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New dates eyed for NH state — not presidential — primary

By Holly Ramer And Lisa Rathke
Associated Press
Here are the latest developments regarding the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic throughout New England:

New Hampshire

New Hampshire lawmakers are considering changing the date of the primary election. No, not that primary.

The House Election Law committee held public hearings Friday on three bills that would change the date not of the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, but of the state primary held the second Tuesday in September to elect the governor, Legislature and members of Congress.

One measure would change the date to the second Tuesday in August; another would move the primary to the first Tuesday in June; and a third would move it up by a week only in certain years.

Supporters argued an earlier date would give members of the military more time to return their absentee ballots and would allow candidates to get greater benefit from national endorsements and funding.

Several opponents said an earlier date would give independent and third-party candidates less time to collect petition signatures to get on the general election ballot.

Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan did not take a position on the bills but said a June primary would mean lawmakers would spend even more time during their short two-year terms in campaign mode. An August date, meanwhile, might depress voter turnout.

Legislature: A Republican legislator in the New Hampshire House failed to cover his face as required for more than three hours of testimony in a hearing room Friday, a day after he returned from Florida.

Rep. Al Baldasaro, a Republican from Londonderry, said he had maintained social distance throughout his trip and later donned a face shield, saying he was doing so to satisfy anyone who was “whining and complaining.”

“The people elected me to do a job and I will not be showing a sign of weakness by hiding in a basement or my computer because of COVID,” he said in an email to The Associated Press. “I will not stop living my life, as virus’s never stopped me as a US Marine from training in 3rd world countries, with Malaria and other virus’s.”

The state’s travel rules require those traveling outside of New England to quarantine for 14 days upon returning to New Hampshire, and the Statehouse COVID-19 screening rules call for denying entry to those who have made such trips within the past two weeks.

The numbers: More than 64,000 people have tested positive for the virus, including 721 cases announced Thursday that included cases from several days. Sixteen additional deaths were announced, bringing the total to 1,022.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in New Hampshire decreased over the past two weeks, going from 755 new cases per day on Jan. 13 to 589 new cases per day on Wednesday.

Vermont

More than 32,500 Vermonters ages 75 and older have registered for appointments to receive their fist dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Thursday night, Human Services Secretary Mike Smith said Friday.

Vaccinations for that age group, with an estimated population of 49,000, started Wednesday. About 7,000 in that age group who are in long-term care facilities have already received the vaccine, said Gov. Phil Scott said at his twice-weekly virus briefing.

“We’ve been very satisfied to date with the number of people who have signed up,” he said.

The state expects to finish administering the first dose to the 75-and-older population in five weeks, Smith said. He said he expects the next two age groups, 70 and up and 65 and older, will have their first dose by the end of the winter or the beginning of spring,

This week, the state received an additional 1,350 first doses of vaccine, above its regular allocation, Smith said.

The numbers: Vermont reported 133 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday for a statewide total since the pandemic began of over 11,600.

The Health Department reported that 57 people were hospitalized, with 11 in intensive care.

The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Vermont did not increase over the past two weeks, going from 167.14 new cases per day on Jan. 14 to 134.71 new cases per day on Jan. 28.

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