By Kathy Mccormack and Wilson Ring
Associated Press
Here are the latest developments regarding the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic throughout New England:
New Hampshire
Gov. Chris Sununu on Friday vetoed a bill that would have raised New Hampshire’s minimum wage, saying it creates negative unintended consequences that are only “exacerbated” by the economic situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Sununu said in his veto message that a law can force an employer to pay a minimum wage, but it cannot force an employer to hire or retain a worker at that wage, or to continue offering the same number of hours to that worker.
“This bill would have meant fewer jobs and fewer available hours for our workers who are unemployed or underemployed. It would mean our employers who are fighting for survival would have one more burden placed on their backs as they try to recover,” he said in a statement.
“In our current economic environment, the greatest burden would fall squarely on entry-level workers, who need job skills to advance in their careers. Raising the minimum wage would create a barrier for these new workers, as well as those re-entering the job market from the criminal justice system at a time when unemployment remains high,” Sununu said.
The bill would have raised the wage from $7.25 an hour to $10 an hour in 2021 and $12 in 2023. Sununu vetoed a similar bill last year.
Senate President Donna Soucy, a Democrat from Manchester, called the veto a disappointment, pointing out that neighboring states all have a minimum wage of $10.
“This disparity continues to drive away the workers we so desperately need,” she said in a statement.
Mask materials: A company that produces material used in protective respirator masks is planning to ramp up production in New Hampshire during the coronavirus pandemic.
Lydall, Inc., is expanding to house two new production lines in Rochester that will produce the part of N95 and surgical masks that traps bacteria, viruses, dust and other particles. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday.
The new lines are supported by a $13.5 million federal contract the company secured with departments of Defense and Health and Human Services, and funding provided through the federal CARES Act.
Once completed by May 2021, the company says this will be the largest U.S. site for what it refers to as meltblown filtration media production. It says it will produce enough of the material for 1.7 billion N95 respirators or 6.5 billion surgical masks per year.
Lydall is headquartered in Manchester, Connecticut.
Surveillance testing: New Hampshire is entering into a partnership with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for it to take over surveillance testing for the coronavirus at long-term care facilities to help increase the state’s testing capacity and control costs, Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette said Thursday.
The transition will begin next week, Shibinette said.
“What we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks is as the national picture of COVID changes, it impacts our turnaround times at our national labs,” she said. “They are great partners. … but right now, their resources are going into different areas of the country. We will continue to use our commercial lab partners, but as much as we can, we will continue to try to build capacity within New Hampshire,” she said.
Shibinette also said that patients going into the hospital for non-coronavirus reasons can now have a designated person at their bedside.
“If you are going to the hospital or have a family member going to the hospital, either the emergency room or in-patient, you will be asked now to designate a ‘support person’ — that’s a person that can advocate for you, or just be there for emotional support, be a caregiver,” she said.
Hospitals will have the flexibility on visitations, she said.
Equity report: Providing more coronavirus-related data on race and ethnicity and promoting testing awareness among high-risk populations, especially people of color, are among the recommendations of a group working on strategies to address disproportionate impacts of the pandemic in New Hampshire.
The Governor’s COVID-19 Equity Response Team, established in May, released its first report Wednesday. It recommended that data should be included that can be used by service providers and community members to understand the impact to their specific communities. The report also recommended that data should include indicators of quality and spread of contact tracing in affected communities; testing ability in those communities; and data arranged by race in ethnicity in those categories.
It also recommends mandating mask use in “high-infection rate areas and high-risk situations or environments.”
Other recommendations are grouped under categories such as organizational cultural effectiveness; equitable data practices; and increasing knowledge about communities at risk for experiencing disparities.
The numbers: As of Friday, 6,375 people had tested positive for the virus in New Hampshire, an increase of 59 cases. Two new deaths were announced, for a total of 407.
The number of infections is thought to be far higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected with the virus without feeling sick.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness and can lead to death.
Vermont
Vermont Gov. Phil Scott on Friday issued an order requiring people in the state to wear masks in public as part of an ongoing effort to reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Speaking at his regular virus briefing, Scott said the outbreaks hitting the South and West may be spreading back toward the Northeast and Vermont.
