawyer College extended its remote learning period and entered a “modified stay-in-place phase” on Monday amid a growing outbreak of COVID-19, according to an announcement on the school’s website. The outbreak at Colby-Sawyer grew over the weekend to include a total of 57 active student cases as of Sunday, nearly twice the number the college reported on Friday, according to the school’s COVID-19 dashboard. The college, which first moved to remote learning on Friday, also had nearly 100 people in quarantine, including 81 on campus in New London. The fully remote learning model will continue until March 24. (Source: The Valley News)

7. Tourism Industry Uncertain if International Student Workers Will Be Available This Summer. New Hampshire's travel industry is anticipating a busy summer, but concerns persist about having enough employees to keep businesses open because of a potential lack of international student workers. Thousands of international workers traditionally fill positions across the state, but it's not clear yet if they will be allowed in the country. In a state with low unemployment, tourist areas rely heavily on J-1 student visa workers from other countries. But they are currently grounded by international travel restrictions established under the Trump administration. U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said President Joe Biden is reevaluating some of the policies put in place over the past few years. She said she expects more to be known by the end of the month. (Source: WMUR)

8. N.H. Schools To Get $350M In Latest Relief Package; Districts Eye Priorities, Pinch Points. New Hampshire schools are slated to get over $350 million in the latest federal COVID relief package, a significant boost to what has already been a major increase in federal education aid during the pandemic. The $350.5 million is more than twice what the federal government promised to K-12 schools in New Hampshire in December’s COVID relief package and roughly eight times what schools here were allocated in the CARES Act a year ago. The new package also sets aside $6.6 million for private schools and $162 for colleges and universities. School funds from the Biden administration’s "American Rescue Plan" can go to a variety of COVID-related expenses over the next two and a half years, from air ventilation systems to addressing learning loss that occurred during the pandemic. According to the New Hampshire Department of Education, schools have drawn down about 25 percent from the first round of federal COVID relief (ESSER I) and budgeted for nearly all of it. That money must be spent by September 2021, but some schools say it’s taking them longer to seek reimbursement for their approved expenses, because materials like Chromebooks and air ventilation units are delayed due to high demand. The second round of federal COVID relief (ESSER II) – roughly $150 million – did not arrive until this week, state officials say, and will be available to schools soon. Lisa Witte, superintendent of the Monadnock Regional School District, says school districts are eager to begin budgeting and applying for their portion of the $150 million in federal COVID relief, but they’re still awaiting guidance for how to access the money. The Portsmouth School District has received $1,956,290 in total COVID relief funding. (Source: NHPR)

9. House Panel Wants Say in New COVID Spending. House capital budget writers received little input from the public on Gov. Chris Sununu’s proposed $127.3 million capital budget Tuesday, but say they want input on how approximately $121 million in new federal COVID relief money is spent. The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 25, which is the governor’s proposed capital budget that includes large expenditures for both the departments of Environmental Services and Health and Human Services. Committee chair Rep. John Graham, R-Bedford, said the most recent COVID-19 federal relief and recovery plan signed into law last week includes $121 million for the state for capital projects. “I’ve asked the governor that we be at least at the table when the money is spent,” Graham said. “Members of this committee and Senate Capital Budget (Committee) should be part of negotiations.” He said the governor intends to use the fund if possible to pay for the $17.5 million, new 60-bed forensic psychiatric hospital on New Hampshire Hospital grounds. The project was approved in last year’s operating budget, but the money was used to address the coronavirus pandemic in the early stages. The then-Democratically controlled legislative leaders sued Sununu last year over the $1.25 billion CARES Act money. The governor claimed a 2002 law gives the governor the authority to accept and expend the money in a health and safety emergency without legislative consent. The lawmakers argued the money should be approved by the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee, but a superior court judge agreed with the governor. Several bills introduced this session would prohibit the governor from accepting and spending similar federal money without the consent of the legislature. (Source: InDepthNH)

10. Proposal to Crack Down on Pandemic Profiteering Before NH Senate. After the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the state was powerless to stop price-gouging, a bipartisan group of senators has gotten behind legislation to police it. Critics said the bill (SB 138) would interfere with the free market and charged it was too restrictive. But State Sen. Tom Sherman, D-Rye, said after receiving complaints about price increases for PPE, he was surprised to learn the state had no law to crack down on companies trying to exploit a public emergency for financial gain. “We all believe in profit, but people should not be able to take advantage of people during a crisis,” Sherman said. The bill has 10 Senate co-sponsors, including Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, and three other Senate Republicans. It would outlaw profiteering in the sale of "necessities." (Source: Union Leader)

11. Child Care, Mental Health Funding Urged as Priorities NH Budget. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted a critical need to maintain or boost funding for schools, mental health treatment, child care scholarships and other programs, advocates told House budget writers Tuesday. In past years, hundreds of members of the public have packed into Representatives' Hall to offer feedback to House Finance Committee members as they work on the next two-year state budget. Because of the pandemic, they instead offered testimony by phone or video Tuesday, with many opposing proposed cuts they said would hurt already struggling programs and people. Among the most vocal advocates were those pushing to maintain funding for a program that helps working families afford child care. Others pressed lawmakers to increase funding for school districts, that face significant reductions due to artificially low attendance numbers during the pandemic and issues surrounding the number of students eligible for free and reduced cost meals. Parents and advocates for people with developmental disabilities urged lawmakers to fully fund home care services and other supports, and numerous people emphasized the need to fund behavioral health services, particularly for children. (Source: Seacoast Online)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 16, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Tuesday, March 16

After a sharp drop starting in the second week of January, the seven-day average of daily positive tests has increased 11%. (Source: N.H. DHHS)

New and active case numbers continue to seesaw up and down. On Monday, state public health officials announced 224 new positive cases, 2,064 active cases, and 68 hospitalizations—all down from numbers released on Sunday. No additional deaths were announced. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Tuesday.

1. COVID Tracker: Improvement Has Stalled as NH Death Toll Equals the Population of a Small Town. In its weekly analysis of N.H. COVID-19 metrics, the Concord Monitor reports progress against COVID-19 has stalled in the past week despite the vaccines, with the number of new cases and hospitalizations both plateauing. And people keep dying, one or two of them almost every day. This week the total death count will pass 1,200, which is more than the population of Danbury. In other words, COVID-19 has killed the equivalent of an entire New Hampshire town and it isn’t stopping. The average number of new cases reported each day peaked at 871 on Jan. 15 and then fell sharply to just 259 on March 9. But since then it hasn’t budged. What’s causing this pause in what had been two months of improvement? “Perhaps it reflects the arrival of more contagious variants, perhaps it’s people starting to relax their guard, perhaps it’s warm weather letting us get out and spread contagion.” (Source: Concord Monitor)

2. UNH Students Party, Gathering in Crowds of Over 100 Despite UK Variant Detected. As spring and milder weather return, police in Durham have started to spot students living off campus gathering in large numbers without wearing masks. “Thursday and Friday of last week, when the weather was really warm, we had a number of parties, especially on Thursday afternoon and into Friday,” Police Chief Kelley said Monday. “We went from location to location breaking the crowds up as best we could.” Kelley said police officers cannot enforce a local mask ordinance on private property. He is interested to see if the COVID-19 numbers within the student body population go up over the course of the next two weeks. On March 8, UNH Police Chief Paul Dean and Marian McCord, co-chair of the UNH Testing and Tracing Committee, sent a message to the university community that reported the UK variant, B.1.1.7, was detected in samples of two members of the UNH community. Dean said during an interview on Monday afternoon that after what happened on Thursday and Friday, school officials have made it clear that large mask-less gatherings cannot happen again. According to information from the CDC, there have been 19 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant detected in New Hampshire. No other variants have yet been detected in the state. (Source: Union Leader) To help state officials better understand how variants of the virus may be circulating, the university recently started genomic sequencing of the virus from samples submitted to its testing lab and samples provided by the Department of Health and Human Services. Sequencing of the first several hundred samples was completed last week. (Source: WMUR) 371 cases of the UK variant have also been detected in Massachusetts. (Source: MassLive) The B.1.1.7 UK variant of the virus is more contagious and more deadly than the original COVID virus. But the good news is that COVID-19 vaccines appear to be highly effective against the UK variant, with many countries including the U.S. hoping that fast vaccine rollouts will curb its spread. (Source: Forbes) https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriaforster/2021/03/15/uk-coronavirus-variant-significantly-more-deadly-says-new-study/?sh=5e2d5cb6a1e6

3. UNH Rejects Hazard Pay for Resident Assistants. UNH Director of Residential Life Ruth Abelmann has rejected potential hazard pay for resident assistants. University of New Hampshire (UNH) resident assistants (RAs) and the Department of Residential Life recently met to discuss additional compensation for RAs due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “I want to be fully transparent and say that added compensation is not an option,” said Abelmann. This news comes shortly after a petition circulated by resident assistants garnered over 480 signatures. Their petition calls for additional compensation for the increase in hours and workload placed upon RAs. RAs also made note of the inequities in vaccine distribution, with resident hall directors, dining staff and housekeeping staff receiving leftover doses from Exeter without communicating the event with them. Based on current state guidelines, RAs remain ineligible for the vaccine. Abelmann confirmed that the university is willing to secure N-95 masks and face shields for RAs should they ask. (Source: The New Hampshire) Meanwhile, there are 106 active cases at UNH Durham and 79 students and staff have tested positive in the past seven days. These numbers are close to where COVID levels have remained for the past two weeks and are a sign that while the outbreak isn’t getting worse, it hasn’t yet reached a point where it’s getting much better. (Data: UNH COVID-19 Testing Dashboard)

4. Colby-Sawyer Converts Gym to Housing After Surge in COVID-19 Cases. Colby-Sawyer College in New London is dealing with a surge in COVID-19 cases, with 57 positive cases in a population of 855 students. Students said the dormitory set aside for quarantine is at capacity, so the school converted the gymnasium to living quarters. Only a handful of students have spent the night, with some saying they refused to stay any longer. The source of the outbreak is not clear, and students said there is some finger-pointing going on. The college declined News 9's request for an interview. Its website says all classes are remote for now. (Source: WMUR)

5. Protesters Descend on Monadnock Food Co-op Over Mask Mandate. Roughly a dozen people walked maskless into the Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene on Saturday afternoon to protest the grocery’s enforcement of a statewide and local mask requirement, according to a recording of the incident on YouTube. In the nearly 50-minute video, posted by the YouTube channel “Breaking the Flaw,” protesters can be seen entering the Cypress Street store and making their way up and down the aisles, confronting shoppers and employees. Another group of protesters appears to have remained outside in the parking lot. Frank Staples, a Manchester resident who founded the group Absolute Defiance, said he was one of the primary organizers of Saturday’s “flash mob.” He said the group has also been responsible for rallies at the Statehouse, protests near Gov. Chris Sununu’s house in Newfields and other supermarket protests. The video of Saturday’s protest shows loud exchanges between the protesters and several shoppers, and one protester confronts an employee, saying that he “stalks babies.” Lt. Benjamin Nugent said Keene police got a call from the co-op at 2:15 p.m. that day and that the incident ended calmly. He said a field report states that when police arrived, there was a small group of people in the store and a larger group outside. Those inside concluded their business — which was to make a purchase — and left. The report then says management asked the protesters outside to leave, and they complied. There were no arrests, Nugent said. (Source: Keene Sentinel) Saturday’s protest marked the end of a busy week for Staples. He was arrested earlier last week along with two other men for placing anti-mask stickers on Manchester City Hall. (Source: Keene Sentinel)

6. Hampton Wrestling Tournament Lined to Multiple COVID-19 Cases. Multiple cases of COVID-19 are associated with a wrestling tournament held at the RIM Sports Complex, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The King of the Mat Wrestling Tournament was held Saturday, March 6, at the Hampton facility. Any individuals who participated in or attended the tournament from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. may have been exposed to COVID-19 and should seek testing, according to the DHHS. DHHS stated it has conducted contact investigations and is notifying known close contacts directly. The agency announced it is making the public aware because there may be additional individuals at the location during those days and times who were exposed to the coronavirus. (Source: Seacoast Online)

7. US Prison Guards Refusing Vaccine Despite COVID-19 Outbreaks. As states have begun COVID-19 inoculations at prisons across the country, corrections employees are refusing vaccines at alarming rates, causing some public health experts to worry about the prospect of controlling the pandemic both inside and outside. Infection rates in prisons are more than three times as high as in the general public. Prison staff helped accelerate outbreaks by refusing to wear masks, downplaying people’s symptoms, and haphazardly enforcing social distancing and hygiene protocols in confined, poorly ventilated spaces ripe for viral spread. In December and January, at least 37 prison systems began to offer vaccines to their employees, particularly front-line correctional officers and those who work in health care. More than 106,000 prison employees in 29 systems, including the Federal Bureau of Prisons, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to data compiled by The Marshall Project and The Associated Press since December. And some states are not tracking employees who get vaccinated in a community setting such as a clinic or pharmacy. Still, some correctional officers are refusing the vaccine because they fear both short- and long-term side effects of the immunizations. Others have embraced conspiracy theories about the vaccine. (Source: Associated Press) In New Hampshire, corrections officers of staff were eligible for vaccinations in Phase 1b. But while the N.H. Department of Corrections provides information on COVID outbreaks among staff and inmates , but no information is posted on the progress of vaccinations among staff.

8. Moderna Begins Vaccine Trials on Children. The first children have been vaccinated in Moderna's Phase 2/3 pediatric COVID-19 vaccine trial. The clinical trial, called the KidCOVE study, will enroll approximately 6,750 children in the US and Canada between the ages of 6 months and 11 years old. Moderna is doing the tests to see if the vaccine protects children from getting sick if they come into contact with coronavirus, according to the clinical trial's patient information website. Moderna is not the only COVID-19 vaccine currently being tested in children, as the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is being studied in children as well. Johnson & Johnson has announced plans to study the vaccine in adolescents, ages 12 to 18. The trials are a key step in eventually making the vaccines available to children, who are usually less susceptible to severe illness from the virus but who can spread it asymptomatically to others when infected. (Source: CNN)

9. Need Rent Help? NH Launches Relief Program for COVID Pandemic. Renters on New Hampshire's Seacoast and across the state seeking relief to cover housing costs and other debts accrued throughout the pandemic can now apply for financial assistance. The New Hampshire Emergency Rental Assistance Program, a state program powered by federal funds to help cover rent and utilities for households struggling due to the impact of COVID-19, launched Monday at noon. New Hampshire’s five Community Action Partnership agencies will consult with eligible residents seeking assistance, reviewing their applications, checking their eligibility, and processing payments for eligible expenses. Applications are now live on the Community Action Partnership of New Hampshire website at capnh.org, as well as those of their five regional providers. This includes Strafford County Community Action Program at straffordcap.org. Seacoast residents in Rockingham County can apply for relief through Southern New Hampshire Services at snhs.org. According to the SNHS website, paper applications can be requested and sent out by calling SNHS at 603-668-8010 extension 6311. SNHS is also offering assistance for anyone needing help filling out their application. (Source: Seacoast Online)

10. Portsmouth Library to Reopen for Book Browsing as COVID Restrictions Ease. The Portsmouth Public Library released a number of new guidelines on Monday morning for residents that will begin next month, namely the return of in-person browsing. Starting Monday, April 5, a maximum of 20 people will be allowed into the library for no more than a half hour each. Visitors can only come to the library to browse once per day. It’s the first time since Nov. 23 that guests have been able to enter the library and peruse book and media selections, according to director Steve Butzel. “We‘ve been looking forward to this day for a long time. We can't wait to welcome back families and people of all ages to browse in the library and use the computers,” he said. (Source: Seacoast Online)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 15, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Monday, March 15

New interactive dashboards showing data for vaccinations and hospitalizations were added last wee to the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 Interactive Trends Dashboard.

On Sunday, New Hampshire public health officials announced the number of current COVID-19 cases has increased for the sixth day in a row, to 2,190. The number of new positive tests rose to 307—51 higher than the new cases recorded on Saturday, a one-day increase of 20%. On the positive side of the ledger, hospitalizations fell to 71 and no new deaths were announced. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Monday.

1. State Rolls Out Enhancements to DHHS COVID-19 Dashboard. Last week, the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services quietly added dashboards for both hospitalization and vaccination data to the department’s COVID-19 Interactive Trends Dashboard. The Hospitals Dashboard provides historical information on the number of people hospitalized for COVID each day, charts showing resource availability (including ICU beds and ventilators), and a daily count of the number of people hospitalized with COVID as well as the number of people hospitalized with COVID-like symptoms whose illness has yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile, the Vaccinations Dashboard shows the percentage of people receiving first doses and those who are fully vaccinated over time. It also shows overall vaccination completion status as well as 7-day completion trends. At the same time, the cryptic vaccination allocation table the state had been appending weekly to its Thursday or Friday daily COVID summary appears to have disappeared. You can view both new dashboards on the state’s COVID-19 Interactive Trends Dashboard. Worth noting is that the Hospitalizations Dashboard comes more than two months after hospitalizations peaked in New Hampshire during a period when hospitalizations are declined. Also worth noting is the new Vaccinations Dashboard has no information on the completion of vaccinations within each phase (1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, etc) and provides no way to track vaccinations by age group, gender, race, or ethnicity. New Hampshire is one of only nine states that do not publicize data on vaccination progress among racial and ethnic groups, despite the fact that 10% of the vaccine the state received for Phase 1b was allocated to communities disproportionately affected by the virus. (Source: Personal Notes and N.H. DHHS)

2. Why You Can't Yet Withdraw That Stimulus Payment Sitting in Your Bank Account. Some Americans are seeing their stimulus checks pending in their bank accounts, and they're complaining about banks holding their stimulus direct deposits. If you're included in that group, don't worry: Banks aren't sitting on stimulus payments. It just takes a couple days for the checks to process. "Some people will see the money in their accounts as early as this weekend as a pending or provisional payment until it is cleared by their financial institution," a Treasury official told reporters during a call on Friday. Some Americans have already seen the latest round of stimulus payments hit their bank accounts. By Saturday morning, several people had posted on social media about seeing their stimulus payments pending in their bank accounts. Although direct deposits have gone out first, paper checks and prepaid debit cards will be sent out before the end of March. (Source: CNN)

3. Applications Open at Noontime Today for COVID-19 Rental and Utility Assistance Program. One year after the Covid-19 pandemic was declared to be a public health emergency by Gov. Sununu, the rental market in New Hampshire will be receiving another dose of government assistance on March 15. But even with new relief on the way, the creation of affordable housing remains a pressing issue for the state. The latest round of rental assistance comes from a stimulus bill passed in Jan. that dedicated $25 billion to the states. The money is part of the Coronavirus Relief Fund, run by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. In New Hampshire, the program will be administered by New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority (NHHFA), in collaboration with GOFERR. NHHFA will work with the five regional Community Action Partnerships (CAPs) that will accept and process applications and payments for the program. Funds can be used for back rent and overdue utility payments from the start of the pandemic, as well as future bills. Renters will be eligible for relief if their household income is below 80 percent of the area median income (which varies by county and household size), and someone living there has qualified for unemployment benefits; lost part of their income or experienced financial hardship because of the pandemic; or can show that they are at risk of losing their home. (Source: Manchester Ink Link) See the New Hampshire House Finance Authority website for more information and a link (starting at 12:00 p.m.) to the application form.

