Update from NH - State Office mentioned the Dartmouth Hospital Resident that did not follow instructions but did not detail his status in terms of employment IMO:
Coronavirus Update: State Announces Two New Presumed Cases of COVID-19 in N.H., Raising Total To 4
Quotes from article:
Updated on Saturday, March 7, 11:15 p.m.
State health officials announced two new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, late Saturday evening.
One patient is an adult male from Grafton County who had contact with an individual with a confirmed coronavirus infection at a West Lebanon church last weekend, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The church, Hope Bible Fellowship, has cancelled services and is advising people who attended services on Sunday, March 1, to stay home and avoid contact with others for 14 days.
The second presumed positive case announced Saturday is an adult male from Rockingham County who recently traveled to Italy.
Both individuals reported symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and underwent testing at public health laboratories on Saturday. Specimens from both patients will be sent to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control for confirmatory testing, the state said.
The state health department is trying to identify and notify others who may have been in close contact with either patient. Both patients have been isolated at home and are being monitored, the state said.
State health officials will hold a press conference in Concord Sunday morning on the new cases. If confirmed, the new cases would bring to four the number of coronavirus infections in New Hampshire. Vermont health officials announced that state's first case of COVID-19 Saturday evening.
Update on Friday, March 6 at 9:45 p.m.
Dartmouth College has suspended all of its spring term international programs, including study abroad programs, exchange programs, and Dartmouth-supported internships and fellowships for undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students. The move will affect roughly 100 students, the college said.
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In a message to the Dartmouth community Friday, Provost Joseph Helble said the college considered a number of factors in making this decision, including increasing travel uncertainty, risks to community health, federal and state guidance, and “concern for homestay families with vulnerable members in the home.” Undergraduate students in “credit-bearing programs” affected by the cancellations will be able to access a $5,000 cash grant from the college.
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That money can be used for independent research, internships, alternative education opportunities or alternative off-campus housing for the spring. To access the money, students will need to fill out an online form by March 20.
Dartmouth says the form will be available by March 10. Dartmouth is also offering online courses for affected students for the spring term, which starts March 30. Students who are already in overseas programs can remain if they choose, but no new programs will start, the college said.
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Update on Friday, March 6 at 4:40 p.m.
State public health officials say they have received additional testing kits from the CDC. The newly arrived test kits allow the state to test an additional 200 people.
But officials have not said what the state’s total testing capacity is at the moment. As of 9 a.m. Friday, the state said it has tested a total of 25 people, with 20 tests coming back negative, 3 pending, and 2 positive results.
Volunteers with the Metropolitan Medical Response System helped the state conduct COVID-19 tests at the Lebanon Airport Thursday afternoon. Samples were taken from three people in a setting where they were able to remain inside their car while the sample was taken.
In a Facebook Live video on Friday, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center CEO Joanne Conroy acknowledged the frustration of many in addressing the fact that the first patient to contract COVID-19 in New Hampshire, a DHMC employee, disregarded a request to self-quarantine.
“I’d like to start with a recognition that this employee was directed by Dartmouth-Hitchcock to self-quarantine and did not comply. We fully understand this causes great concern,” said Conroy.
“This concern exists both inside and outside our organization. We will not provide any additional details around this employee or any other patients. It’s the law and we comply with it.”
Ahead of next Tuesday’s municipal elections in Lebanon, home to DHMC, city officials are taking precautions to prevent the potential spread of the virus.
City Manager Shaun Mulholland said every voter will have access to hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes before entering the voting booth.
“If they wish to use it, they're not required to, but we'll have them there,” Mulholland said. “They can pull it out of the container and they can go in and wipe down their area and the pen that they're going to be using so we can reduce that risk.”
Mulholland said he wants city residents to know it is safe to come vote on Tuesday.
