InDepthNH.org (https://indepthnh.org/category/covid/page/15/)
There are currently 198 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. In New Hampshire, since the start of the pandemic, there have been a total of 139,324 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed.
The state has joined a second lawsuit seeking to block a vaccine mandate issued by the Biden administration.
While the Executive Council’s Republican majority rejected $27 million in federal funds for boosting vaccines, effectively slowing the potential roll-out of clinics for 125,000 New Hampshire children ages 5-11, state officials said believe they can find a total of $22 million from other accounts.
The state says because of an issue with the surveillance system health care providers use to report to DHHS, new case data is unavailable.
The Executive Council unanimously approved $15 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase Hampstead Hospital, calling it the quickest fix and the best deal to address the emergency room boarding crisis for children in need of residential mental health care.
“The fact that supervising SAU 16 staff did not stop the contact tracing procedure, despite having acknowledged receiving the email from the Superintendent informing all staff that they were not to ask students about their vaccine status, is a very disturbing failure to protect students,” the statement reads.
Please note, due to an issue with the surveillance system healthcare providers use to notify DHHS of new cases, data from October 23-24 is incomplete. We are working to address the issue and will release complete COVID-19 data once it has been resolved.
New Hampshire’s Congressional delegation and health-care leaders urged the Executive Council to reconsider their rejection of $27 million to boost COVID-19 vaccinations when they meet Wednesday.
One Democratic lawmaker pressed Friday to better protect children touring the mask-optional State House and others scolded Republicans who don’t wear face masks and voted against $27 million in federal contracts that would have boosted vaccination efforts, which they say will delay getting shots to children.