4. Fuel Assistance Taking Applications Through April 30. Southern NH Services’ Fuel Assistance program is taking applications through April 30 to help renters and homeowners pay for past or future energy use, according to agency Deputy Director Ryan Clouthier. Benefits are calculated based on household income, energy costs, and housing type. This allows those households with the lowest incomes and highest energy costs to receive the highest benefits. To apply, residents should call SNHS or RCA offices closest to them or call 1-800-322-1073 to make an appointment. Applicants must qualify by household income for 30 days prior to the appointment. Benefits range from $158 to $1575 may be available to homeowners or renters during the winter heating season. Eligibility and benefit amounts are determined by GROSS household income for a 30 day period, household size, and annual heating costs. One person can earn $2,810 per month and a family of 4 up to $5,403 per month to qualify. (Source: Seacoast Online)

5. Increase in Food Bank Demand Persists Even as Unemployment Falls. The New Hampshire Food Bank said it saw a sharp increase in demand for help during 2020. Officials said they distributed more than 17 million pounds of food last year. The unemployment rate has dropped significantly in New Hampshire as it appears the pandemic may be loosening its grip on the state. On Sunday, it stood near 3%, down from 16% during the height of the pandemic. But the food bank said the need for help is still alive. The food bank held 71 mobile food pantries from March to December. Before the pandemic, they only held mobile pantries once per month. Officials from the food bank said they will continue to utilize the mobile food pantries to reach as many Granite Staters as possible. The food bank plans to hold three mobile food pantries this week in Claremont, Littleton and Manchester. For more information visit nhfoodbank.org. (Source: WMUR)

6. First Lady to Appear Wednesday in Concord Promote Relief Plan's Benefits. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses are opening an ambitious, cross-country tour this week to highlight the benefits of his $1.9 trillion plan to defeat the coronavirus and boost the economy. The road show — dubbed the “Help is Here” tour by the White House — begins Monday with Harris heading to a COVID-19 vaccination site and a culinary academy in Las Vegas and first lady Jill Biden touring a New Jersey elementary school. Harris will meet with small-business owners in Denver on Tuesday. Wednesday sees Jill Biden in Concord, New Hampshire, and Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The stops at vaccination sites, businesses, schools and more are meant to educate the public about different aspects of the giant American Rescue Plan and how it will help people get to the other side of the coronavirus pandemic. (Source: NECN)

7. Pinkerton Academy Hosts COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic for Staff. The state’s largest high school, Pinkerton Academy, vaccinated close to 1,000 educators from Derry, Chester and Hampstead on Sunday. The closed-pod vaccination clinic was held with over 80 volunteers working alongside the Southern Central New Hampshire Public Health Network, in Pinkerton Academy’s field house. The school is currently operating with a hybrid model and is now one step closer to getting back to normal. Those vaccinated on Sunday are scheduled to return for their second doses on April 11. (Source: WMUR)

8. How and Where to Get Vaccinated in NH. WMUR has created an informative, up-to-date summary of the various New Hampshire vaccination phases, how to schedule an appointment, and how the state is doing in its quest to vaccinate as many residents as possible. You can find it here. (Source: WMUR)

9. COVID Cases Plummet 83% Among Nursing Home Staffers Despite Vaccine Hesitancy. After the rollout of COVID vaccines, the number of new covid cases among nursing home staff members fell 83% — from 28,802 for the week ending Dec. 20 to 4,764 for the week ending Feb. 14, data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shows. New covid-19 infections among nursing home residents fell even more steeply, by 89%, in that period, compared with 58% in the general public, CMS and Johns Hopkins University data shows. These numbers suggest that "the vaccine appears to be having a dramatic effect on reducing cases, which is extremely encouraging," said Beth Martino, spokesperson for the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living, an industry group. (Source: Kaiser Health News)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 14, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Sunday, March 14

Portsmouth, Rye, Newington, Greenland, and New Castle school staff receive their first dose of vaccine Saturday at Portsmouth High School. (Photo: Portsmouth Schools)

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced four additional deaths from COVID-19 Saturday along with 256 new positive test results. The number of people hospitalized due to the virus is down to 72—the lowest number in four months—and 2,174 active infections were reported statewide. Here is the coronavirus-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Sunday.

1. 'Everyone Seems to be Over the Moon': Portsmouth School Staffers Receive COVID Vaccine. Early Saturday morning, staff members of the Portsmouth School District began showing up at Portsmouth High School to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, and everyone seemed happy to be there. Teachers, school administrators, support staff, bus drivers and crossing guards, as well as other early child care workers were welcome to receive their first dose of the Moderna vaccine as part of New Hampshire's 2a group of eligible. “We will hold a day like today here on April 9 to give them all their second dose,” said Fire Chief Todd Germain. Also included in the one-day event were teachers and staff of SAU50, which includes the towns of Rye, Greenland, Newington, and New Castle. “I was so excited when I got notice that we were included,” said Jacquie DeFreze, a teacher at Rye Elementary School. “I wrote a note to the Portsmouth Superintendent Steve Zadravec to thank him for including us. He wrote back and said – what are neighbors for?” (Source: Seacoast Online)

2. Volunteers Play Key Role in Teacher Vaccination Clinics. Volunteers are playing a key role in helping vaccinate thousands of New Hampshire educators at clinics this weekend. In Portsmouth on Saturday, members of the fire department, public health network and school nursing staff helped run the closed pod clinic for educator. In Manchester, Saturday was the second day of educator vaccinations. The Manchester Health Department said it plans on vaccinating thousands of educators to help free up appointments for others in Phase 2A. Organizers in Manchester and Portsmouth said the process was going smoothly and volunteers said it was a positive experience. “It was a wonderful opportunity to feel like you’re doing something toward helping out here in this whole crazy year that we have, and just a nice vibe to feel like you're contributing,” said Jesse Stabile Morrell, a volunteer with the Seacoast Public Health Network who helped at Saturday’s Portsmouth clinic. (Source: WMUR)

3. COVID Relief Allocations Announced for NH Cities, Towns, and Counties—Portsmouth to Receive $13.29 Million. Of the $1.539 billion New Hampshire will receive as part of the American Rescue Package, $264 million will go to county governments, $88 million will go to cities, and $106 million to towns. $959 million is allocated to the state with another $122 million allotted to the state specifically for capital projects. The office of Congressman Chris Pappa provided details on distribution for the funds. Among the state’s 13 cities, Manchester is allotted $44.45 million, virtually half the total allocation, followed by Nashua, $16.56 million, Portsmouth $13.29 million, Dover, $7.17 million, Rochester, $6.34 million, Concord, $4.32 million, Keene $2.26 million, Laconia $1.64 million, Lebanon $1.35 million, Claremont $1.28 million, Somersworth, $1.18 million, and Berlin, $1 million. Among the 10 counties, Belknap is allotted $11.89 million,, Carroll $9.49 million,, Cheshire, $14.76 million, Coos, $6.12 million, Grafton, $17.43 million, Hillsborough, $80.88 million, Merrimack, $29.36 million, Rockingham, $60.08 million, Strafford $24.34 million, and Sullivan $8.37 million. Among the towns, allocations range from as little as $20,000 for Roxbury, Windsor and Waterville Valley to as much as $3.32 million in Salem and $2.62 million in Derry and Merrimack. Pappas noted that the CARES Act, enacted last spring, did not designate funding for local aid and that by design the American Rescue Plan Act affords officials considerable latitude in deciding how to apply the funds. In particular, he said there are no strict deadlines by which funds must be spent or unexpended funds remitted, as the CARES Act prescribed. (Source: NH Business Review)

4. Residents, Businesses Anticipating Federal COVID-19 Relief Money Flowing into NH, VT. Within the coming weeks and months, an estimated $1.5 billion is coming to state and local governments in New Hampshire and $1.35 billion to those in Vermont, according to U.S. Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt). The relief package also adds on another $1.25 billion in funding to the $15 billion Shuttered Venue Operator Grant program, signed into law in December and distributed through the Small Business Administration, which is targeted to help concert halls, theaters and the like that have been closed during the pandemic. That money will be a business saver, according to Joe Clifford, executive director of Lebanon Opera House. The Opera House has been closed for a year and unable to generate any money through ticket sales, he explained. “I’m literally excited there is a fund set up for a place like us,” he said. “It builds a runway for us ... quite honestly we’d be in a world of hurt without that support.” Other businesses getting a boost include small and midsize restaurants, which have $28.6 billion earmarked for distribution, also through the Small Business Administration. But not all businesses will see the same direct benefit from the record-setting spending package. Health clubs and gyms were not included in the legislation — an industry that has suffered severe setbacks during the pandemic. Although those businesses are eligible for a “second draw” of PPP help, no additional funds were set aside like they were for arts venues or restaurants, and that has some business owners feeling left out and worried for the future. (Source: The Valley News)

5. COVID Restrictions Expected to Ease Soon for Amusements and Performing Arts Events. While Gov. Sununu was announcing the end of store capacity restrictions for retailers and the end of a ban on karaoke and darts at bars on Thursday, his Economic Reopening Task Force was putting the finishing touches on other moves to loosen restrictions. The group approved expanding the capacity for crowds attending performing arts events, as well as amusement parks and tourist trains. Performers could play before at least 75% of a hall’s capacity, or the number of people that can fit in with three, rather than six, feet of physical distancing. Audience members would not face one another and the mask requirement would still be in force. Both amusement parks and tourist trains could open at 100% as long as the six feet of separation remains in place. Sununu said last Thursday he looks forward to reviewing them. (Source: Union Leader)

6. Shaheen: More Federal Funding on the Way to Help Performing Arts Venues. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., paid a Friday afternoon visit to the Portsmouth Music Hall for a roundtable discussion on new COVID-19 relief for Granite State entertainment venues, part of the recently passed $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. It’s been a year since the pandemic took hold, closing schools, businesses and entertainment venues around the state. Many venues took advantage of past relief efforts through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which helped keep staff on board and businesses afloat while stages remained silent and empty. Shaheen said more help is on the way. The American Rescue Plan includes $1.25 billion in extra funding for the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant (SVOG) program and includes a provision to allow venues to apply for both the PPP program and SVOG funding. Venue operators spoke of the challenges they face drawing audiences back and in making sure financial support comes though in time to bring performances back. “It will take time to rebuild audiences,” said Tina Sawtelle, executive director of the Music Hall in Portsmouth. Challenges also face those businesses relying on movies, including O’Neil Cinemas, with a location in Londonderry. Executive Vice President Dan O’Neill told Shaheen his business is struggling in the year since his theaters closed. (Source: Manchester Ink Link) The new money comes too late for the CineMagic chain of theaters. In February, it announced that it would be closing its doors permanently.

7. Applications Open Monday for 2nd Round Of COVID-19 Rental Assistance For Tenants & Landlords. New Hampshire is opening up its next round of assistance for rent, and utilities (including internet) at noon on Monday, March 15. The rental assistance is retroactive to April 1, 2020 through the date of the application, and for future assistance for 12-15 months. Utility assistance is retroactive to March 13, 2020 for a period generally not to exceed 12 months. To qualify, members of the household must be at risk of homelessness or housing instability, must meet certain income requirements, and at least one person in the household must have qualified for unemployment benefits due to COVID-19, had income reduced due to COVID-19, had significant costs due to COVID-19 or experienced other financial hardship due to COVID-19. An online application will be available on the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority website. Get answers to frequently asked questions here. (Source: NHPR)

8. NH Mental Health and Substance Misuse Support Organizations to Receive Extra Federal Funding Under December Relief Package. While the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package signed into law earlier this week drew most of the attention, money from the previous relief package is still being distributed behind the scenes. Organizations targeting substance use disorder and mental health statewide saw the need for their programs increase during the pandemic even as funding tightened. They are now set to receive $9 million in federal funding that was signed into law in December under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act passed by Congress. Keith Howard, the executive director of Manchester-based Hope for NH Recovery, said the non-profit is one of many organizations that have suffered funding losses during the pandemic. "All of the recovery centers in New Hampshire have received less money this year than we did last year by about a 34 percent cut," Howard said. Howard said the money will help strengthen the organization's substance misuse and mental health assistance programs. (Source: WMUR)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 13, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Saturday, March 13

After weeks of trending downward, New Hampshire is averaging slightly more COVID-19 cases than it was a week ago. The seven-day average of new cases was 260 for Friday as compared to 250 a week earlier. The state also reported 287 new cases, 2,177 active infections, and 73 current hospitalizations. Four additional deaths were also announced bringing the state’s death toll for the pandemic up to 1,195. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your weekend.

1. 'It's Wonderful': COVID Vaccine Comes to Dover Schools. More than 800 Dover educators and school staff members were vaccinated on Friday during a mass vaccination clinic at Dover High School. The vaccinations were a collaborative effort between Dover School District, Dover Fire and Rescue Department and the Strafford County Community Health Network. All staff within the Dover School District, and staff in area schools like St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Portsmouth Christian Academy and St. Mary's Academy were eligible to receive the first shot of the two-dose Moderna COVID-19 vaccine during Friday's event. Similar events are coming to other Strafford County school districts in the coming week. (Source: Seacoast Online) Vaccinations for school staff also started Friday in Manchester. “I am thrilled that our teachers and our school staff are starting to get vaccinated today. It’s really just a great day,” said Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig. “We’re starting to see a decrease on COVID-19 positive test numbers, and these vaccinations are just another layer of safety on top of that trend to ensure our students get back into school safely, which is what we all want.” Over 1,500 staff members signed up to get the vaccine through the district. They received their first dose the Moderna vaccine and will need to receive a second dose in 4 weeks. (Source: Manchester Ink Link) Portsmouth will be conducting a mass vaccination clinic today for school staff.

2. Maine Senate Rebuffs Effort to Rein in Gov. Janet Mills' Emergency Powers. The Maine Senate has rejected a Republican-led effort to end Democratic Gov. Janet Mills' emergency powers during the pandemic. Republican Sen. Rick Bennett of Oxford introduced the joint resolution Thursday that sought to end Mills' emergency declaration, which has been in place for a year during the COVID-19 outbreaks. Three Democrats joined Senate Republicans in supporting the measure, but it failed on a 19-15 vote. (Source: Seacoast Online) On Friday, Mills announced Maine will expand vaccine eligibility to all adults on May 1 to align its COVID-19 immunization strategy with a directive from President Biden. Like New Hampshire, the state is currently taking an age-based approach, with those 60 and older eligible for vaccines. Eligibility in Maine will expand on April 1 to include residents 50 and older. In New Hampshire, the 50-64 age group will be eligible to register a week earlier on March 22. (Source: Portland Press Herald)

3. How the Stimulus Works: 90% of NH, Maine Families with Kids to Get Monthly Checks. Local advocates, social service providers and elected officials say the new monthly child tax credit checks coming to New Hampshire and Maine parents under the new $1.9 trillion federal COVID-19 relief plan President Joe Biden signed Thursday will have profound impacts on struggling families. The American Rescue Plan expands the child tax credit for 2021 so that families will get $3,600 annually for children younger than 6 and $3,000 per child ages 6-17, replacing the old $2,000 credit that ended once a child turned 17. The plan will distribute half of the credit directly to families through monthly checks so they don't have to wait until tax season to claim it, in addition to making the credit fully tax exempt, allowing low-income families to keep the full amount. These provisions are expected to lift 8,000 New Hampshire children and 10,000 Maine children out of poverty, as well as provide relief to the families of approximately 222,000 New Hampshire children (87%) and 229,000 Maine children (91%), according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Source: Seacoast Online) Adults with an adjusted gross income under $75,000 and married couples earning under $150,000 will also receive $1,400 or $2,800 respectively in direct economic relief payments that could start showing up in bank accounts or going out in the form of checks as soon as this weekend.

4. Shoppers Flood NH Stores as Capacity Expands to 100%, Thrilling Business Owners. New Hampshire lifted several coronavirus restrictions this week, allowing retail stores to open at 100% capacity and bars and restaurants to welcome back some live entertainment. Business owners in Portsmouth were thrilled on Friday, and residents -- and even travelers -- were ready for their city to open. "Like, as soon as I flipped my sign to open, I immediately had groups of people in, and that's pretty refreshing," said Jillian MacLaughlin, a sales associate at the surf shop Summer Sessions. Gov. Chris Sununu relaxed other restrictions on Thursday. Bars and restaurants can open up their dartboards, turn on the karaoke machines and even welcome back live entertainment of up to three performers. However, the mask mandate remains in effect. (Source: NECN)

5. Business Leaders Fear Worker Shortage. While businesses in New Hampshire’s hospitality industry are looking forward to a bounce-back summer, some fear a shortage of workers to wait tables, tend bar and clean rooms could dampen their recovery. While some in the business community have cited unemployment compensation acting as a disincentive for full-time work, Richard Lavers, deputy commissioner of New Hampshire Employment Security, said this was more of a factor early in the pandemic. “This was a major concern that we heard a lot of initially when the federal enhancement was $600,” he said. “Add that to the weekly benefit amount and in many cases, they were receiving more money while collecting unemployment than they were when they were working. Now at $300, that’s less of a concern.” Lavers said the number of people filing new unemployment claims has decreased, as has the number of continuing claims. Meanwhile, demand for employees is high. Ahead of the busy summer season, the state unemployment rate stands at 3.6 percent, up just 1 percentage point compared to a year ago and well below the current 6.2 percent national figure. (Source: Manchester Ink Link)

6. Some Essential Workers In N.H. Feel Sidelined By Vaccine Distribution. Some essential workers in New Hampshire, especially those who come into contact with many people each day, say they’ve been sidelined in the vaccine distribution process. Nathan Soucy, a waiter at Firefly American Bistro in Manchester, says he is at higher risk of contracting and spreading COVID, given the nature of his job.“When a table seats, you know, sits down, I bring them water, they’re allowed to take their mask off from that point on and the only time they have to put a mask on is when they get up from their table." Soucy and some of his coworkers collaborated on petition to Gov. Chris Sununu, asking for restaurant workers to be included in phase 2b. Frances Bader, a grocery worker in Bedford, feels similar frustrations. Bader estimates that she comes into contact with over 100 people each day. And she says, not all of them are wearing their masks. This week, Bader received a text message from her employer that a COVID-19 case had been confirmed at her location. A study from researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that workers in non-medical essential fields, like food workers, are at greater risk of dying from COVID-19 than the average worker. In its guidance for states, the CDC recommends prioritizing essential workers, placing postal service workers and grocery store workers among those in its 1b recommendations. New Hampshire, like many other states, has opted for a more age based system of distribution. (Source: NHPR)

7. Cheshire County Leads NH in New COVID Cases Per Capita — But Also Tests More. New COVID cases in Cheshire County, which includes the Keene area, have ticked up a bit lately. And while the overall numbers remain far below their January peak, the county has led New Hampshire in new cases per capita over the past two weeks. Cheshire County added 249 new positives in the two weeks ending Thursday — a rate of 326 per 100,000 residents, the highest in the state, according to the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services. It was followed by Manchester, with 307 per 100,000, and Strafford County, with 296. The uptick corresponds with the return of students to Keene State College and Franklin Pierce University, which are testing thousands of people per week between the two of them. Both schools have reported dozens of cases since beginning their semesters. But that also means Cheshire County is simply testing more than most other places. With less than 6 percent of the state’s population, Cheshire accounted for 11 percent of its tests in the week ending Thursday. Adjusting for population, Cheshire County was doing more tests than every jurisdiction except Grafton County — and testing at more than twice the rate of Manchester. But while more cases per capita are being identified in Cheshire County, the county’s positivity rate has consistently been lower than New Hampshire’s as a whole over the past six weeks. The seven-day average for the week ending Thursday was 1.8 percent in Cheshire County, compared to 3.4 percent for the rest of state. (Source: Keene Sentinel)

