An adult resident of a New Hampshire group home for people with disabilities has died because of complications from COVID-19, and several other residents and staff members have tested positive.
Officials with the Crotched Mountain Foundation in Greenfield said Wednesday that the 46-year-old man who died Sunday had significant disabilities and a history of respiratory complications. Two other group home clients and three staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
“The Crotched Mountain family mourns the loss of one of our residents,” said Ned Olney, the foundation’s president and CEO. “As an individual with a challenging medical profile he was particularly susceptible to the insidiousness of this virus. Together we grieve and remain vigilant to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.”
In addition to the group home, the nonprofit foundation operates a day and residential school for children with disabilities and provides autism services, accessible sports programs and case management services for seniors and adults.
On Wednesday, the state announced 48 new positive test results for COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 415 cases. The actual number remains higher because of delays in getting test results as well as a shortage of actual tests and equipment to take samples.
At a press conference Wednesday, state epidemiologist Benjamin Chan officially confirmed a fourth death in New Hampshire. And he and Gov. Chris Sununu warned that the crisis was likely to continue for quite a while, and urged residents not to become complacent about social distancing.
“We know we’re going to be in this situation for at least a few more weeks if not potentially a couple more months,” Sununu said.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center says it has begun Phase 3 trials for a possible COVID treatment, getting the process going in six days, whereas it “typically takes 60 days or more.”
Remdesivir is an anti-viral medicine identified by the World Health Organization as being the most promising agent against COVID-19. Originally used during the West African Ebola virus from 2013-16, Remdesivir was also identified as showing promise against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
D-H is now one of approximately 97 clinical sites worldwide actively participating in the trials of Remdesivir, evaluating the effectiveness in patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 disease. There are two trials occurring at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center: the first trial is for those with moderate symptoms of COVID-19, and the second trial is for those with severe advanced symptoms, both intended to prevent progression of the disease.