By Holly Ramer And Wilson Ring
Associated Press
Here are the latest coronavirus related updates for New Hampshire and Vermont:
New Hampshire
Republican Gov. Chris Sununu on Friday extended New Hampshire’s state of emergency declaration for another three weeks, while retailers began outlining their goals in reopening the economy.
Sununu, a Republican, initially declared a state of emergency on March 13 and has continued to extend it as it expires every 21 days. Further extension is necessary given that the pandemic has caused an unprecedented public health emergency and economic devastation, he wrote.
Among other things, the order continues expansion of unemployment benefit eligibility and protections against housing evictions and utility shutoffs. Separate orders, including a stay-at-home order, business closures and restaurant restrictions, are due to expire May 4 but Sununu has said extensions are likely.
Nonprofits: Demand is up and revenues are down for New Hampshire’s critical nonprofit sector, officials told lawmakers Friday.
“There’s a fundamental paradox with nonprofits. When your ‘business’ is up, when more and more clients need you, your revenues almost by definition are down because you’re in a down economy,” Dick Ober, president of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, told the legislative advisory board for the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery.
Martha Stone, executive director of the Crossroads House in Portsmouth, said the homeless shelter already was operating above capacity before the pandemic. Half of her annual $2 million budget comes from fundraising, but she’s had to cancel a major event that typically brings in $400,000. At the same time, expenses are rising, including spending $12,000 to house the most vulnerable residents in hotels. And she fears there will be a surge in homeless residents once the current prohibition on evictions is lifted.
Nonprofit organizations employ 83,000 people in New Hampshire, according to the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits. In a survey this week, the average nonprofit reported losing a third of its annual budget because of the pandemic.
Higher education: The only way to get college students back on campus this fall is through robust virus testing, the head of the University System of New Hampshire said Friday.
Chancellor Todd Leach told lawmakers that it would cost about $6 million to conduct such testing. He also said the university system needs $6 million to upgrade classrooms for remote learning, in case some student aren’t comfortable returning or there is another wave of the virus.
Colleges and universities are hoping to reopen in the fall, but haven’t made final decisions. The university system has already refunded $41.6 million in room and board for the current semester.
Michele Perkins, president of New England College, is chairwoman of the New Hampshire College and University Council. The group’s 21 members report having lost more than $185 million because of the pandemic.
“This crisis has the potential to cause the demise of many great institutions across this country, and those states that can preserve their institutions will be at an advantage in terms of workforce development when this crisis is over,” said Perkins.
The numbers: As of Friday 1,720 people in New Hampshire had tested positive for the virus. About a third have recovered, and 53 died.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.
More aid: New Hampshire is set to receive at least $17 million for coronavirus testing in the latest emergency relief package, the state’s congressional delegation said.
President Donald Trump signed the measure into law Friday. It provides nearly $500 billion in funding for businesses, hospitals, and a nationwide testing program.
Health officials said Thursday that the state is testing nearly twice as many people each day as it was a week ago.
“This new law will help small businesses, including those who don’t have relationships with big banks, assist our hospitals as they fight this pandemic and help ramp-up testing nationwide which is absolutely critical to re-opening our economy,” said U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat.
Vermont
The state of Vermont gave the return-to-work spigot another quarter turn Friday by expanding the number of people who may work at the same outdoor jobsite from two to five as long as the workers stay at least 6-feet apart.
The update to the state’s COVID-19 emergency declaration issued after the by Gov. Phil Scott also said that starting Monday, manufacturing and distribution operations and interior construction of uninhabited structures in one location may resume operations with up to five workers.
Outdoor retail space that has been previously restricted to curbside or delivery service can allow in-person shopping with a maximum of 10 people, which includes both customers and employees. Beginning May 1, farmers markets may resume with strict requirements that focus on food distribution and prevent people from congregating.
All businesses must require employees to wear masks and all employees must complete training on the safety requirements by May 4. The state will release specifics on the training on Monday.
Speaking during his regular briefing, Scott said further decisions about expanding the reopening of the state’s economy would depend on progress of the COVID-19 outbreak and rely on the science and the data to make those determinations.
“I know some will think this is too much and there are others who will think this is not enough,” Scott said. “But I continue to make this pledge to Vermonters, we will take a careful, measured approach, with health as the No. 1 priority.”
The gradual reopening of Vermont’s economy comes as the number of new CODID-19 cases in Vermont continues to be in the single digits, making health experts optimistic the disease has plateaued.
Scott said that while the progress of the pandemic is going well in Vermont at the moment, the state is only a few hours drive from New York City or the Boston area where thousands of people are still dying of COVID-19.
“Still (we are) right in the middle of it,” Scott said. “So that’s why we have to do this methodically, cautiously, knowing that anything can happen.”
Face masks: The Vermont Health Department is urging people to wear cloth face coverings when they leave home as the state starts to take steps toward re-opening.
Since people may be infected with the new coronavirus before they have symptoms, wearing face coverings helps to protect others from being exposed, the Health Department said.
“When we’re all taking these essential precautions, we’re all a little safer,” Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine said in a written statement on Thursday. “Wearing a face covering can take some getting used to, but this may be the new normal for some time. So, help protect your loved ones and your fellow Vermonters by wearing a face covering and knowing how to do so properly.”
New state guidelines require employees of businesses that are now operating to wear cloth face coverings over their nose and mouth while around others.
The numbers: The Health Department reported two new cases of COVID-19 in the state on Friday, bringing the total to 827. There have been 44 deaths.
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