8. Colby-Sawyer College Sees Spike in Cases. Colby-Sawyer College held classes remotely on Friday and moved campus dining to takeout-only after discovering at least 29 new cases of COVID-19 in recent days, according an announcement on the school’s website. All students were also required to get COVID-19 tests on Friday, unless they had already been fully vaccinated or infected with COVID-19 in the past three months, according to a notice posted on the school’s website by spokesman Gregg Mazzola. There are no active cases in employees, according to the school’s coronavirus dashboard. (Source: The Valley News) Meanwhile at the UNH campus in Durham, the number of active cases in students and staff has been stuck near the 100 mark for over a week. As of Friday, there were 101 positive cases among students and staff and 69 new cases had been detected over the most recent seven-day period. (Source: UNH COVID-19 Dashboard) https://www.unh.edu/coronavirus/dashboard

9. N.H. Has ‘Wasted’ 2,384 COVID-19 Vaccines; Less Than 1% But More Than Neighbors. While millions of COVID-19 vaccines are being administered across the country every day, a small number end up unused: either lost, damaged, or otherwise “wasted,” the term used by public health experts. In New Hampshire 2,384 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been wasted as of March 10, a small fraction—0.69%—of the more than 343,000 doses received to date. Of the wasted doses, state public health officials say 1,542 were lost due to broken vials or syringes. Another 724 shots expired and could no longer be used after being pulled out of freezers to thaw, while 118 doses have gone missing. While New Hampshire’s rate of wasted vaccines is considered low by national experts, our current rate is considerably higher than many of our neighbors. As of Wednesday, Vermont had reportedly logged 458 wasted doses, for a wastage rate of 0.2%. In Massachusetts, 1,493 doses have gone to waste, or 0.08%. Rhode Island’s wastage rate stands at 0.06% with 211 wasted doses, according to that state’s health department. (Source: NHPR)

10. A 4th Vaccine Could Soon Enter the Mix. Officials from Maryland-based Novavax have announced the company’s COVID-19 vaccine was 96% effective in preventing cases caused by the original version of the coronavirus in a late-stage trial conducted in the United Kingdom. This moves the vaccine closer to regulatory approval, which could come as soon as May. In a smaller trial conducted in South Africa - where volunteers were primarily exposed to another newer, more contagious variant widely circulating there and spreading around the world - the Novavax vaccine was 55% effective, based on people without HIV, but still fully prevented severe illness. (Source: Reuters)

11. Shaheen Tours Vaccination Site, Touts COVID Stimulus Package. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen spent Friday morning in Exeter meeting with members of the National Guard as well as medical providers administering COVID-19 vaccines at a state-run clinic behind the high school. Shaheen’s visit comes a day after President Biden signed into law a COVID-19 stimulus package with a $1.9 trillion price tag. Along with every other member of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation, Shaheen backed the measure, which includes direct payments to most Americans, additional funding for schools, rental assistance and billions for local and city governments. Republicans objected to portions of the bill, and raised concerns about its overall cost. (Source: NHPR)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 12, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Friday, March 12

In his first nationally-televised prime time speech, President Biden directed all states to make all American adults eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines no later than May 1.

On Thursday, New Hampshire public health officials announced four additional residents have died from COVID-19 and 341 newly-identified coronavirus infections. Active cases rose to 2,114 COVID-19 infections and 78 people were hospitalized with the virus. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Friday.

1. Biden Directs States to Make All Adults Eligible for COVID Vaccines by May 1. In his first prime-time address as president Thursday night, Joe Biden directed all states to make all American adults eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines no later than May 1. And if Americans "all do our part" in the coming weeks, friends and families will be able to join together in small groups in time for Fourth of July celebrations, the president said. The May 1 directive followed Biden's announcement last week that the U.S. will have enough vaccine supply for every American adult by the end of May, two months sooner than expected. The president also announced new steps to increase the number of vaccinators and places where people can get vaccinated. That includes deploying 4,000 additional military troops to support vaccination efforts, bringing the total number deployed to 6,000, and expanding the pool of vaccinators to include dentists, paramedics, veterinarians and other medical professionals. Biden said the federal government will begin distributing the vaccine directly to 700 additional community health centers, bringing the total to 950, and will double the number of pharmacies where the vaccine is available to 20,000. The number of federally run mass vaccination centers will also be doubled, Biden said. (Source: USA Today) In a tweet in response to the president’s address, Gov. Chris Sununu said: “New Hampshire is already on track to meet these benchmarks so long as the federal government can deliver on their promise to send us enough vaccines.” (Source: Twitter)

2. No Shipments of Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Expected This Week or Next, Sununu Blames Biden. Nearly 12,000 doses of Johnson and Johnson one-shot vaccine fueled the mass vaccination event at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend. Governor Chris Sununu says he wants to do something like this again. But any plans will have to wait. Public health officials said Thursday there are no Johnson & Johnson deliveries on the horizon. Johnson & Johnson promised to deliver 20 million doses nationwide by the end of March. Based on adult population, New Hampshire’s allocation should be about 60,000 doses of which about 20% of that has come in so far. This means that if Johnson & Johnson is to meet the goal, a huge amount of vaccine will need to be delivered at the end of the month. The governor hinted that’s unlikely and is laying blame at the feet of the Biden administration. “Maybe next week something will come, and maybe by the end of march it will ramp up again, but what was promised to the state did not come through from the biden administration,” Sununu said. (Source: WMUR) Earlier this week, Johnson & Johnson told the European Union it is facing supply issues that may complicate plans to deliver 55 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to the bloc in the second quarter of the year, an EU official told Reuters. J&J began rolling out its vaccine in the United States this month, with a target of delivering 100 million doses by the end of May, but has nearly halved its delivery forecasts for March to 20 million doses as it ramps up new manufacturing facilities. (Source: Reuters)

3. Biden Signs COVID Relief Bill, Stimulus Checks Could Start Hitting Bank Accounts This Weekend. Some Americans will receive new coronavirus stimulus checks as soon as this weekend, the White House said Thursday. The news from White House press secretary Jen Psaki came minutes after President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. "People can expect to start seeing direct deposits hit their bank accounts as early as this weekend," Psaki said at a press briefing. Beyond the billions of dollars in funding for vaccinations, state and local governments and other areas, the plan will send direct payments of up to $1,400 to the majority of Americans. It would also extend a $300 per week unemployment insurance boost until Sept. 6 and expand the child tax credit for a year. (Source: NECN) According to the office of Congressman Chris Pappas, checks will go out to 579,294 New Hampshire residents. New Hampshire will also receive $1.53 billion in state and local aid to prevent essential worker layoffs and for faster vaccine distribution. Including:

   • $1.08 billion to the State of New Hampshire

   • $194 million to cities and towns in New Hampshire

   • $264 million to counties in New Hampshire

   The plan will also provide unemployed Granite Staters with a boost of $17 million per week through Labor Day. New Hampshire schools will receive $350 million in aid and the average family enrolled in the ACA Marketplace for health care will see a $291 per month premium reduction.

4. NH Prepares to Launch New Vaccination System Next Week. The state of New Hampshire is launching what it's calling a better, simpler vaccination sign-up system for the next phase of COVID-19 vaccinations. The Vaccine and Immunization Network Interface, or VINI, will be launching Wednesday, when school, child care and youth camp staff members can sign up for appointments as Phase 2a begins. VINI will have some similarities to the federal Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS), which was used for sign-ups in earlier vaccination phases. A pre-registration step will check a person's eligibility, and then an email will be sent with a link to schedule the appointment. But Gov. Chris Sununu promises the system will be much easier to navigate, and it will be easier for someone to find an appointment. (Source: WMUR) Glitches with the VAMS system in New Hampshire ranged from lost appointments to the wrong vaccination locations being displayed to some users. (Source: NHPR) However, other states—including California, Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Illinois , Virginia, and Pennsylvania—have experienced well-publicized problems with their home-grown registration systems. New Hampshire’s VINI system will likely receive its baptism of fire when registrations open for residents age 50 to 64 on March 22. There are 200,000 people in that group.

5. Sununu Relaxes Travel, Retail and Karaoke Restrictions. Citing falling case numbers and rising vaccination rates, Gov. Chris Sununu took action on Thursday to loosen New Hampshire’s pandemic restrictions. Although the state’s mask mandate will remain in place, domestic travel rules will be immediately relaxed, retail stores can operate at 100 percent capacity and karaoke, pool and darts can resume at your favorite restaurants and bars. “The trends are very positive all across the country which gives us some flexibility,” Sununu said. Residents from outside New England no longer have to quarantine prior to arrival to New Hampshire, Sununu said. Barber shops and salons may choose to allow walk-in customers without reservations and resume in-person waiting rooms. There will also be more flexibility for overnight and day camps, and hotels and lodging establishments, he said. (Source: InDepthNH) . Sununu’s action comes despite a warnings from public health experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who have been urging officials to pull restrictions gradually and only after after a substantial portion of Americans are vaccinated. (Source: CNN)

6. $100,000 Fundraising Match Launched for Portsmouth Restaurants, Arts, Hunger Organizations. Two longtime business and real estate developers are offering to match up to $100,000 in community donations to help Portsmouth arts programs, hunger relief efforts and restaurants. The Portsmouth Together 200 Challenge is a fundraising bridge to help support the businesses and organizations during what's hoped to be the final stretch of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Portsmouth arts programs and restaurants hard and more than doubled the need met by hunger relief organizations, such as Gather. Mark Stebbins, of XSS Hotels, and developer Jeff Johnston came up with the idea to match up to $100,000 in the campaign. Their first donation matched was $500 from the mayor. "It really is kind of everyone coming together to say, 'How do we get to the finish line together?'" said Martha Stone, of Cross Roads House. (Source: WMUR)

7. Sununu Deflects Call to Make CARES Act Spending Reports Public. Gov. Chris Sununu promised at his Thursday press conference to look into whether reports showing how agencies and private organizations spent federal CARES Act funds he awarded them are public documents. InDepthNH.org asked for the reports two weeks ago and Sununu responded then by saying the state website is very transparent, although the reports were not published there, and Sununu’s spokesman hasn’t responded to questions about them since. WMUR’s John DiStaso reported Wednesday that four Democratic leaders asked that the reports be made public because they had also been denied access to them. Sununu had final control on how the federal money was awarded with input from various committees whose members he appointed. He chose to bypass the Legislative Fiscal Committee and the Executive Council in awarding the funds. (Source: InDepthNH) In a story also related to CARES Act funds in Massachusetts, the Boston Globe is reporting that Bay state businesses fined for violating COVID safety restrictions—including a strip club—received thousands of dollars in COVID relief funds. (Source: Boston Globe) As of Thursday, 9.9% of New Hampshire residents had been fully vaccinated and 22.6% had received their first dose. (Source: New York Times Vaccination Tracker)

8. Update: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back As Active COVID Outbreaks at NH Jails and Nursing Homes Decline to Five Despite New Outbreak at Keene Nursing Home. On Thursday, New Hampshire public health officials announced the closing of outbreaks at the Dover Center for Health and Rehabilitation and the Merrimack County Nursing Home, while reporting a new outbreak at the Alpine Health Center nursing home in Keene. (Source: N.H. DHHS) A total of 11 residents and five staff members have tested positive for the viral disease since the outbreak started. The outbreak comes despite most residents and staff having already been vaccinated. No deaths have been attributed to the outbreak. (Source: Keene Sentinel) As the coronavirus vaccines are rolled out across the country, there have been some reports of fully vaccinated people still contracting COVID-19. Experts say these "breakthrough cases" are expected, and want to assure people the vaccines are still highly effective. “95% efficacy is not 100% efficacy," said Andrew Heinrich, a professor at the Yale School Of Public Health in New Haven, Connecticut. Most recently, the state of Oregon reported four cases of people who were diagnosed with the coronavirus after being fully vaccinated. All four cases were either mild or asymptomatic, which experts said is further proof that the vaccines are doing their job. (Source: Today)

9. With Portsmouth Teachers Scheduled to Be Vaccinated Tomorrow, Some Portsmouth Parents Want Students Back for Full-Time In-Person Learning. With school employee vaccinations happening Saturday in the city, parents are pleading with school district leaders to bring students in for more in-person learning to cap off the academic year that has been restricted by the coronavirus pandemic. Letting students continue in a hybrid learning model (split between screens and in-person learning in classrooms), parents told School Board members this week, will continue to hurt their academic drive, mental health and social development. The COVID-19 vaccinations distributed to teachers and staffers, either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, would require another clinic in three or four weeks in order to give the second dose. That said, according to Zadravec, most of the district’s teachers and other employees wouldn’t be fully vaccinated and protected against the coronavirus until Portsmouth’s spring vacation week of April 26 to 30. When School Board member Nancy Clayburgh asked Zadravec if students could return for more in-person learning after the break period, Zadravec said it is a possibility. That day, she pointed out, would be Monday, May 3. “That would be the earliest (they could come back), yes,” Zadravec said. (Source: Seacoast Online)

10. Despite Worker Deaths and Hundreds of Hospitalizations, OSHA Has Issued Only One Fine for Violations in NH. When Walter Riley was first asked about Villa Crest Nursing Home in Manchester — the place where his fiance, 68-year-old Marge Gardner, worked as a housekeeper before she died of COVID-19 — he could scarcely contain his bitterness. “The bastards,” he said. “They didn’t give her adequate protection. They didn’t have instructions on how to fit it. They never should have sent her in those rooms, knowing her age and her condition. They knew she had diabetes.” In December, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the nursing home $20,820 for two violations, which the nursing home is disputing. Villa Crest’s penalty was the exception, not the rule — not because of the amount of the fine, but because it was imposed at all. As of March 5, it was the only COVID-related citation issued in New Hampshire by OSHA. The agency has closed some 135 complaints and referrals in the state as of Feb. 14, ranging from employers not providing personal protective equipment and not ensuring social distancing to lack of proper sanitation. The list includes some of the state’s biggest employers, including Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Walmart, Sig Sauer and United Parcel Service, as well as cafes and stores with just five employees. None of those other complaints resulted in a citation or a violation. NH Business Review asked how many open investigations are pending and did not get a response by deadline. (Source: NH Business Review)

11. Price of Basic Building Materials Doubles During Pandemic. When 2019 was getting ready to click over into 2020, there was already a problem brewing for local contractors, as the cost of basic building materials was increasing significantly. It’s only gotten worse since then. Much worse. “It’s a crisis, and it’s going to be for a while,” said Brenda Richards, executive officer of the Lakes Region Builders and Remodelers Association. The problem of price increases dates back to 2017, when the Trump administration enacted a tariff on softwoods coming from Canada, which supplies much of the U.S. lumber needs. But 2020’s trump card – a pandemic – made those price increases look quaint. “It started because of all the tariffs,” Richards said, “it started creeping up and then it exploded because of COVID.” At Middleton Building Supply in Meredith, the cost of items such as a sheet of plywood or an eight-foot-long two-by-four, each of which are used by the truckload to build a new home, have gone up by 10 to 20% over the past six months, and are double what they were a year ago. Yet, said general manager Michael Mussen, it hasn’t affected his business, which has continued to be brisk. “The demand is so high,” he said. His customers face the price increases with an attitude he described as, “We need it, we need to get it done, we’ll pay.” (Source: Laconia Sun)

12. Outdoor Dining Gets Ready to Resume Across New Hampshire. The number of seats, tables and umbrellas outdoors will begin to rise with the temperatures as many New Hampshire cities and towns again have approved allowing restaurants to offer outdoor dining in 2021. Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Derry, Portsmouth, Dover, Salem, Merrimack, Keene, Bedford, Exeter, Hanover, Lebanon, North Conway, Rochester and Peterborough are among the communities that have already approved outdoor dining for 2021. Restaurants must to submit an application to their town or city to move onto public spaces like sidewalks or roads. The typical application requires restaurants to fill out a questionnaire, a sketch and a photo of the desired outdoor seating setup, and $1 million in liability insurance and indemnification to the town or city.Portsmouth reinstated its emergency dining model from 2020, allowing restaurants to move outside as early as March 1. (Source: Concord Monitor)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 11, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Thursday, March 11

On Wednesday, New Hampshire public health officials announced two additional deaths and 267 new positive test results for COVID-19. 75 people are currently hospitalized with the virus and there are 2,003 active cases statewide. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Thursday.