“We are still in very good shape, but it is time to prepare,” the Republican said, noting it’s better to take precautions than having to roll back the reopening as has happened in a number of hard-hit states.
Under the order that takes effect Aug. 1, all public and private businesses must display signs saying masks are required for anyone over age 2. Businesses are allowed to refuse service to people not wearing a mask.
There are a number of exemptions, including people who are eating or drinking, engaged in strenuous exercise or those who have a medical exemption. People who do not wear a mask are not required to produce evidence of their condition.
The order comes with no fine or enforcement mechanism, although that could change as circumstances warrant.
Scott said the goal of the order is to further encourage people to wear masks.
“Unfortunately this issue has become polarized,” Scott said. “I am still worried that a mandate will create conflict and resistance.”
He urged people not to resort to public shaming of people not wearing a mask and to give people who don’t wear masks the benefit of the doubt that they could have a legitimate reason not to wear one.
“Let’s not make the news with screaming matches caught on video,” the governor said. “Let’s do things the Vermont way by being role models by leading by example.”
For people who have resisted mask-wearing, the governor said: “I am asking you, look at the data, not just something you see on Facebook, and realize that the science is real and that wearing a mask will not only protect the gains we’ve made, but also help your family members and friends stay healthy.”
School reopening plans: At least 16 Vermont school districts are planning to start the upcoming school year using an at-home and in-school teaching system to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19.
The schools in Addison, Chittenden and Franklin counties will have half of the students in school on Monday and Tuesday. The other half will attend Thursday and Friday. On Wednesdays, the school buildings will be cleaned.
All students and staff will wear masks and practice physical distancing while in the school buildings.
In a letter to parents, the South Burlington School District said the groups will be “thoughtfully created so they best support families, including grouping family members together whenever possible.”
“We know that no matter what decision we make, some people aren’t going to be happy with it,” said Superintendent Michael Clark of the Grand Isle Supervisory Union.
Jessie Mongeon, of South Burlington, who has a daughter going into second grade, said she wondered if the district would have a remote-only option for parents who are uncomfortable sending their children back to school.
“I feel like I can’t make a decision until (the school district gives) us more information,” Mongeon said.
The numbers: The Vermont Health Department on Friday reported eight new positive cases of the virus that causes COVID-19, bringing the statewide total since the pandemic began to 1,385.
The new cases were spread among six counties across the state. There are three people hospitalized.
Vermont has not had a COVID-19 fatality since mid-June. The death toll remains at 56.
Maine
A water district in Maine is collecting sewage samples for testing to determine the prevalence of the coronavirus based on what’s being flushed down the toilet.
The Greater Augusta Utility District began collecting samples of sewage this week at its wastewater treatment plant. Those samples are being sent to a Massachusetts company that’s pioneering efforts to test for traces of the coronavirus in sewage collected from treatment plants.
The data could provide information on how widespread the virus is in the local population, and could aid local officials in their decision making, the Kennebec Journal reported.
Most data on the spread of the coronavirus currently comes from individual testing. The water district, using Keep Maine Healthy funding obtained by the city of Augusta, hopes to take advantage of another measure of the virus’ prevalence, or lack thereof, in a community.
The grants are from the federal CARES Act, administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Service’s Keep Maine Healthy program. The city received about $155,000 from the program.
The numbers: Health officials in Maine reported 20 new cases of the virus on Friday, bringing the total number of reported cases to 3,757. Eleven of the new cases are connected to Marshwood Center, a long-term case facility in Lewiston that is the site of an outbreak.
The state did not report any new deaths from the virus. That number held steady at 118.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness and can lead to death.
Hotel tests: A hotel in Wells is offering to pay for coronavirus tests for two adults if they stay for several days.
Elmwood Resort Hotel general manager Scott Defelice told WMTW-TV the promotion is especially helpful for drawing visitors from Massachusetts. Massachusetts residents are required to quarantine for two weeks or provide a negative coronavirus test if they come to Maine.
The rapid tests are being offered at York Hospital.
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