New Hampshire has 11 more confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infected to 55, state officials announced Friday.
The new cases included a third person in Merrimack County with the disease caused by the coronavirus. In addition, Coos and Cheshire counties saw their first instances of infection, meaning eight of the state’s 10 counties have infected individuals.
Four of the cases, including the one in Merrimack County, involve people who have no identified risk factors, which underscores that community-based transmission of COVID-19 is occurring in New Hampshire, health officials said. The other seven cases were people who either have traveled recently or have had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.
In addition to the 11 new cases, the number of pending tests has swelled to 942, which means the virus could be more widespread.
A judge upheld New Hampshire’s statewide emergency ban on gatherings of 50 people or more to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Three people who planned to attend political and religious events in the next few weeks filed a lawsuit Tuesday, the day after Republican Gov. Chris Sununu issued the order prohibiting large gatherings for social, spiritual and recreational activities. They said the order violated their constitutional rights. A spokesman for Sununu said order was consistent with actions taken across the country and is clearly within the governor’s authority.
Judge John Kissinger, in upholding the ban, wrote that he “cannot imagine a more critical and important public objective than protecting the citizens of this state and this country from becoming sick and dying from this pandemic.”
Kissinger did recognize that the declaration is for a limited time period and that statute allows the Legislature to address constraints on the governor exercising his power. He also said, should the situation change at some point, “the doors to the court are open.”
Havenwood Heritage Heights, a retirement community in Concord, announced it was closing its dining room and cafe due to the coronavirus threat and is instead delivering meals to residents’ homes or offering grab-and-go options.
All meals will be prepared in takeout containers that can be refrigerated or reheated. Residents at the Havenwood Lodge will have meals delivered daily while those living at Heritage Heights Cottage will be able to pick up their meals between 10 a.m. and noon, daily.
Concord Area Transit is keeping its bus service in Conc ord running but is taking precautions to help reduce the spread of the virus “to keep our riders in a clean and safe environment as they travel.” Drivers are cleaning areas of the buses, surfaces such as handrails, seats and the fare box, multiple times a day. Riders are still asked to wash their hands and maintain social distancing as much as possible.