1. House Judiciary Committee Votes To Kill Future Remote Access Hearings. Being able to sit in your kitchen in your pajamas and testify on legislation or just watch it being debated may be a thing of the past after the pandemic in New Hampshire. A bill that would have made permanent Zoom or remote access to legislative hearings was recommended to be killed by the Republican majority of the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday on an 11-10 vote. Rep. Marjorie Smith D-Durham, the ranking minority leader on the committee, vowed there would be a minority report and potentially a floor fight on House Bill 216. Supporters of the bill claim it gives more access and more transparency and is particularly useful to those who cannot easily show up to testify at the Legislative Office Building in Concord for hearings or just want to see what is going on. But opponents said it added much more work to committee secretaries to process the notes from such meetings and it gave a false sense of transparency. (Source: InDepthNH)

2. Update: No COVID Cases Yet Connected to Most Recent NH House Session. State public health officials have said they are not aware of any COVID-19 cases arising from the New Hampshire House legislative session held at the Bedford Sportsplex two weeks ago. State Representatives met for a tense two-day session in Bedford, with legislators who refused to wear masks sequestered to one side of the complex. “The fact of the matter is that there was no problem and more and more people are getting vaccinated,” Packard said. “I would hope that every Representative can feel safe with this setting.” House Democratic Leader Rep. Renny Cushing said that while he is glad there are no known cases of COVID-19 in the House connected to the recent sessions, the risk is still too great for some Representatives.“We hope that we see the pandemic get under control and we can move beyond that, but there’s a danger right now in not recognizing that it’s still present,” Cushing said. House Democrats have files an appeal of their lawsuit against Packard who has refused to allow legislators with disabilities that make them more vulnerable to COVID to attend sessions remotely. (Source: WMUR)

3. Outbreak Reported at Keene Nursing Home. Six residents and at least two employees at Alpine Healthcare Center have tested positive for COVID-19, an official with the Keene nursing home said Wednesday. Peak Healthcare owner Avi Goldstein said the facility learned of the cases in the last week of February and that all of the cases are still considered active. Some of the infected residents were immunized at vaccination clinics Alpine Healthcare Center hosted for residents in December and January, Goldstein said Saturday. However, he said others moved into the facility after those clinics and have not yet received a vaccine. Goldstein said none of the Alpine Healthcare Center residents diagnosed with COVID-19 have developed severe symptoms and he hopes the vaccines will prevent that outcome. It is not yet clear how well the vaccines prevent infected people from spreading the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Source: Keene Sentinel)

4. New Child Tax Credit to Provide Financial Relief for Families Feeling the Pressure of COVID-19. The COVID-19 relief bill, now headed to the president’s desk where he is expected to sign it on Friday, will provide $1,400 stimulus payments to most Americans. It also includes a significantly enhanced child tax credit that some have called historic. The tax credit was welcomed by families feeling the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic but is only applicable to this year. Now, parents of children under 17 are eligible for credit of up to $2,000 per child. The new tax credit would give $3,600 for every child under 6, $3,000 for every child aged 6 to 16 and $500 per child 17 through full-time college. An estimated 83 million children will benefit from the tax credit. Payments are planned to start going out in the form of checks or direct deposits beginning in July, going through December, for families making less than $400,000 per year or individuals making less than $200,000 per year. The other half will come when families file their 2021 tax returns in April 2022. (Source: WMUR)

5. Trio Charged After Putting Anti-Mask Stickers on Manchester City Hall. Three men are facing criminal mischief charges after police say they stuck multiple stickers critical of New Hampshire’s COVID-19 mask mandate in and around Manchester City Hall last month. Officers investigating a Feb. 2 report that stickers criticizing the mandate had been found placed on doors at City Hall, trash cans, and traffic sign posts determined the stickers were “difficult to remove” and “made reference to living in fear, citizens being controlled, and masks being a sign of cowardice,” police said in a release. After reviewing video surveillance, police located and charged the three men. (Source: Union Leader) In December, one of the men, Skyler Bennet of Concord, was charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct after an anti-mask protest outside the home of Gov. Chris Sununu. (Source: ABC News)

6. Nationwide, and in N.H., State Tax Revenues Not As Bad As Feared. Despite forecasts of massive tax shortfalls, a new report from the Urban Institute finds that most states did not see large declines in revenue due to the pandemic, including New Hampshire. On average, states saw only a 0.4-percent decline in revenues in 2020 compared to the previous year, according to the new data. New Hampshire’s tax revenues fared slightly worse than the national average, declining by 1.7 percent in 2020. “The story is really so much dependent on the state’s economy, and the state’s tax structure, and the state’s industry reliance,” said Lucy Dadayan, a senior research associate at the Urban Institute. According to Dadayan, states with progressive income tax structures saw stronger tax collections from wealthy residents, who suffered fewer job losses during the pandemic and also benefited from a strong stock market. Vermont and Rhode Island both saw revenues increase in 2020 by more than three percent. Maine’s tax revenues increase by 2.8 percent, while Massachusetts recorded a 1.3 percent decline in collections. (Source: NHPR)

7. State Aims to Provide First Vaccine Doses to All School, Child Care Staff by End of March. Vaccines for teachers will be widely available starting next week. Speaking on a call Wednesday with school nurses, officials said the goal is to provide the initial doses of vaccine to the group by the end of March. Phase 2A—which includes teachers, other school staff, and childcare workers—will start with regional vaccination clinics on Friday, Mar. 12. Those clinics will be scheduled with individual school districts, according to officials. If a district is not included, appointment scheduling will then be made available on Mar. 17 for public clinics. Teachers in the state who are not residents will be eligible, though teachers who live in New Hampshire but work out of state are not included in Phase 2A. (Source: WMUR)

8. People with Disabilities Continue to Report Difficulties with Vaccination Process. Granite Staters with certain disabilities have relied heavily on communication software to access vaccination information, but some have said it has not been a perfect process and that too many in New Hampshire are falling through the cracks. Advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing, Susan Wolf-Downes and her husband are deaf and at their vaccination site they were offered an interpreter through a program called Video Remoter Interpreting or VRI. “Unfortunately, the interpreter who was on the video didn’t understand me,” Wolf-Downes said. “We couldn’t take our masks off and she couldn’t understand us with our masks on.” Deanna O’Brien, who is visually impaired, said registration has been difficult since not everyone has a sighted person who can patiently assist them. “There are places within the vaccination website which ask for buttons to be pushed that are not labeled, so a screen reader cannot read them,” O’Brien said. Sen. Maggie Hassan has called on the Biden administration to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccine distribution process is accessible for individuals with disabilities. “A lot of people with disabilities have pre-existing conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to serious cases of COVID-19,” Hassan said. “So, we want to make sure that their needs are prioritized.” (Source: WMUR)

9. Exeter, Hampton Area School Staffs to Get COVID Vaccine Soon From Fire Depts. Plans are being organized to coordinate the COVID-19 vaccinations for school staffs in SAU 16 in the Exeter area and both Hampton area school districts beginning next week. Scott Schuler is serving as incident commander of the Seacoast COVID-19 vaccinations, coordinating emergency responses between the Seacoast Public Health Network and Strafford County Public Health Network. He said both communities’ educators will be receiving their vaccines from members of the Exeter or Hampton fire departments. Schuler said for SAU 16 teachers, the Exeter Fire Department will set up mobile clinics at each of the district’s schools throughout the week. He said educators should follow up with their school administrators for specific dates, times and locations. (Source: Seacoast Online)

10. Manchester School Board Okays Plan for More In-Person Instruction Starting in May. The Manchester Board of School Committee voted 13-0 on Wednesday night to amend the Manchester School District’s re-entry plan, accelerating the return of in-person instruction after learning that teachers would start getting COVID-19 vaccinations this week. (Source: Manchester Ink Link) The district is also preparing to launch a new voluntary testing program aimed at identifying asymptomatic cases among staff. Manchester school board members also voted to approve a two-week voluntary pilot testing program using self-swab kits from UNH Manchester. (Source: Union Leader)

11. Working Through an Outbreak: Dartmouth Staff Navigates Health Risks Amid COVID-19 Surge. On top of the everyday challenges of work during a pandemic, Dartmouth staff stepped up to the frontlines of the College’s recent COVID-19 outbreak — and thanks to safety protocols have come through mostly unscathed. Delivered meals, disinfected new rooms and restricted access to campus became the sudden normal for hundreds of students placed into isolation or quarantine housing following a surge of infections that peaked at 143 active student cases. As of Monday, however, president of the Local 560 branch of the Service Employees’ International Union Chris Peck noted that there have been no documented cases of COVID-19 transmission from students to union staff, which includes members of Dartmouth Dining and Facilities Operations and Management. Peck added that frequent testing had identified a few isolated cases among staff throughout the pandemic. Alongside a rise in cases, the temporary change in housing for hundreds of students has required the coordination of the first custodial responders team, dining workers and Safety and Security. FCR staff have been trained on the use of powered air-purifying respirators — advanced, airtight PPE items that the custodial staffer described as resembling a “Ghostbuster jumpsuit” — and cleaning procedures designed to thoroughly disinfect an entire room. In addition to physical safety precautions, the custodian said interactions with students have largely gone smoothly. However, they noted feeling disrespected by students on several occasions. When picking up a COVID-19-positive student from a fraternity to take him to isolation housing, for example, they said that the student’s housemates followed them to the van, taking pictures and shouting that the student was “going to prison” and “on the COVID bus.” “We took out so many kids from that house,” they added, declining to identify what they said was a fraternity house. “It’s really very sad, like everyone thinks this is a big joke.” (Source: The Dartmouth)

12. A Year of COVID: New Hampshire Hospitals Are Struggling Financially. New Hampshire hospitals have been bleeding millions of dollars a month as they fight to care for the casualties of the pandemic. The impacts on the state’s healthcare system may last for years. Between March and the end of 2020, hospitals have lost close to $500 million in revenue, said Steve Ahnen, the president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association. Even with financial assistance from the CARES Act, many hospitals are in precarious financial standing. Most of the revenue loss can be attributed to a decline in elective procedures. Even as hospitals began offering their most lucrative procedures again, Ahnen said patients have been hesitant to reschedule their appointments while COVID-19 remains a concern. This creates problems not just for hospital finances but patient health, he said. In addition to losing income, New Hampshire hospitals have also had to spend hefty amounts to provide care for COVID-19 patients – treating a coronavirus patient can cost a hospital between $20,000 and $88,000, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation – along with the ancillary costs of personal protective equipment and virus testing. Scott Sloane, the chief financial officer of Concord Hospital, said during the winter months his hospital has spent about half a million dollars more a month than they would typically spent on personal protection equipment. Recently, hospitals have also invested time and money into vaccination efforts. At the vaccine supersite in Loudon last weekend, Ahnen said many facilities volunteered their staff for hundreds of shifts, which can trigger overtime to fill in gaps at the hospital. On a national level, the American Hospital Association estimates that the industry lost $323 billion between March and December 2020. The study found that the loss could be primarily attributed to canceled surgeries, the additional cost of personal protective equipment, and providing hospital workers with support like child care and medical screening. (Source: Concord Monitor)

13. COVID-19: Remembering the Week the World Shut Down. In recognition of this one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 shutdown, Seacoastonline spoke with a dozen people with insights into the days the pandemic first took hold in New Hampshire. Like all of us, they have stories to tell of those first 10 days that forever changed our lives. Portsmouth Fire Chief Todd Germain: “As emergency managers in municipalities we have these binders; there’s a tab for every disaster that you can think of, from floods, to volcanoes, to hurricanes. There was no tab for a year-long viral pandemic. There will be now.” SAU 16 Superintendent David Ryan: "Usually in March that’s when our student musicals are taking place, so (there was) a lot of public outcry from parents saying, ‘Wait a minute, I can’t go watch my son or daughter perform?' That night, the news of the BioGen conference broke with the super-spreader event in Boston. We being a bedroom community for Boston ... agreed it was time to close our schools.” More reminiscences of the early days of the pandemic here. (Source: Seacoast Online)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 10, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Wednesday, March 10

Tuesday, March 9

On Tuesday, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced that for the first time since early November, active cases in the Granite State have dropped under 2,000. A total of 1,997 residents have active cases, 73 are hospitalized with COVID-19, and 219. Officials also announced one additional death. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Wednesday.

1. Vaccinations to Begin Today at Manchester’s Valley Street Jail. Eligible inmates and staff at the Valley Street jail will start receiving COVID-19 vaccinations at the jail on Wednesday, according to Jail Superintendent Willie Scurry. In an online memo, Scurry said state health officials have scheduled a mobile deployment team for the jail. First-dose shots for staff and eligible inmates are scheduled for Wednesday and March 21. Second dose shots will be provided on April 14 and 16. Last week, two inmates out of 99 tested at the Hillsborough County jail came up positive for COVID-19. All 49 staff tested negative. (Source: Union Leader) As of March 4, the most recent outbreak at the jail had infected 19 inmates and 2 staff. An earlier outbreak that was closed a month ago on February 11 infected 114 inmates and 54 staff. (Source: N.H. DHHS)

2. US House to Vote On $1.9 Trillion Covid Relief Bill Today. House Democrats aim to pass the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill on Wednesday so President Joe Biden can sign it by the weekend. The chamber received the Senate-passed package on Tuesday, and will take procedural steps to set up final approval Wednesday morning, according to Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's office. Biden aims to sign the legislation in time to beat a Sunday deadline to renew unemployment aid programs. It can take days for Congress to formally send huge bills to the White House. The president previously said he expects direct payments of up to $1,400 to start hitting Americans' bank accounts this month. (Source: NECN)

3. Pandemic Aid Package Includes Relief From High Premiums. As President Joe Biden’s pandemic relief package steams through Congress, Democrats have hitched a ride for a top health care priority: strengthening the Affordable Care Act with some of the most significant changes to insurance affordability in more than a decade. The bill would spend $34 billion to help Americans who buy insurance on the marketplaces created by the ACA through 2022, when the benefits would expire. Those who have studied the legislation said it would throw a lifeline to lower- and middle-income Americans who have fallen through the cracks of the government’s eligibility requirements for ACA assistance. The legislation could also provide relief to others who purchase insurance on the exchanges and opt for policies with lower premiums but high deductibles — and often avoid seeking care because they don’t have the cash to cover those costs. Most of the nearly 14 million people enrolled in plans sold on the marketplaces would pay less under the new provisions, with the option to use those savings to buy a new plan with a lower deductible. (Source: Kaiser Health News)

4. Kimball Union Academy Reports 7 News Cases. Kimball Union Academy in Meriden is reporting seven active cases of COVID-19, the most it has had since the pandemic began, according to the private boarding school’s website. The new cases are linked to another outbreak at the school reported in late February, KUA spokeswoman Tricia McKeon said via email Tuesday. Because the people who recently tested positive were already in quarantine, the new cases required no changes to the school’s operating procedures, she said. KUA’s campus remains in a “heightened monitoring” phase, which includes twice-daily health screenings and a reduction in the occupancy levels of spaces. In-person classes on campus continue, however. (Source: The Valley News)

5. School Districts Await Final Guidance on Federal COVID Relief Funds. As many New Hampshire residents prepare to vote on annual school district budgets this week, local superintendents say they are still waiting on final state guidance for when and how they can spend the latest federal COVID-19 relief funds. Without that information, districts could not factor this funding into their 2021-22 budget proposals, Monadnock Regional School District Superintendent Lisa Witte said. “Federal grants have a lot of contingencies,” she said. “And we don’t have any clarity on what all of those are at this point because nothing’s been provided to us.” Public schools statewide are expected to receive $156 million from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, which then-President Donald Trump signed into law on Dec. 27. On Jan 29, the N.H. Department of Education sent superintendents some general information on those funds, including a limited list of eligible uses for the money. And while districts know approximately how much money they’ll be eligible to receive, the state has yet to provide the final guidance that allows districts to apply for these funds, ConVal School District Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders said. “Many of us know what the typical guidance is, but until we get the final guidance from the state … we don’t even have the capacity to fill out the application for the grant,” she said. “... Without that guidance, we really can’t move forward.” Tyler Gouveia, a spokesman for the state education department, said Monday that districts should begin to be able to access these funds in the coming weeks, though he did not provide a specific timeline. Gouveia added that the department needs to make programming changes to its online grant-management system, which districts use to apply for federal funds, to accommodate the new grants. (Source: Keene Sentinel)

6. A Year of COVID: Some Education Changes May Stick Around. After a year of remote education, hybrid schedules, outdoor classrooms and the reinvention of how lessons are delivered, school leaders say some changes may be here to stay even when everything returns to “normal.” The traditional in-person classroom experience is expected to be back this fall as the pandemic wanes. Even so, superintendents say the last year has provided valuable lessons that could prove useful in the future. “I think COVID and the way we’ve done business has opened the doors to a number of different strategies in the way we look at and educate youngsters,” said Kathleen Murphy, interim Superintendent of the Concord School District. Murphy says remote learning will likely continue to be an option in Concord now that teachers have the technology skills to be able to deliver it. This could be as small-scale as a sick student using Zoom to attend classes for the day, or as large-scale as the creation of a virtual learning academy within the district for those who prefer online education. Murphy said learning outdoors, a practice that Concord schools used in 2020 to decrease the spread of COVID, will probably continue beyond this year, at least during warm months. Concord had tents set up outside the schools in the fall, for classes and lunch periods. Concord technology director Pam McLeod says her department is planning for more outdoor WiFi, so students can use their devices outside. (Source: Concord Monitor)

7. Lebanon Vaccine Appointments Hit Snag. As many as 20 people showed up at the former JCPenney building in the Upper Valley Plaza on Tuesday expecting to get their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine before learning the state’s Lebanon vaccination site was closed for the day, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Former state Sen. Martha Hennessey, of Hanover, arrived to get her second shot on Tuesday and found the site closed. She drove to another site and was about to get her dose when she got a call from DHHS telling her to go to Claremont. “You can’t make this stuff up!” she wrote on Twitter. “Could they (be) more disorganized?!” A DHHS spokesman said Tuesday’s mix-up was an “isolated issue” and did not affect other days or sites. (Source: The Valley News)

8. Mass. Hits COVID Vaccine Milestone: Record Single-Day Doses Given. Massachusetts marked some major milestones this week, exactly one year since Gov. Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency due to the pandemic. A record number of people were given the coronavirus vaccine Monday. Massachusetts health officials reported that 85,690 doses of the vaccine were administered Monday, adding to a grand total of more than 2.2 million doses that have now been administered in the state, according to Department of Public Health's latest report. (Source: NECN) While vaccinations are accelerating in Massachusetts, so is transparency when it comes to how the process is going and who’s getting the shots. Unlike New Hampshire, Massachusetts provides daily updates on vaccine distribution and a weekly vaccination data summary that tracks the progression of vaccinations in different age, gender, geographic, racial, and ethnic groups. Packed with colorful charts and useful information, the weekly Massachusetts summary stands in sharp contrast to the cryptic vaccination allocation summary tables which are tacked on to New Hampshire’s daily COVID summary once per week. New Hampshire remains one of only nine states that provide no data on the progress of vaccinations by racial and ethic group.

9. PopUp NH Drops Plan for Second Season as Portsmouth Arts Scene Eyes Big 2021 Summer. PopUp NH, which hosted an entertainment and food and drink venue last summer in the city-owned Bridge Street parking lot, has dropped its plan for a second season. “It is with growing optimism and gratitude that PopUp NH believes it is appropriate to withdraw our proposal for a 2021 season,” Josh Denton, the president of Pop Up NH’s Board of Directors, said in a published statement. “We wholeheartedly look forward to performances at other venues this season, everyone getting vaccinated, and for Portsmouth to come roaring back better than ever.” In 2020, Pop-Up offered local restaurants and performers a way to keep going during a summer when indoor dining was restricted and many performance venues had closed their doors. Several Portsmouth city councilors had raised concerns about lost parking revenues should the Pop-Up again by located in a downtown parking lot. Meanwhile, several of the performance venues that were shuttered last summer have announced plans to resume their own performances and had said they were unlikely to use the Pop-Up. (Source: Seacoast Online)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 9, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• The COVID Tracking Project

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

(Source: Concord Monitor)

On Monday, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services reported 226 new cases and no additional deaths from COVID-19. Active cases fell slightly to 2,036 and hospitalizations to 81. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Tuesday.

1. Portsmouth School Staff to Get COVID Vaccine on Saturday. Following Gov. Chris Sununu’s green light to begin vaccinating New Hampshire teachers and school staffers, the city's school district will begin administering COVID-19 shots later this week. Portsmouth High School will host a district-wide vaccination pod clinic this Saturday, March 13, according to superintendent Steve Zadravec. “It’s a huge step for us,” he said. The clinic could likely vaccinate approximately 700 teachers and staff members, including coaches and substitute teachers, though Zadravec said the district is still forming a list of interested participants and noted that some district employees might have already received their shot(s) in prior vaccination phases. Portsmouth Fire Department Fire Chief Todd Germain also said, though not confirmed just yet, he is working to include school staff from SAU 50, which oversees schools within Newington, Greenland and Rye, in Saturday's vaccine clinic. (Source: Seacoast Online) Manchester school officials have also announced the district will begin vaccinating all school district staff this weekend, with city health officials operating COVID-19 vaccination clinics on Friday and Saturday at Manchester Memorial High School. (Source: Union Leader)

2. U.K. Variant Of COVID-19 Detected In Two People Connected To UNH's Durham Campus. The University of New Hampshire announced Monday it has identified two cases of the coronavirus variant first discovered in the United Kingdom. The school, which has engaged in one of the state’s most ambitious testing regiments, said the cases were tied to its Durham campus, but did not disclose if those who tested positive are students or faculty. State public health officials announced the first confirmed resident with the variant last month, linking that case to someone who had recently traveled internationally. Since then, at least five other cases in the state have been confirmed, according to data from the CDC. The U.K. variant, also known as the B.1.1.7 variant, is a more contagious form of COVID-19, though early studies suggest already approved vaccinations remain effective. (Source: NHPR) Experts say the B.1.1.7. variant is now rapidly spreading across the US and, according to the CDC, will likely become the predominant variant this month. Epidemiologist Michael Osterholm warned earlier this week the variant could help fuel another dangerous surge in just several weeks' time. Dr. Chris Murray, director of the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) said his team's projections show things will slowly but steadily get better. "But in our worst scenario, where people stop wearing masks faster, start having gatherings faster, then you can see a surge in April," he said. (Source: CNN)

3. COVID-19 Contact Tracing Resumes as State Tracks New Variants. As cases of COVID-19 continue to drop in New Hampshire, the Department of Health and Human Services has reinvigorated contact tracing investigations. Public health officials said they are particularly focused on COVID-19 variants that are now present in the state. One variant, first identified in the United Kingdom, has been found in New Hampshire, with six cases confirmed in people who did not have a travel history. "Many of these variants do not result in increased illness or risk of hospitalization or death," said Beth Daly, chief of the N.H. Bureau of Infectious Disease Control. "They do appear to be more transmissible and can spread more easily, so that is certainly concerning." The state has 150 to 175 contact tracing investigators. Most of them are contractors, and some are from the National Guard. The investigators interview people over the phone and build case files. (Source: WMUR)

4. Dartmouth COVID-19 Cases Continue to Decline. Dartmouth College has begun easing COVID-19 restrictions after case counts continued to decline at the college over the weekend. The relaxation of restrictions on Monday included reopening group spaces on campus. Despite the gradual reopening, students continue to be barred from visiting one another in their rooms or gathering in hallways, the message said. Common spaces and kitchens in residence halls remain closed and dining options will continue to be “grab and go.” On Monday, the total number of active cases at Dartmouth had declined to 78, including 75 students and three employees. That was down 59 from the college’s total on Friday. The number of people in isolation and quarantine also dropped nearly 60% from 276 on Friday to 111 on Monday. (Source: The Valley News)

5. 3-Day Mass Vaccination Event at Speedway Concludes with 11,500 Doses Administered. The state has wrapped up its three-day mass vaccination site at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where thousands of Granite Staters received their shots. More than 11,500 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine were administered over the past three days. The state said it's possible another mass vaccination event could be held at the speedway down the road. "It all comes down to vaccines," Plummer said. "If we get a large quantity of vaccines, our goal is to get it into arms as quickly as possible, and this is the quickest way to get it in arms, bringing everyone together through a super site." State health officials said they expect New Hampshire to receive about 2,500 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine this week and next, with a possibility of a large batch of 12,000 doses arriving the week of March 22. That's on top of the Moderna and Pfizer two-dose vaccines that have been arriving regularly. (Source: WMUR)

6. COVID Tracker: The Arrival of Vaccines Will Change How We Measure the Spread of COVID. Despite the presence of vaccines, COVID-19–like the flu—is probably here to stay. In his weekly analysis of COVID-19 metrics, David Brooks, a science writer for the Concord Monitor, says the value of vaccines will be to reduce the carnage. But with fewer people getting tested, new case numbers will become less important when tracking the disease and deaths and hospitalizations will take on more importance because their resurgence would be the signal that the virus is undergoing a disturbing change. At the start of February, an average of nine people were dying every day from COVID-19; by the start of March that figure was down to fewer than three people. At the start of February there were 191 people in the hospital with COVID-19; as of Sunday there are 88 of them, the smallest number in four months. (Source: Concord Monitor)

7. You’re Fully Vaccinated? The CDC Says You Can—With Precautions—Resume Indoor Visits with Family and Friends. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued new guidance for vaccinated people, giving the green light to resume some pre-pandemic activities and relax precautions that have been in place. Specifically, the new guidance says, people who are fully vaccinated can visit indoors with other fully vaccinated people without wearing masks or social distancing. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after they have gotten the second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines (or two weeks after receiving the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine). Vaccinated people can also visit, unmasked, with people from another household who are not yet vaccinated, as long as those people are at low risk of serious illness from the virus. However, the agency said, vaccinated people should continue to wear masks when they're in public, avoid crowds and take other precautions when gathering with unvaccinated people who are at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19. (Source: NPR)

8. Some Towns Delay Town Meeting Voting Because of Pandemic. Voters across the state will be heading to the polls Tuesday for town voting, but some communities have decided to move the traditional dates because of the ongoing pandemic. Dozens of towns have voted to delay the town meetings they normally hold in February and March. The towns had a number of reasons for making the changes, but officials said the bottom line was safety. "It was going to involve some people to be outside if they were unable to wear a mask or didn't want to wear a mask," said Northwood town administrator Walter Johnson. "It just had some real logistical challenges that we thought may be an issue of infringing on people's opportunity to come to that session." Northwood is one of several communities moving its deliberative session and voting outside to May and June. (Source: WMUR)

9. Town Leaders Spell Out Struggles from COVID-19 Recovery. The leaders of several New Hampshire towns told Sen. Jeanne Shaheen on Monday they are coping with new challenges that come from an economy recovering from COVID-19 — more year-round residents, workforce shortages and an ailing infrastructure. “As a bedroom community, we’ve seen an influx of people who have the ability to work from home. There’s been a run on our real estate,” said Bow Town Administrator David Stark. In Sunapee, the Nov. 3 election turnout confirmed Sunapee’s population of about 3,500 had grown by at least 10%. “That’s a huge influx for our small town,” said Donna Nashawaty, Sunapee’s town manager. Lori Radke, Hollis town administrator, said some longtime farms in her bucolic community were being sold for development, and that’s led to a noticeable increase in residential building. Shaheen, the state’s senior U.S. senator, hosted the virtual meeting after a marathon weekend of debate on Capitol Hill debate that yielded the 50 Democratic votes needed to pass a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill in the Senate. New Hampshire Municipal Association Executive Director Margaret Byrnes said another welcome feature of the latest package is a $10 billion program for local infrastructure projects. Gorham town manager Denise Vallee said she was pleased to learn under the bill, as written, these infrastructure grants don’t have to be “shovel-ready” projects but simply meet an identified need in the community. (Source: Union Leader)

10. Hampton Beach Planning 'Normal Summer' in 2021 — Without Walking Mall. The so-called "walking mall" at Hampton Beach that closed off a section of Ocean Boulevard will not be returning this summer, if the decision is left in the hands of the town. Hampton Police Chief David Hobbs told selectmen he’s recommending a normal traffic pattern for the beach, keeping Ocean Boulevard open northbound and Ashworth Avenue open southbound, this summer. "I strongly believe the best thing for this entire community, for public safety reasons, is that we return to a little bit of normal as Hampton Beach was designed," Hobbs said. In 2020, a portion of Ocean Boulevard from A to O Street was closed to vehicular traffic from May to Labor Day per the governor’s order as part of plans to reopen the beach in ways that increase social distancing after it was shut down in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Town officials also plan to recommend there should be no parking restrictions at the beach in 2021. Last summer, the number of available state parking spaces was slashed in half to limit traffic. “We don’t see a need for requesting limited parking,” said Hampton Beach Chamber of Commerce President John Nyhan. “We feel it’s important to bring Hampton Beach back to the way it has been for years and years with very limited restrictions.” (Source: Seacoast Online)

11. Nashua Prepares for Outdoor Dining, Barriers Expected to Be Installed March 15. The city of Nashua is preparing for outdoor dining set to begin next week. Like last year, town officials plan to close a travel lane on each side of Main Street to give restaurants and other businesses more space for customers. The lane closure is expected to happen either on or around March 15, and Mayor Jim Donchess said the system worked well last year and will be brought back even after the pandemic has ended. “As one of the restaurant owners, Michael Buckley said, we probably saved many of the restaurants by doing this last year,” Donchess said. “We did act quickly last year and again we’re going to act very early.” (Source: WMUR)

12. A Year of COVID: A Grim Milestone for NH Nursing Homes. A little more than a year ago, the United States reported its first outbreak of COVID-19 at a nursing home at a suburban facility in Kirkland, Washington. Two-thirds of the residents tested positive for the virus and 35 people died. Brendan Williams, the president of the New Hampshire Health Care Association, knew the facility intimately – years ago, he worked with the home during his tenure the Washington Health Care Association. The death toll set off red flags in his mind. “I saw how it was ravaged,” he said. “It was a five star facility.” Over the past year, long term care facilities were ground zero for New Hampshire’s COVID-19 crisis — since March of last year, 840 people associated with these facilities have died from the virus, about 70% of the state’s total deaths. The virus has emotionally and financially squeezed these facilities and the effects of that strain, Williams thinks, will be seen for years to come. The income of nursing homes is tied to how many residents are in their care. During the pandemic, many facilities have had to take beds offline to make room for COVID units and free up staff for higher intensity care, cutting homes’ revenue substantially. The reduced income, compounded with the additional costs of PPE and COVID testing has put homes in a precarious financial situation. “Your electrical bill doesn’t go down because you’re operating at a lower census,” he said. “Facilities are going to have to consistently boost occupancy over a period of months, or face ruin.” (Source: Concord Monitor)

13. Should Government Zoom Meetings Outlive COVID-19? If you like watching your government at work on Zoom and YouTube, you might be interested in a bill being voted on Wednesday that would allow remote testimony post-COVID-19. HB 216, relative to continuing the practice, will be voted on in an executive session of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 10 as part of a series of bills starting at 9 a.m. This bill would make it easier for people in rural parts of the state and people with disabilities to testify in the House, advocates say. The public can attend via this Zoom link: https://www.zoom.us/j/95164452682. This is an important bill for rural Granite Staters and others for whom getting to the State House in person is a challenge, such as people with disabilities, said Jules Good, a disability rights activist. (Source: InDepthNH) Note: I fully support this bill because allowing people to testify remotely—and making the livestreams and recordings available to the public—increases both the transparency and accessibility of our government. With multiple public hearings often taking place before different legislative committees at the same time, members of the media are no longer forced to choose which one to cover. They can view one hearing “live” and watch recordings of—and report on—the others later. For many members of the public, the ability to testify remotely has been the difference between being heard and being silenced. Working people who previously wouldn’t have been able to take a morning or afternoon off to testify in Concord can monitor the livestream while working, testify when they are called, and return to work afterwards. Parents of young children can tune in and testify without having to worry about making child care arrangements. People who don’t have cars or who live long distances from Concord are also finding it easier to participate in the process. This means that in addition to the usual conga line of paid lobbyists and advocates trying to influence legislation, most committees are seeing far greater numbers of average citizens engaged in the legislative process. While there have been technical glitches (and occasional embarrassments) along the way as legislators adjusted to both the technology and the idea that what happens in committee, no longer stays in committee when hearings are on YouTube, I think many legislators in both parties would agree the process has been a real eye-opener in a positive way. Considerable time, effort, and money has also gone into making the process work. To simply throw away something that has increased the accessibility and transparency of our democracy under the guise of a return to normalcy (in other words, “what happens in committee, stays in committee”), would be a tragedy. If you would like to weigh in one way or the other, email members of the Judiciary Committee today at HouseJudiciaryCommittee@leg.state.nh.us.

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 8, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• The COVID Tracking Project

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Monday, March 8

Drivers line up to receive the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday.

On Sunday, New Hampshire public health officials announced 3 additional deaths and 196 new positive test results. Active cases and hospitalizations both fell slightly from Saturday and were at 2,062 and 88, respectively. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Monday.

1. Second Day of Mass Vaccinations Held at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Final Day is Today. Officials said about 3,800 people received a vaccination on Sunday. On Saturday, about 4,000 people were vaccinated as well. This was the first instance of the state taking on a vaccination event on such a scale. Some technological difficulties led to long wait times for some on Saturday, but the state was able to work through those which resulted in a much smoother process on Sunday. Local fire departments, EMS, state agencies and volunteers worked together to get people their vaccines. "We had over 340 people working each day to make this happen," said Fallon Reed from the New Hampshire Unified Command Center. "It’s great to vaccinate people. When we called people on Tuesday saying, 'We’re doing this site, would you like to come?' They were in tears being able to move up their appointments." The mass vaccination site will be held for one more day with another 3,800 people expected to receive their doses on Monday. (Source: WMUR)

2. North Country Hospitals Receiving Thousands More COVID-19 Doses, Appointments Moved Up. Medical providers in the North Country have received a significant boost in the amount of COVID-19 vaccine doses available, leading to appointments being moved up. Both North Country Health Care and Memorial Hospital are set to receive an additional 2,200 doses each. The recent boost is the most vaccine doses the medical providers in the North Country have been given so far. “We were prepared to do this. It just came in one big lump as 2,200 doses and so we ramped up very quickly,” Emergency Preparedness Coordinator at Memorial Hospital Will Owen said. “We are ahead of schedule. We didn’t expect to be starting 2A and 2B until sometime in April, and now we are starting two or three weeks earlier.” Providers continue to stress that people need to schedule appointments in order to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. (Source: WMUR)

3. Dartmouth Quarantine Expected to End Today As Cases Drop. Active cases among students dropped to 95 on Sunday, down five from Saturday’s count. Seventy students are in quarantine as of Sunday, and 105 are in isolation — a significant decrease from Saturday’s counts of 124 and 130, respectively. The reductions in cases and quarantine and isolation counts come ahead of Monday morning’s expected end to phase two quarantine restrictions. Provost Joseph Helble wrote on Friday that the quarantine would end at 8 a.m., provided that the weekend saw no “major COVID-19 guideline violations” and no daily case count increases of more than five. (Source: The Dartmouth) Meanwhile, as of this morning at the University of New Hampshire’s Durham campus, there were 109 active cases among students and staff. 201 remain in quarantine and 104 in isolation. Last week, UNH resumed in-person classes as part of the transition from orange mode to less-restrictive yellow mode. (Source: UNH)

4. NH Senate Unanimously Approves Bill Seeking to Help Children’s Mental Health During Pandemic. The New Hampshire Senate has given preliminary approval to a bill aimed at improving children's mental health at a time when the number of children waiting for inpatient psychiatric care has grown dramatically during the pandemic. A bipartisan law signed in 2019 allocated about $20 million toward creating a comprehensive system of care for children's mental health, but the pandemic has slowed progress in implementing many of its features. The Senate voted 24-0 Thursday to advance a bill that would give the state more time. Sen. Becky Whitley said the bill is needed to support children and families desperate to receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place. "The children's mental health crisis has been building for years, and has only been exacerbated by the pandemic," the Hopkinton Democrat said. (Source: Seacoast Online)

5. Business Booms for Contractors As Early Pandemic Fears Subside. Contractors, like most other businesses, were hit hard when the Covid-19 pandemic first hit in March. The majority of clients who had committed to projects opted to back out due to uncertainty about having someone else in their house. But unlike many other professions — most anything indoors comes to mind — the lull for contractors was only a blip in the grand scheme of things. Greg Baier, owner of Knollstone Contracting in Concord, saw business plummet early on during the pandemic, but it quickly sprang back. “We lost every project we had scheduled for indoors. I was sending back thousands of dollars in retainers. People didn’t want us in their houses,” Baier said. “Now I can’t go five minutes without the phone ringing. All of the money they had spent on other things like vacations they instead (now) are spending on (home) projects.” Contractors are also facing a surge in demand at the same time that they’re navigating a surge in prices for materials. Prices for some essential materials have doubled: a 2×4 that was $2.38 in February 2020 is now close to $5; a sheet of plywood rose from $26 to $57. The instability and unpredictability of materials costs has forced contractors to guarantee estimates for a short time. Or, the cost can change once the materials are bought. (Source: Manchester Ink Link)

6. Reflecting On a Year That Has Reshaped Our Economy and Workforce. Businesses have faced a ton of problems during the pandemic year, but as they start the transition back to some form of normalcy, the biggest effect may prove not to be technical, financial or operational, but personal. Twelve months of transactions and interactions done via Zoom, Skype and Facetime have shown unexpected efficiencies when all workers don’t need to commute everyday or travel and stay overnight to talk to clients. But it’s also created some deficits that may be more difficult to see. “What we lose is we don’t have the internal collaboration of shared experience. That’s a little harder in two dimensions than in three,” said Tim Lesko, a principal at Granite Investment Advisors in downtown . “The world is relationships.” He says that normalizing remote contact will be one of the long-term lessons of the pandemic, for better or for worse: “Zoom has taught us all.” The damage done by COVID-19 has been sweeping but hasn’t always taken an obvious form. Consider bankruptcies. According to data from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Concord, the number of firms that went officially belly-up in 2020 was lowest since at least 1988 – just 1,054, about 40% lower than the year before. This figure doesn’t tell the whole story of COVID’s damage, of course. Many small businesses such as mom-and-pop stores, independent salons or diners have shut without declaring bankruptcy, and many firms have cut their payroll to stay afloat. But it reflects how there has been less immediate industry fallout than you might expect. That is partly because of federal payments via the CARES Act and other sources but also because firms adjusted to changes. The best-known example is the way that many small breweries and distilleries switched to making hand sanitizer. Taylor Caswell, commissioner at the New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs, agrees that acceptance of remote working may be the most obvious pandemic change that will continue after things return to relative normalcy. But in a sense, this quick adoption of a technology change long in the works reflects a similar change taking place throughout business. “There’s been an acceleration of the use of technology, mostly for supply-chain development. (The) logistics industry has really matured and expanded,” said Caswell. “This might be the result of Amazons of the world. It was going to happen anyway but all of a sudden it became something that had to happen.” (Source: Concord Monitor)

Three Things to Expect this Week

1. The US House of Representatives will approve the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package sent back with a stamp of approval (and a few changes) from the Senate on Saturday.

2. President Biden will waste no time signing it.

3. With Phase 2a scheduled to start later this week in New Hampshire, the long-promised state-run vaccination appointment system will likely make its debut for eligible teachers and childcare workers.

Five Wishes for this Week

1. For New Hampshire to join 41 other states in reporting vaccination data for disproportionately affected racial and ethnic groups.

2. For all outbreaks at New Hampshire nursing homes and correctional facilities to be officially closed with no active cases.

3. For cases, hospitalizations, and deaths to continue to trend downward in New Hampshire and buck the national trend of stabilizing at high levels.

4. For the Department of Health and Human Services to replace its cryptic weekly vaccination allocation updates with an online vaccination dashboard, updated daily, that reflects key metrics such as the percentage of residents receiving first doses, the percentage who are fully vaccinated, and better information on which demographic groups (age, gender, race, ethnicity, geographic region) have been vaccinated.

5. For a sunny day with temps in the 60s.

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 7, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• The COVID Tracking Project

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Sunday, March 7

Nearly one in five Granite Staters has received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. (Source: New York Times Vaccination Tracker)

On Saturday, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced three additional deaths and 298 positive test results for COVID-19. There are now 2,187 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire and 90 people are hospitalized with the virus. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Sunday.

1. Mass Vaccination Clinic Opens at NHMS; Some Report Long Wait Times. Thousands of people received COVID-19 vaccines Saturday as a three-day mass vaccination clinic got underway at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The state aims to vaccinate about 4,000 people on each of the three days with the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. There are eight lanes with multiple vaccinators at the drive-thru, appointment-only clinic. Those with appointments are eligible under the state’s Phase 1B. Things went relatively smoothly for some with appointments. But for others, the wait times were much longer. By early afternoon, WMUR received several messages from people reporting long waits, including some who said they were waiting three to four hours. “We sat there and sat there and sat there,” said Cathy Raulick, who brought her mother to get vaccinated. “Three hours for an elderly person. It was kind of a mess.” The state said the cold weather caused iPads and other computer equipment to freeze up Saturday morning at NHMS and the vaccination site at Southern New Hampshire University. The sites moved to a backup paper system, which officials said caused a minimal delay. In a statement, Perry Plummer of the state's COVID-19 response team said: “Despite the technological challenges created early this morning by the cold weather, our mass vaccination site remains on pace to set records and vaccinate nearly 12,000 Granite Staters this weekend.” (Source: WMUR)

2. Weekly NH Vaccinations Up 22% As of Thursday. After a slow start, the pace of vaccinations is increasing in the Granite State. An increase in available doses combined with fewer technical glitches and more ways to get vaccinated, resulted in nearly 11,000 more doses finding their way into arms than in the previous week. As of Friday, 344,805 doses have been used since the vaccines first became available in December out of 445,755 doses received by the state. That translates into an efficiency rate of 77%—meaning that for every four doses the state has received, just over three doses have been injected into vaccine recipients. This puts New Hampshire in the middle of the pack among states when it comes to the percentage of available doses that have been administered. But better news is that New Hampshire has finally cracked the top ten among states when it comes to the percentage of the state’s population that has received its first dose. At 19.9%, the state ranks 10th nationally and 4th in New England behind Connecticut (23%), Massachusetts (21%), and Maine (20%). The news isn’t as good when it comes the the percentage of residents that have received both doses. At 8.4%, New Hampshire ranks 39th among states with105,852 residents now fully vaccinated. (Data Sources: N.H. DHHS and New York Times Vaccination Tracker)

3. Biden Says People Will Start Getting Stimulus Checks This Month as Soon as House Passes Covid Relief Bill. President Joe Biden said Saturday that Americans will start getting their stimulus checks this month, as Democrats rush to send more aide out. "When we took office 45 days ago, I promised the American people that help was on the way. Today, I can say we've taken one more giant step forward in delivering on that promise that help is on the way," Biden said in an afternoon press conference. This plan will get checks out the door starting this month to the Americans that so desperately need the help," the president said. The Senate passed the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package on Saturday, sending it back to the House for final approval. The Democratic-held House aims to pass the bill on Tuesday. It'll then be passed to Biden for his signature, which is expected before a March 14 deadline, when enhanced federal unemployment benefits are due to expire. (Source: NECN) While the Senate’s elimination of a House provision to increase the federal minimum wage drew most of the attention on Saturday, the package approved by the Senate includes other significant differences from the House version. Income eligibility for the $1,400 stimulus checks was reduced from $200,000 for couples filing jointly and $100,000 for individuals to $150,000 and $75,000. The Senate version also includes provisions that make the first $10,200 received in unemployment non-taxable and would make any student loan relief passed before January 1, 2026 non-taxable. Normally, both unemployment income and student loan forgiveness are considered income for tax purposes. (Source: CNBC)

4. How Do the 3 Vaccines Available in NH Differ? The first shipment of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine arrived in New Hampshire this week. And with three vaccines now on the market, people may be wondering: How do they differ? “They are all excellent vaccines,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. “When I’m asked what’s the best vaccine, I say, ‘The one that’s available to you.’ ” The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has a few major differences from the Moderna and Pfizer immunizations, both of which got emergency approval in mid-December. Rather than being administered in two doses, Johnson & Johnson’s is only one shot, making it the most convenient option, according to Schaffner. “It’s one and done, and that makes it a lot easier,” he said. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine can also be stored in a conventional refrigerator, unlike the Moderna version, which requires a freezer, and the Pfizer doses that require even colder temperatures. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has a lower efficacy rate than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, but Schaffner said that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good option. The vaccine’s multi-country clinical trial showed a 66 percent efficacy rate, compared to about 95 percent for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, according to the FDA. The rate is lower for a few reasons, Schaffner said. Most importantly, during Johnson & Johnson’s trials, the vaccine had to prevent against not only the original strain of COVID-19, but also the several other variants that have emerged in recent months. Moderna and Pfizer’s vaccines didn’t need to contend with those, Schaffner explained, boosting their efficacy in comparison. (Source: Keene Sentinel)

5. Funeral Directors Have Had a More Intimate View of the Toll of COVID than Most. In New Hampshire, they have seen the bodies of nearly 1,200 people whose lives were cut short by the virus. Funeral homes transport the dead, prepare bodies for cremation or burial, and help the family of the deceased mourn – all of which have been dramatically altered by the pandemic. Whether someone died from COVID or not, the time-honored tradition of attending a funeral and paying final respects suddenly stopped. Often times, families grieving a COVID-19 death had already been separated from their loved one due to hospital visitation restrictions. Over time, in-person services slowly returned, but only for small groups. Small, intimate gatherings or video stream became the norm. “We had people last year that postponed for when this blows over when summer comes,” said Katie Roan who owns Roan Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Service with her husband, Matt. “And summer came and it didn’t blow over.” As it became increasingly clear COVID would limit events for months, Roan had to create ways to honor the dead. She organized drive through visitation under the building’s portico that allowed friends and family to look onto the casket from their cars. The funeral home also started offering to video stream the funeral. “People aren’t able to be surrounded by the ones that love them,” she said. “They’re not able to talk about the person. I don’t think people have gotten the chance to properly mourn.” (Source: Concord Monitor)

6. Our Pandemic Year: COVID-19 Long-Haulers are Still Living With the Disease. While most people who fall ill from COVID-19 recover completely within a few weeks, some patients — even those who initially have mild symptoms — can still feel the effects of their illness for weeks or months after the initial infection. Lingering symptoms vary person to person, but in some cases include fatigue, difficulty breathing, cough, joint aches, chest pain, muscle aches, headaches, loss of senses of smell and taste, memory and concentration problems, insomnia, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s not yet clear what causes symptoms to linger. It may be due to organ damage from the acute infection, continued inflammation, ongoing viral activity or something related to the antibody response, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Efforts to understand the causes of long-term effects of COVID-19 may be further complicated by declines in people’s physical and mental abilities due to their illness, as well as people’s underlying health conditions or lifestyle changes they’ve made to adapt to the pandemic, according to the CDC’s website. Multi-year studies will be necessary to fully understand what’s going on, the CDC said. “We still have a lot to learn about the more chronic complications,” said Dr. Jose Mercado, a Dartmouth-Hitchcock infectious disease specialist, in a phone interview last month. So far, Mercado said long-term effects of COVID-19 seem to fall into three categories, including cardiovascular issues such as inflammation of the heart; lung scarring, which can cause fatigue and shortness of breath with exertion; and neurological problems such as “brain fog. (Source: The Valley News)

7. Seacoast Businesses Prepare for Summer Rebound. Hampton Beach businesses are already seeing an increase of traffic as spring begins, which indicates a busy summer ahead. Hotels and realtors are preparing for more tourism this year compared to last, according to Hampton Chamber of Commerce President John Nyhan. Nyhan said the decrease in COVID-19 cases and increase in vaccinations statewide are likely contributing factors to people feeling more comfortable going on vacation. "People are excited about coming back to Hampton Beach," Nyhan said. "Those that weren't able to come last year, I'm positive they'll be coming this year." Nyhan said he believes the state will pull back on some COVID-19 restrictions before summer while others stay in place. "We're still going to encourage people when they're indoors or close to others to wear masks, but I think what we're going to see is less restrictions and more going back to normal," Nyhan said. (Source: WMUR)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 6, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• The COVID Tracking Project

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Saturday, March 6

Active cases in southern and central New Hampshire communities. (Source: N.H. DHHS)

New Hampshire health officials reported 320 new positive test results for COVID-19 Friday, giving the state 2,240 active cases. No additional deaths were announced. Durham had 104 active cases as of Friday's report, the most on the Seacoast, followed by Portsmouth (53), Dover (40), Barrington (39), Exeter (29), Rochester (26), Hampton (21), Seabrook (20) and Somersworth (17). Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Saturday.

1. US Senate Works Through Night With Virus Aid on Path to Passage. The Senate worked through the night and past sunrise Saturday on a showpiece $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill after a deal between leaders and moderate Sen. Joe Manchin on emergency jobless benefits broke a logjam that had stalled the package. The compromise, announced by Manchin, D-W.Va., late Friday and backed by President Joe Biden, cleared the way for the Senate to begin a marathon series of votes on amendments before eventual approval of the sweeping legislation. By daybreak Saturday, senators had worked through more than a dozen of the amendments without substantially changing the overall package. While many of the amendments failed, one that proposal that did pass, from Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., would require schools, within 30 days of receiving money from the bill, to develop publicly available plans for in-person instruction. It appeared designed to fend of Republican criticisms that Biden’s package does not do enough to swiftly reopen schools. Earlier on Friday, Hassan joined Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and six other Democratic senators in voting against using the COVID-19 relief bill to raise the minimum wage. Once the Senate has finished with the bill, it will return to the House, which is expected to give it final congressional approval and send it to Biden to sign. (Sources: Associated Press and Union Leader) New Hampshire will receive $1.424 billion, Maine $1.531 billion, and Vermont $0.852 billion. Republican governors, including Gov. Sununu, have slammed the bill's funding formula based on unemployment as 'biased.' But a breakdown shows only small differences with the largest states still receiving the biggest slice of the funds and smaller states receiving less. (Source: USA Today) Also worth noting is that at $1.424 billion, New Hampshire’s share is 14% higher than the $1.25 billion in emergency relief the state received in 2020 under the CARES Act passed during the Trump administration.

2. DHHS Commissioner: Approach to COVID-19 Will Change in Coming Months. New Hampshire's top health official says Granite Staters need to be ready to deal with some level of COVID-19 for a long time, but the virus should be more manageable as vaccinations continue. Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette said a change in approach to the pandemic is coming in the months ahead when COVID-19 goes from being a statewide crisis to something managed more by doctors and hospitals. "I think you're seeing that coming probably spring into summer," Shibinette said. "We anticipate our numbers are going to go down with the vaccination program and through seasonable variability." The commissioner said it's important for acceptance of lower levels of COVID-19 not to become complacency or panic when cases rise again later in the year. "When you see COVID starting to rise in our community, we know that we have immunization for those who are vulnerable, and we have therapeutics to treat people that get really sick on it," she said. "So, it's really about not going into fear. It's not about shutting things down again. It really is about managing it within the community and protecting the most vulnerable people." (Source: WMUR)

3. State Prepares for First Mass Vaccination Event Today at NHMS. New Hampshire's first mass vaccination event is underway at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where more than 11,000 Granite Staters are expected to receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The event is the first of its kind in New Hampshire and runs through Monday. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, 300 volunteers will be helping to get needles into arms. Drivers will be separated into multiple lanes and will be vaccinated in their cars. Officials estimate the whole experience should last about an hour and a half and stress that only people with appointments should show up. They're asking people not to arrive more than 15 minutes before their scheduled appointment along with some snacks, a shirt that allows workers to get to their shoulders, and some patience. Lou Lange of Portsmouth and his wife are among those who will be receiving vaccinations. They got their appointments bumped up from April. "The guy even asked me why are you coming all the way from Portsmouth? I'm like look, we want the shot, and the advantage is that we were told it was the Johnson & Johnson, so the single poke, that's fine," Lange said. (Source: WMUR)

4. Maine Loosens COVID Travel Restrictions as Tourism Season Approaches. Fewer out-of-state visitors will be required to quarantine upon their arrival in Maine, as the state further loosens its pandemic travel restrictions ahead of this year's spring and summer tourism season, Gov. Janet Mills announced Friday. Although large gatherings are expected to remain off-limits for the foreseeable future, the less strict approach to individual travelers is welcome news for the state's tourism and hospitality industries, which suffered last season under the public health restrictions. Travelers from New Hampshire and Vermont were already allowed to visit Maine without quarantining or being tested for COVID-19. Beginning immediately, travelers coming from Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island can bypass the quarantine and testing requirements, Mills said. "So people can now move freely among the New England states without testing or quarantining," Mills said. Additionally, anyone from any state who either recently had COVID-19 or has been fully vaccinated for the virus can come to Maine without quarantining. Federal requirements related to international travel remain in effect. The plan is to loosen the restrictions even further on May 1, when Maine will allow people from any U.S. state, except those states that Maine has listed for exclusion, to visit without quarantining. (Source: Seacoast Online)

5. Pop-up Clinics Ensure Not a Drop of COVID Vaccine Goes to Waste. Area residents say they’re being helped “tremendously” through the state’s decision to allow local public health networks to administer leftover, soon-to-expire COVID-19 vaccine doses to them. NjTamara Collins, 87, of Dover, and her husband John were among the homebound individuals COAST Bus picked up and transported for vaccinations Thursday at a special pop-up clinic health officials operate at Community Action Partnership of Strafford County’s Dover office. “This came up very fast and is a fantastic, really fantastic service,” said Collins, who said her husband was originally scheduled to get his shot “months ago” but the appointment time didn’t materialize and they had to start the process over. “The way things are set up with the people that take care of people like us — old people — is more than fantastic and we’re more than grateful.” The CAP clinic is one of the periodic fixed locations at which the region’s public health networks, the Seacoast Public Health Network and Strafford County Public Health Network, work to administer extra doses to people who might otherwise struggle to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine or be disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. (Source: Seacoast Online)

6. Teacher Vaccinations Mostly Go Untracked Amid School Reopening Push. The national rush to vaccinate teachers in hopes of soon reopening pandemic-shuttered schools is running into one basic problem: Almost no one knows how many are getting the shots, or are refusing to get them. States and many districts have not been keeping track of school employee vaccinations, even as the U.S. prioritizes teachers nationwide. Vaccines are not required for educators to return to school buildings, but the absence of data complicates efforts to address parents' concerns about health risk levels and some teachers unions' calls for widespread vaccinations as a condition of reopening schools. The number of school staff members receiving vaccinations — and refusal rates — are unclear in several large districts where teachers were prioritized, including Las Vegas, Chicago and Louisville, Kentucky. Some state agencies and districts have said privacy concerns prevent them from tracking or publishing teacher vaccination data. Others say vaccine administration sites are not tracking recipients' occupations and they are not in position to survey employees themselves. (Source: NECN) There has been no word from New Hampshire public health officials on whether metrics on teacher vaccinations will be released.

7. Board Expects $25M Fund For Gaps in COVID-19 Relief Going Forward. A legislative advisory board that worked to help Gov. Chris Sununu distribute $1.25 billion in federal CARES Act pandemic relief funds is expecting to have a special $25 million fund to help pay for gaps in relief going forward into 2021. Top lawmakers who are members of Legislative Advisory Board met briefly Friday to discuss its next moves and decided to wait until everything shakes out in Washington, D.C., with a new stimulus package and what is left following federal accounting by April 15. Taylor Caswell, director of the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, said the department is awaiting results of the reporting process for what money was spent and how on funds created as the Main Street program for businesses. “At this point we are comfortable that we will have a new $25 million fund to hold in reserve to allow us to cover unforeseen needs in the coming months,” he said. (Source: InDepthNH)

8. How Do N.H. Town Meetings Work During COVID-19? Towns and school districts across the state are preparing for this year’s Town Meeting Day, March 9. The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services says municipalities can adopt mask requirements that are stricter than the state’s guidance, and if this is the case, that municipality’s guidance should be followed. If a municipality does not adopt stricter rules, residents must adhere to the state’s mask mandate as a baseline for COVID-19 precautions. For people who are unable or unwilling to wear a mask and fall under one of the exemptions in the state’s Emergency Order 74, town moderators must allow them to observe and participate in town meetings. Town moderators may provide an alternate room or voting area for people without masks — just as in the 2020 state elections. Voters may still use concern for COVID-19 as a reason to request an absentee ballot. Meetings can also be delayed or postponed if moderators deem them to be unsafe. (Source: NHPR)

9. Swelling from COVID Vaccine Can Cause Unnecessary Worry in Mammogram Results. In some women who have had the first or the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, either Moderna or Pfizer, a scheduled mammogram could show enlarged lymph nodes that are attributable to the vaccine but could be mistaken for a sign of breast cancer. Dr. David Itkin, infectious disease expert at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, said they are seeing this as a common result from the vaccine. He said the issue is that they might show up on a mammogram and cause undue alarm. There is no data yet on the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine, to say if it has the same effect. A side effect of the COVID vaccine can be swollen lymph nodes. Doctors are advising women who are getting the vaccines to either postpone their mammogram, if there are no imminent reasons why they cannot, or to be sure to alert their doctor and radiologist that they have received the vaccine. (Source: Seacoast Online)

10. Pandemic Complicates the Grieving Process. The pandemic has interrupted the way people grieve at the same time that the nation is mourning more than 500,000 Covid deaths. Normally, bereaved people are helped by ritual and processes, said Pamela Sollenberger, a certified grief counselor and owner of The Tapestry of Healing in Exeter. Steps like seeing a loved one in the hospital and attending a funeral can help people process their loss. Not moving through those steps can leave a loss feeling open-ended. “It’s like a soldier missing in action. You’re waiting for him to come through the door,” said Sollenberger. Researchers expect to see a surge in complicated grief as a result of the pandemic. Complicated grief, which occurs in about 7% of people who are mourning, happens when people ruminate on a death and their grief begins to interfere with their daily lives. It can be accompanied by symptoms of depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder; or destructive coping mechanisms, like drinking too much, said Sollenberger. People who can’t gather and mourn are at greater risk for complicated grief, she said. Cat Boyd, funeral director at DiLuzio Foley and Fletcher’s Funeral Homes in Keene, has seen firsthand how difficult this year has been for grieving families. Limits on attendance, mask requirements and social distancing are causing many families to forgo a funeral service. “It’s been really difficult, because people aren’t getting that closure piece of traditional services,” said Boyd. DiLuzio Foley and Fletcher’s Funeral Homes has started live-streaming services, which allows far-away family to participate in mourning even when they can’t travel. Boyd said the response has been positive, and she anticipates providing the service even after the pandemic. “With families spread out so far apart the country, it’s great to have,” she said. (Source: NH Business Review)

11. With More People at Home During Pandemic, Septic Issues Surge. The surge in people spending more time at home during the pandemic is taking its toll on septic systems. From clogs to pumpings and repairs, Rowell's Services in Northfield is getting call after call. “People aren't going out to dinner as much, so they're cooking more. They're not being quite as careful with grease going down their drain lines. (They’re) using more toilet paper,” said Mandie Hagan, co-owner of Rowell's Services. Maznek Septic Service in Bedford said business has doubled during the pandemic, and crews are working 12-and 14-hour days. Some advice for homeowners to stress on their system? “Don't use flushable wipes. They say they're flushable; they market them. It's a marketing scam. They're not flushable. Don't flush them down your toilet. They don't break down into your septic tanks,” said Hagan. Antibacterial soap and sanitizer can also cause issues. “That was getting in with the septic systems and finding its way to the leach fields, where we need bacteria to clean the pathogens,” said Maznek. (Source: WMUR)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 5, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• The COVID Tracking Project

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Friday, March 5

On Thursday, Gov. Sununu announced vaccinations will begin for teachers and childcare workers in Phase 2a as soon as March 12. He also announced residents age 50 and over in Phase 2 can begin making appointments as soon as March 22.

State health officials announced three more coronavirus-related deaths of New Hampshire residents on Thursday, bringing total deaths since the start of the pandemic to 1,178. In the past week, 15 Granite Staters have died from the coronavirus. The state also reported 231 new COVID-19 infections, 92 current hospitalizations, and is currently tracking 2,191 active cases. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Friday.

1. Dates Announced for NH Teachers, Residents Age 50-64 to Get COVID Vaccines. Teachers, other school staff, child care providers and youth recreation camp staff in New Hampshire will be able to begin signing up for the coronavirus vaccine as early as next week, Gov. Chris Sununu said Thursday, announcing dates for Phases 2a and 2b of the state's vaccine rollout. Phase 2a covers those workers for school settings above; Phase 2b covers New Hampshire residents aged 50 to 64. Phase 2a will open for vaccines in phases. On March 12, "where possible, our regional public health networks will work in partnership with school officials to organize and schedule vaccination clinics for their populations to administer first doses in closed pods," Sununu said. Then, on March 17, registration through state-run sites will open for members of Phase 2a who don't work in places where those clinics are possible; their appointments will being March 22. People in Phase 2b, who are age 50 or older, can start registering for vaccination appointments on March 22. The appointments for that group will begin March 25, Sununu said. (Source: NECN) School districts welcomed the news and immediately began preparing for the roll-out. "We were thrilled to hear the governor’s announcement this afternoon on vaccinations for school workers,” wrote Manchester Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Goldhardt. “Along with the city Health Department, we’ve been preparing for and eagerly anticipating this moment since the fall.” (Source: NHPR)

2. Up to 12,000 Will Be Vaccinated This Weekend at Loudon Speedway Site, Plan for Vaccinating Homebound Seniors Also Announced. As many as 12,000 people may be able to be vaccinated this weekend alone at a super site at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with most all appointment slots already taken. The one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine which arrived this week will be used at the Loudon site which will be staffed by more than 300 workers. People will sit in their cars waiting to be vaccinated on the track. People are asked to arrive no more than 15 minutes ahead of their appointment and noted no one should come if they do not have an appointment or are not in Phase 1B which includes individuals age 65 and older or people of any age with two or more qualifying medical conditions. Meanwhile, plans were also announced for vaccinations of homebound people. State Health Commissioner Lori Shibinette announced the service at a press conference Thursday. “There are two different categories,” she said. “One that’s just for groups of people that just need transportation, and one for people that truly need the vaccination given in their home.” New Hampshire residents who don’t have a home care provider, like the VNA or a home health aide, should call the state’s 2-1-1 hotline starting today to get an appointment to have someone come to their home to vaccinate them. Those who are homebound and already have an agency working with them do not need to call, as the state already has their information. Shibinette said this effort will take longer because of the time and distance between appointments at people’s homes. (Sources: InDepthNH and NHPR)

3. Dartmouth Says Outbreak May Be Linked to Virus Variant. Dartmouth College officials believe the campus might be seeing the effects of a more infectious variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 in its ongoing outbreak. It’s “highly likely” that the college’s outbreak — which stood at 146 active cases on Thursday — has been driven by a more transmissible variant, probably the B.1.1.7 virus that originated in the United Kingdom, Dr. Lisa Adams, co-chair of Dartmouth’s COVID-19 task force, said during a virtual community conversation on Wednesday with Dartmouth Provost Joseph Helble and other college officials. The spread of the outbreak appears to have slowed in recent days, Helble said. If that trend continues, restrictions — including holding all classes online, and requiring students to stay on campus and eat grab-and-go meals only — may soon be lifted in a stepwise fashion, he said. Curbing the outbreak also will be key to starting spring term as scheduled on March 29, officials said. While the B.1.1.7 variant has not been detected in samples collected on campus, state health officials said it was detected in New Hampshire last month. It has been in the U.S. at least since early January and because it is more transmissible, epidemiologists have been predicting this would become the predominant strain in the U.S. by March, Adams said. Additionally, Adams said the strain of the virus on campus currently appears to have moved from person to person quickly, which “suggests that this is a virus with a higher transmission rate.” (Source: The Valley News) Active COVID-19 cases at Dartmouth rose to 143 among students on Thursday — a four case increase from Wednesday. The number of students in quarantine dropped to 130 on Thursday, but the isolation count — which now sits at 162 — saw an increase of 20 students. (Source: The Dartmouth) For the students in isolation, the situation presents special challenges when it comes to balancing school work and mental health as the end of the term and finals week approaches.

4. As Divided US Senate Debates $1.9 COVID Relief Package, NH’s Senate Unanimously Passes a Relief Package of Its Own. The New Hampshire Senate voted Thursday to back a COVID-relief bill that would commission an outside review of the state's long-term care facilities. Before the unanimous vote, Nashua Democrat Cindy Rosenwald noted that the coronavirus has hit New Hampshire's nursing homes particularly hard. "New Hampshire has had the highest long-term care death rate in the country,” she said. “Around 800 individuals, or 75 to 80% of our total deaths from COVID-19." Among other things, the bill would also create a micro-enterprise fund to provide grants of up to $25,000 for businesses that saw their revenue drop by at least 50%, had lost workers, or were forced to close because of the pandemic. (Source: NHPR) Meanwhile, debate on the US Senate on the $1.9 trillion American Recovery Plan will start today. GOP Senator Ron slowed the process down on Thursday by forcing Senate clerks to read the entire 628-page bill aloud to a chamber where, at times, he was the only senator in attendance. (Source: CNN)

5. Sununu Issues 86th Emergency Order. The order allows previously licensed, out-of-state healthcare workers who have recently retired or are not currently practicing to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. (Source: Press Release) https://www.governor.nh.gov/news-and-media/governor-sununu-issues-emergency-order-86 An earlier order also allows registered and certified pharmacy technicians to administer the vaccine. You can access all of the governor’s emergency orders here.

6. 1 in 4 N.H Adults at Risk for Developing Severe Illness from COVID-19. About a quarter of Granite Staters are at risk of developing a serious illness due to COVID-19, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health policy nonprofit. The vast majority of people who develop symptoms of COVID-19 are able to recover without going to the hospital – some experience such mild symptoms they might not even know they’ve had it. However, for an unlucky minority, the virus has led to long hospital-stays, devastating long-term symptoms and, in the worst cases, death. According to the Kaiser analysis, 41% of residents in the state fall into a demographic that puts them at higher risk. The estimate is based on a 2018 survey conducted by Kaiser Family Foundation that gathered basic health data from each state like the number of people with diabetes, uncontrolled asthma, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a BMI greater than 40. Within the northeast, New Hampshire’s has one of the highest rates of people at risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19 due to a health condition. About a quarter of adults under 65 have one of these preexisting conditions– only Maine had comparable statistics. Age seems to be the prevailing risk factor in New Hampshire. In 2019, nearly 20% of the population was 65 or older, an age demographic that comprises most of the COVID-related deaths in the United States, according to the CDC. Older adults make up more than half of the high-risk group in New Hampshire. (Source: Concord Monitor)

7. Sununu Says $70M Can Be Added To Budget To Fund Eliminated Programs. Despite the pandemic, state revenues continue to be higher than expected. So Gov. Chris Sununu is calling for House budget writers to fund some of the programs he eliminated in his original budget proposal. In a letter to the House Finance Committee, which is working on the $13.8 billion budget he proposed last month, the governor said he originally based his revenue estimates on actual returns through January, but February revenues continue to show improvement over earlier estimates by 17 percent for the first eight months of the fiscal year and 18.5 percent above February estimates. Sununu set five priorities for the use of the additional money: 1) Maintain transitional housing services at the Department of Corrections, including the Shea Farm facility in Concord. 2) Return funding for existing positions in the shared services division at the Department of IT. 3) Return funding for family resource centers at the Department of Health and Human Services. 4) Return funding for civilian positions at the Department of Safety. 5) And provide $400,000 for the state’s match for federal funds for the Small Business Development Center at the University of New Hampshire. UNH has hosted the SBDC for 36 years. (Source: InDepthNH) The ultimate decisions about which programs get into the budget and which get left out are now in then hands of the legislature.

8. New Outbreak Announced at Hillsborough County Jail. At the state’s weekly update on outbreaks at New Hampshire nursing homes, jails and prisons, Health and Human Services Commissioner announced the closure of two outbreaks along with a new outbreak at the Hillsborough County House of Corrections. 19 inmates and 2 staff have tested positive so far in the current outbreak at the jail. A previous outbreak that was closed in mid-February infected 114 inmates and 54 staff. Of the six remaining active outbreaks in the state impacting congregate living facilities, four are in nursing homes and two are in correctional facilities. The state’s largest remaining active outbreak is at the N.H. State Men’s Prison, where one inmate has died and 266 inmates and 75 staff have been infected. However, of those cases, only three remain active, according to the Department of Corrections COVID-19 Testing Dashboard. (Sources: N.H. DHHS and N.H. DOC)

9. Keene State Keeping Commuters Remote After COVID-19 Surge. Keene State College is stepping up the COVID-19 safety protocols after a surge in positive cases was found among students living off campus. The school is also having students who live off- campus attend classes remotely for at least the next two to three weeks. College spokesperson Kelly Ricaurte said the recent uptick of positive cases is not coming from the on-campus student population. “Data clearly show that our on-campus buildings, including our on-campus residence halls and classrooms, are safe and not the source of spread,” Ricaurte said. The college tests all students twice a week. (Source: Union Leader)

10. Manchester Health Officials Optimistic as COVID-19 Cases Trend Down. Cases in Manchester have plateaued after a post-holiday surge, averaging about 20 new cases each day. "It's 20 per day, which is definitely down from that surge, which is kind of what we saw at the end of the first surge in spring of last year, so we're definitely at this point where things have flattened out," said Phil Alexakos, of the Manchester Health Department. Public health officials also said that in six weeks, they have delivered 1,400 first doses and 200 second doses of vaccines to people in the community who have social, mental or language barriers. (Source: WMUR)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 4, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• The COVID Tracking Project

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Thursday, March 4

(Source: N.H. DHHS)

After 3 consecutive days with no new COVID-19 deaths, New Hampshire public health officials announced five additional deaths on Wednesday along with 244 positive test results. The five deaths, all in residents age 60 or over, bring the state’s death toll to 1,175. There are now 2,215 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire and 89 people hospitalized with the virus. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Thursday.

1. N.H. Sticking With Original Teacher Vaccination Plan, Despite White House Push. New Hampshire health officials say they're evaluating President Biden's directive to vaccinate teachers and school staff before the end of the month but are sticking for now with their original plan to roll out those vaccinations in April. In a call with school nurses on Wednesday, New Hampshire's top health officials said they plan to let school staff begin signing up for a COVID-19 vaccine appointments at the end of March. Phase 2a of the state's vaccination plans will make shots available to a broad range of staff working with kids, including K-12 teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, childcare workers, and staff of summer camp programs. Since President Biden’s announcement Tuesday about plans to make the Johnson & Johnson vaccine more available through local pharmacies, neighboring states—including Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont—have accelerated their teacher vaccination timelines. (Source: NHPR)

2. Mass. Governor Says K-12 Teachers, School Staff Eligible for Vaccine Appointments on March 11. Reacting to a new directive from the Biden administration, Governor Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that the state will open vaccine eligibility to about 400,000 K-12 educators, other school staff, and child-care workers next week, but warned it could take a month to vaccinate all of them without more doses from the federal government. The policy change, which will allow teachers and related workers to sign up for vaccination appointments on March 11, came on the heels of a new federal directive that led CVS to open its own vaccine appointment system to educators Wednesday morning, including those in Massachusetts. (Source: Boston Globe)

3. VA Medical Center Opens Up COVID-19 Vaccinations to Veterans of All Ages—Portsmouth Appointments Also Available. COVID-19 vaccinations have been opened up to all New Hampshire veterans enrolled in Veterans Affairs Medical System, regardless of age. The VA had been holding vaccination clinics for those 65 and older but has now removed the age restrictions. "With increased vaccine availability, we made the decision today to open up to all veterans," said Kevin Forrest, director of the Manchester VA Medical Center. It's not just veterans who are eligible. "Caregivers who are enrolled in the formal caregiver program can come in with the veteran that they support, and we'll vaccinate them," Forrest said. "We will be in Portsmouth this Saturday by appointment only to vaccinate both veterans enrolled to the Manchester VA as well as veterans enrolled to the Maine health care system," Forrest said. "Likewise, on the 12th of March, we'll be up in the Conway area vaccinating our North Country veterans." The clinics are all by appointment only. Veterans or their caregivers can call 1-800-892-8384 x3199 or visit Manchester.VA.Gov to make an appointment. (Source: WMUR)

4. Some People With Disabilities, N.H. Caregivers Report Roadblocks When Registering For COVID Vaccine. Advocates for New Hampshire’s disability community say the state needs to do more to ensure people with disabilities and their caregivers can get the COVID-19 vaccine. Under the state’s current distribution plan, vaccines are available to people with at least two medical conditions that put them at serious risk for complications from COVID-19. Doses are also available to family caregivers for children under age 16 who meet that criteria. Lisa Beaudoin, who advocates on behalf of families within New Hampshire’s disability community as executive director of ABLE New Hampshire, says the process of getting the required sign-off from a provider has been a major hurdle. “The lack of clarity and consistency in vaccine guidance, by what ostensibly becomes the gatekeepers of the vaccine, is leaving behind our most vulnerable members of the disability community,” Beaudoin said. “And that’s been very problematic.” When asked about the issue at a recent press conference, Sununu said he was aware of the concerns and working to address them, but also disputed ABLE New Hampshire’s claims. “To be honest, I think there was some misinformation as part of that,” Sununu said. “But that's OK, we have a good relationship with them. We definitely appreciate the frustration of not just that population, but any population in New Hampshire that has maybe had trouble scheduling.” (Source: NHPR)

5. Health Officials Ready to Relax Some COVID-19 Restrictions at Long-Term Care Facilities. COVID-19 guidelines at New Hampshire's long-term care facilities will soon be relaxed as case numbers continue to drop. State Epidemiologist Benjamin Chan said that with the rollout of vaccinations into long-term care facilities, restrictions on certain things such as visitation, in-home group activities and communal dining could be relaxed, as long as social distancing, masks and possibly other types of personal protective equipment are still required. "We're trying to separate relaxing restrictions in a facility while still taking into account the fact that there's high levels of community transmission," Chan said. Another recent change is allowing companion and therapy animals, following consultation with the state veterinarian. (Source: WMUR)

6. $1,400 Checks in COVID-19 Relief Bill Will Phase Out at $80,000 Instead of $100,000. Senate Democrats reached a deal with President Joe Biden on Wednesday to limit the eligibility for $1,400 checks in his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The deal would phase out payments for Americans earning more than $80,000, according to two sources familiar with the deliberations not authorized to speak on the record. The tweak is a goal of moderates who did not want the checks to go to wealthier Americans. The checks would start to phase out at $75,000 and phase out entirely at $80,000 of income for individuals, as opposed to about $100,000 in the version of the legislation passed by the House last week. Joint filers would have their checks phase out starting at $150,000 and entirely at $160,000. (Source: USA Today) New Hampshire's U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan were among the moderate senators who won the concession from the White House. (Source: WMUR) The final text of the bill had not been released as of Wednesday evening, but the rest of the state’s delegation said they wanted to get money to people who needed it most, as quickly as possible. Congresswomen Annie Kuster’s office said she will “consider” any changes made to the Senate bill when it comes back to the House, and Congressman Chris Pappas’ office said he wanted to see “targeted” aid get to people who need it, and soon. (Source: Union Leader)

7. House Dems Appeal Federal Court Decision On Remote Session Access. House Democrats appealed a U.S. District Court judge’s decision denying their request for remote access to House sessions. “We have appealed because we believe the Courts should be available to protect the disabled from discrimination,” said Rep. David Cote, D-Nashua, “especially when discrimination is used to gain an unfair political advantage by robbing 100,000 citizens of representation in what should always be the people’s House.” In their suit, the Democrats claimed they lost faith in the Republican leadership’s ability to ensure proper health and safety measures to prevent infection in November after several COVID infected members attended their caucus infecting at least four other GOP members including former speaker Dick Hinch, who died a week after he was chosen as the new speaker. The Republican leadership did not alert the Democrats to the infections prior to Organization Day in December. However, Packard has maintained House rules forbid remote access to sessions, and a rule change would be needed, although the state Supreme Court ruled last summer the House could meet remotely. Republican members of the House, who have the majority, have voted down a proposed rule to allow remote access three times, most recently during the two House sessions last week. (Source: InDepthNH)

8. Keene State Reports 42 New COVID-19 Cases, Begins Biweekly Testing. Keene State College reported Wednesday that 42 people — nearly all of them students — were diagnosed with COVID-19 last week, just before the college moved to twice-a-week testing among its student population. The new cases, which include 40 students and two employees, were detected between Feb. 22 and Feb. 28, according to Keene State's online coronavirus dashboard, which is updated weekly. The college had detected 14 new cases the previous week. (Source: Keene Sentinel) Meanwhile, active student COVID-19 cases at Dartmouth College have increased by just one since Tuesday, indicating cases may be leveling off a week after the initial outbreak last Wednesday. There are now 139 active student cases at Dartmouth, according to the College’s COVID-19 dashboard. (Source: The Dartmouth) Active cases at UNH in Durham also continue to fall with 100 active cases being reported on the schools’s dashboard—down from over 500 just two weeks ago. (Source: UNH)

9. Follow-up: New Data Shows Black and Hispanic Americans Are Receiving a Disproportionately Smaller Share of Vaccinations. An new analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation based on CDC data shows that there is a consistent pattern across states of Black and Hispanic people receiving smaller shares of vaccinations compared to their shares of cases and deaths and compared to their shares of the total population. For example, in Massachusetts 5% of vaccinations have gone to Hispanic people, while they account for 28% of cases, 8% of deaths, and 12% of the total population in the state. Meanwhile, White people received a higher share of vaccinations in most states reporting data. For example, in Nevada, nearly two-thirds (63%) of people who have been vaccinated are White, while they make up less than half (48%) of the total state population. The analysis looked at 41 states that provide some level of vaccination data based on race and ethnicity. Statistics were not included for New Hampshire because the state does not provide them. (Source: Kaiser Family Foundation) While New Hampshire has allocated 10% of vaccine doses in Phase 1b to groups disproportionately affected by COVID, without actual vaccination data for these groups there is no way of knowing how many of those doses are actually making their way into arms in communities of color. (Source: Concord Monitor)

10. Exeter High School COVID Vaccination Site to Remain Open During Spring Sports. The state’s COVID-19 vaccination site operated by the National Guard at Exeter High School will continue to operate for the time being as spring sports for students are set to begin in the coming weeks. SAU 16 Superintendent David Ryan said the school has come up with a plan for athletes and their families attending games to access all of the athletic fields behind the school without intermingling with the National Guard’s vaccination site located in the football stadium parking lot. (Source: Seacoast Online) Also in Exeter, a parent’s group pushing SAU 16 to open Exeter High School and Cooperative Middle School for full-time in-person learning will hold a forum on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on mental health. The event is being billed as COVID-19 and Our Youth: How the Pandemic has Fueled a Mental Health Crisis and will be held via Zoom video conference at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 11. (Source: Seacoast Online)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 3, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• The COVID Tracking Project

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Wednesday, March 3

(Source: N.H. DHHS)

State health officials announced 242 new COVID-19 cases today and — for the third straight day — did not report any additional deaths from the virus. There are 2,274 active infections statewide and 88 residents are currently hospitalized. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Wednesday.

1. Biden Says U.S. Will Have Vaccine Supply For All Adults By May, Prioritizes Teachers. President Joseph Biden said on Tuesday that the U.S. will produce enough vaccine for every adult in the U.S. by the end of May, while making a fresh push to vaccinate school staff over the next month. Biden said his administration is invoking the Defense Production Act to boost production of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration over the weekend. In an unusual partnership between two pharmaceutical competitors, the administration is helping to ensure that Merck facilities can help Johnson & Johnson boost its vaccine production. The new timeline speeds up by two months the administration’s previous goal of having enough shots by July. But it does not mean all Americans would receive shots by May 31. Issues with distribution and personnel mean it could take much longer for all doses to be administered. But the speedier estimate makes for an optimistic target as millions of Americans wait to receive their first doses. Biden also called on states to prioritize teachers and school staff as essential workers in the vaccination schedule, calling for every grade-school employee and child care provider to receive at least one dose of a vaccine by the end of the month. "As yet another move to help accelerate the safe reopening of schools, let's treat in-person learning like an essential service that it is. And that means getting essential workers who provide that service — educators, school staff, child care workers — get them vaccinated immediately. They're essential workers," the president said. (Sources: NPR and CNN)

2. Sununu and NH Teacher’s Unions React to Biden’s Call to Vaccinate Teachers, Child Care Workers Sooner. Currently, K-12 teachers and childcare providers in New Hampshire are included in the next phase of vaccine rollout. Phase 2a was originally set to take place from March to May. But state officials have said recently, vaccinations most likely won’t start for Phase 2a until sometime in April. Teachers unions' representatives said Biden’s action is what they have been waiting for. “Educators have stepped up, they’ve been in the classroom. Most schools in the state have been open,” President of the American Federation of Teachers Douglas Ley said. “So, it is now time for the governor to step up.” In recent weeks, Gov. Sununu has refused pleas from school districts, parents, and teachers unions to schedule teacher vaccinations sooner despite issuing an emergency order requiring all schools to conduct in-person classes at least two days per week starting next Monday. In a statement on Tuesday, Sununu said the administration should be focusing on creating more doses. “The sooner the federal government increases our supply, the faster we can ensure those most at risk are safe and be in a position to move onto teachers,” Sununu said. “The CDC has said schools can reopen safely now regardless of vaccinations and that must be our priority." (Source: WMUR) Under Sununu, the state has chosen to disregard return-to-school guidance from the CDC that weighs the level of community transmission much higher than New Hampshire’s standards. Under the CDC’s guidance, schools in all New Hampshire counties would be in hybrid learning mode—where students split time between in-person and remote learning—and none would be conducting in-person classes full-time. (Source: The New York Times)

3. Vermont to Expand COVID-19 Vaccines to Teachers. Beginning next week, Vermont will open vaccine eligibility to teachers, school staff and child care workers, Governor Phil Scott announced during his twice-weekly virus briefing. The expansion comes as the supply of available vaccine increased by the federal approval over the weekend of the one-shot vaccine from Johnson & Johnson. (Source: NECN) In Massachusetts, which is also expecting to see its supply of COVID-19 vaccine increase over the coming weeks, Senate President Karen Spilka called on Gov. Charlie Baker to set aside a percentage of doses for teachers and school staff and start vaccinations teachers this month. Spilka's call on the Baker administration to prioritize teacher vaccination comes a week after the Republican governor and Education Commissioner Jeff Riley detailed their intent to have all school districts bring elementary school students back to the classroom full-time by April.

4. N.H. To Administer Johnson & Johnson Vaccine This Weekend At Mass Vaccination Site. The state will host a mass COVID-19 vaccination site at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon this weekend. The three-day event, which is by appointment only, is the first such mass vaccination in the state. Gov. Chris Sununu said health officials will reach out to individuals who have first-dose appointments scheduled in April, and offer them the chance to move up their appointment to this weekend at the track. The state aims to vaccinate over 10,000 there. The clinic will be administering the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only one shot, the state said. New Hampshire has received its first allotment of Johnson & Johnson vaccines, over 11,000 doses. (Source: NHPR)

5. Hassan and Sununu Spar Over Latest COVID Relief Package. U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan and Gov. Chris Sununu sharply disagreed Tuesday over whether a pending $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package was fair to New Hampshire and other states that have started to recover economically from the pandemic. Sununu urged the U.S. Senate to rip up the plan that passed the House of Representatives last week with the backing of President Joe Biden. U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster, both D-N.H., voted for the bill. Sununu was critical of Congress for changing the formula for aid to the states that it had used in the CARES Act law passed last March, which gave New Hampshire $1.2 billion. The change includes a state's unemployment rate among the variables used to determine how much aid each state gets. While Sununu claims the result will be the state receiving $233 million less than it would have under the older formula, Hassan cited an independent analysis from Reuters that concluded New Hampshire was receiving the 12th-most state aid in the latest package, $270 million more than it received last March. “The fact is New Hampshire is doing better on a per-capita basis than most,” she said. (Source: Union Leader)

6. 1 Year After New Hampshire's First COVID-19 Case, Hospitals Still on Front Line of Pandemic. The first case of COVID-19 in New Hampshire was confirmed one year ago, and since then, hospitals have been on the front line of the pandemic. On March 2, 2020, the state's top elected leaders and health care officials gathered in Concord to announce the first case of COVID-19 in the Granite State. "I don't know that we had any indication of just what that meant and what the next year would be like," said Steve Ahnen, president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association. "Patient zero" in New Hampshire, the first of more than 75,000 to come, was an employee of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon. For the past year, hospitals have been on the front lines of the pandemic, and health officials said the ongoing, heroic efforts have taken their toll. Parallel to that is the massive financial hit to the health care system, which the hospital association said was $150 million statewide last year. But now, with the vaccine, there is some hope. "We're very hopeful, but as we've said for months, now is not the time to let our guard down," Ahnen said. (Source: WMUR)

7. The Faces of COVID-19: Morning Those Lost to the Pandemic. For hundreds of Granite Staters, life after COVID-19 will never be quite the same because they are missing someone they love. COVID-19 has killed 1,170 Granite Staters in the past year. Each one left a mark on the state and their community. Jim Fleming died of COVID-19 in February. Over his 78 years, the proud Navy veteran and barber for three decades touched many lives. "He just knew how to naturally bring everybody together with so much laughter and fun," his wife said. His loss was even more painful because COVID-19 restrictions kept his family from being there and gathering to grieve. Carl Hebert's family also knows that pain. "It just didn't feel right to not be with him, you know?" said his son, C.J. Hebert. At 76, the Air Force veteran from Manchester died days after he was diagnosed. "I think a lot of people make the wrong assumption that only folks in their 70s or 80s or whatever are killed by this virus, and that's not the case, but even if it were, my dad mattered," C.J. Hebert said. (Source: WMUR)

8. UNH Eases Campus Wide Restrictions As COVID Cases Fall. The University of New Hampshire has relaxed several campus-wide restrictions after a decrease of several hundred active COVID-19 cases in recent days. The school announced Monday it is back in a “yellow mode” of operations, allowing students to return to their mixture of face-to-face and remote classes, as well as have more free reign to visit each other on campus without group size limitations. End of day statistics from Monday show that the school has reduced its active count to 103 COVID-19 cases, down from over 500 just two weeks ago. (Source: Seacoast Online)

9. Lack of Paperwork for Free Lunches Could Cost N.H. School Districts Millions. The Concord School District has been providing free meals to families across the district during the pandemic, and making extra meals on Fridays to carry families through the weekend. The meals are available to any student, due to a federal area eligibility waiver that permits schools nationwide to give free meals to all students during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of whether they filled out the annual Free and Reduced Lunch applications. But the system has had some unintended consequences. School districts across the state are worried about losing funds for the Free and Reduced Lunch program, as administrators say fewer families are filling out the necessary paperwork, which is still required to determine aid, and is creating a false perception of lower enrollment. As a result, districts could lose money next year based on artificially low numbers of how many students receive free and reduced lunches. To minimize the impact, parents in some communities are being asked to fill out applications, regardless of whether they plan to take advantage of the reduced meal rates, to help get the numbers back up. Concord Superintendant Kathleen Murphy said she has contacted New Hampshire legislators, to advocate for using pre-pandemic enrollment numbers to allocate funding. A bill along these lines has been filed in the New Hampshire Senate that would temporarily change the formula for school funding, and require the Department of Education to review both 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 enrollment data, and use whichever number is higher to calculate adequacy and differentiated aid. The bill is currently in the education committee. (Source: Concord Monitor)

10. Summer Businesses Wonder Where the Help Will Come From. New Hampshire’s hospitality industry is looking to Congress to allow more workers into the U.S. under the H2B program and to the Biden administration to end the Trump administration’s freeze on a program that provided over 4,000 workers in 2018 alone. The H2B visa program provides temporary non-farm help for up to six months for businesses where there are not enough U.S. workers who are willing and able to fill the need. The second, the J1 program, is a student cultural exchange visa that allows students to be employed full-time during school vacations and official university breaks for a maximum of 60 days. Just weeks after the COVID outbreak last March the Trump administration suspended two visa programs that were a critical source of seasonal workers for New Hampshire farms and lodging and restaurant businesses. The administration said the freeze was necessary to help U.S. citizens find work during a time when many Americans had lost their jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak. That left lots of businesses suddenly in the lurch, because they rely on foreign workers to fill jobs American often don’t want, they say. Both of New Hampshire’s U.S. senators, Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, said they are pressing the administration to reopen the visa programs. (Source: Laconia Daily Sun)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 2, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• The COVID Tracking Project

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

Tuesday, March 2

For the second day in a row, no new deaths were reported in New Hampshire as the state’s seven-day average for deaths fell to its lowest point since mid-November. (Source: N.H. DHHS)

For the second day in a row, there were no new deaths due to COVID-19 announced in New Hampshire. State health officials said Monday the number of current cases of COVID-19 in the state dropped to 2,363 from 2,532, the lowest level since Nov. 9. The number of hospitalizations was up slightly, to 90. Health officials announced 164 new positive cases of COVID-19, the lowest single-day total since Nov. 3. Here is the rest of the pandemic-related state and regional news you need to know to start your Tuesday.

1. Bills Moving Through the Legislature Would Tighten the Reins on Sununu’s Emergency Powers. A series of bills sponsored mostly by Republicans would rein in the powers Gov. Chris Sununu used frequently during the last year of the coronavirus pandemic. The House Executive Departments and Administration Committee Monday held public hearings on four bills related to issues raised during the pandemic, three to restrict any future governor’s authority and several would limit law enforcement’s or first responders’ ability to force people to evacuate in an emergency. Three of the bills, House Bills, 275, 417 and 433 would require the legislature to approve any renewal of the state of emergency after the first declaration by the governor. House Bill 417 would extend the state of emergency declaration from the current 21-day limit to 30 days, but would require the legislature to extend it beyond the first declaration. And the bill would require a majority of the House to approve executive orders once the emergency declaration is renewed. “We’re at a point where we no longer need to be in a state of emergency,” Blasek said. “We should be able to have a state of emergency without handing unlimited authority over to the executive branch with no oversight.” Committee member Peter Schmidt, D-Dover, said he found some of the bill’s provisions troubling and wondered if the sponsors were legislating for something that occurs once a century and is a highly contested political and public health issue. The committee intends to work on the bills before making its recommendations. (Source: InDepthNH) Leading the charge to end or curtail the governor’s emergency powers were members of his own party. "The restrictions imposed by the governor and his regulators rival the most tyrannical regimes that I know of in history," said Elliot Axelman, of Hooksett, who was a Republican candidate for state representative in 2020. In a statement to News 9, Sununu said the bills would undermine public health efforts. "These bills would jeopardize our response to COVID-19 and hinder our ability to vaccinate our most vulnerable citizens as fast as possible," he said. "In times of crisis, a chief executive must be able to move swiftly. These bills were designed for political headlines, and I unequivocally oppose them." (Source: WMUR)

2. Emergency Clinics Vaccinate More Than 2,000 for COVID-19 as Doses About to Expire. Over the weekend, emergency COVID-19 vaccination clinics were held in New Hampshire because vaccine doses were about to expire. Organizers of the clinics in Littleton and Strafford County said no doses were wasted, and some of the shots went to people in Phase 1B who weren't scheduled to get their doses until April. On Sunday in Littleton, cars lined the roads near Littleton Regional Healthcare for an emergency COVID-19 vaccination clinic. The hospital found out Friday it would be receiving doses of the Pfizer vaccine that were about to expire. In Strafford County, officials also got word Friday there were doses of the vaccine available. That translated into Strafford public health being able to vaccinate more than 500 people who are in Phase 1B over the weekend. "All of those settings were within our vulnerable population by ethnic groups that may not get the same amount of health care as everybody else," said Mary Kerr, Strafford County emergency preparedness manager. In addition, 247 people were vaccinated in Nashua, Colebrook got 192 extra doses, and Berlin had 150. Dr. Beth Daly, chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control, said every drop of vaccine is accounted for. To date, less than 1% has been wasted. She said expiring leftover doses are targeted to eligible Phase 1B recipients, but it sometimes goes to whomever is available. "At the end of the day, we are not going to waste a vaccine," Daly said. (Source: WMUR)

3. Language Barriers Increase Frustrations for Some Seeking COVID-19 Vaccine. As vaccination efforts ramp up around the state, some advocates are worried that non-English-speaking communities are being left behind. More than two months after the first COVID-19 shots were distributed, Eva Castillo said vaccination registration information is not easy to come by for non-English speakers. Castillo, director of Welcoming New Hampshire, called 211, speaking only in Spanish and left frustrated. "They say they have interpreters available and resources available in different languages," she said. "You have to navigate I don't know how many menus on 211 or even on the computer to finally find those multilingual things." The state's registration website offers an option to change languages, but that's assuming the user can read English enough to understand the option. There's also an option to request a translator that does not lead to an active page. "If it's hard for Americans, you can understand how difficult it is for someone who does not speak the language," Castillo said. (Source: WMUR)

4. As Dartmouth COVID-19 Cases Surge, Hanover Plans to Crack Down Off-Campus Partiers. Hanover is going after off-campus partiers as Dartmouth College reports 122 active COVID-19 student cases, with 256 students in isolation or quarantine on campus. “It’s just so frustrating,” Town Manager Julia Griffin said Monday. “This is when I feel like an old mom. I can hear the mother in me saying, ‘Guys, what are you thinking?’” Griffin said town officials plan to track down students who hosted large parties and their landlords and start issuing fines. An emergency town ordinance enacted late last year limits gatherings to 10 people. “I suspect when this is done, you’re going to see more than 200 positive cases,” Griffin said. “We’re all trying to keep the community calm.” (Source: Union Leader) Meanwhile, merchants in downtown Hanover have cut back on browsing for books and some restaurants closed temporarily to in-house diners on Monday amid concerns about the Dartmouth College outbreak outbreak. College officials have extended new safety protocols until Friday, including keeping all classes remote and closing indoor gathering spaces. (Source: The Valley News)

5. State Asks N.H. Businesses That Received COVID Grants To Return Excess Profits. New Hampshire businesses that received financial awards through the Main Street Relief Fund and the Self-Employed Livelihood Fund programs last year are being asked to return any excess profits. However, it isn’t clear how the state will use any of the money it recoups. The programs, which were both funded through the federal CARES Act, awarded nearly $600 million to small- and mid-sized businesses through multiple rounds of grants. The money was awarded based on expected financial losses due to the pandemic. Last October, DRA reminded recipients that they would be asked to attest to their revenues and be prepared to return any awards. (Source: NHPR)

6. New Hampshire Bankruptcies Remain at Low Levels. New Hampshire bankruptcy filings in February continued at their record-low pace. Some 59 individuals and businesses filed for bankruptcy protection in February – just three more than the modern record set in January, though still the lowest number recorded in any February since 1987. Indeed, the low number of bankruptcies has persisted despite the resurgence of the pandemic during December and January, with some restaurants and hotels going into hibernation following a muted Christmas. The February total is almost 90% lower than the 506 bankruptcies filed in January 2010, in the midst of the last recession. And it’s a little more than half the 115 filings of February 2020, the month before the pandemic hit.

7. COVID Tracker: Widespread Testing Will Stay Even if We Approach ‘Herd Immunity’. For the time being, State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan says New Hampshire will stick with the current mix of fixed and mobile testing sites, featuring PCR tests for people who don’t have symptoms of COVID-19 and PCR tests or less-accurate antigen tests for people with symptoms. Chan said the increasing availability of at-home tests mean that testing could become an “area of transition”. But with new COVID variants circulating, the role of testing remains critical. So far, the state has only tested several hundred samples for variants. The problem? Confirming the variants requires whole-genome testing, which needs different equipment and protocols. Another complication is that testing for variants is performed only on positive samples, so it has to wait for a first test to be completed, and then collect those positive results for follow-up analysis. (Source: Concord Monitor)

8. In Pandemic, Early Signs of Childhood Diabetes May Be Missed, Expert Warns. Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s children hospital is reporting that it’s seeing more serious cases of pediatric Type 1 diabetes coming in amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the viral disease itself isn’t causing this uptick, some of the pandemic’s effects — like increased use of telehealth services — can lead to physicians missing early warning signs, according to Ann Christiano, a pediatric nurse practitioner and coordinator of the pediatric diabetes program at the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon. “What we’ve been seeing since COVID is that kids are presenting sicker than they used to,” she said. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in those under 20 years old with no family history of diabetes. Christiano said it’s an autoimmune disease in which the body fights against itself, ultimately destroying the cells that make insulin. “When you can’t use your glucose for energy, your body actually turns to fat burning for energy, and the byproduct of that is acid can rapidly build up in the system when you don’t have insulin, and you can get very sick from that,” she said. Because it’s an autoimmune disease, it takes about nine months to a year for Type 1 to develop in children, so they won’t show symptoms until they have lost about 85 percent of their function, according to Christiano. (Source: Keene Sentinel)

N.H. STATE DHHS COVID-19 DATA & RESOURCES

• Vaccine Eligibility, Schedule and Registration (register to make vaccination appointments here)

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – March 1, 2021

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Overview Dashboard

• NH DHHS COVID-19 Schools Dashboard

• What To Do If You Are Exposed

• Where to Get a Test

• What To Do If You Test Positive

OTHER DATA/INFORMATION SOURCES (SOME WITH N.H. DATA)

• City of Portsmouth Vaccination FAQs

• Bloomberg News Vaccine Tracker

• KFF COVID Vaccine Attitudes Monitor

• The COVID Tracking Project

• NHPR COVID Tracking Project

• New York Times Interactive Vaccine Tracker

• New York Times N.H. COVID Maps and Charts

• John’s Hopkins Coronavirus Research Center—NH Page

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