Gov. Sununu 3pm Presser – are we open or closed?

Raw notes. More updates as they go along, Note: “masks” are generally at least cloth face coverings. Note: if an owner doesn’t want to open up, they don’t have to.

Dr. Benjamin Chan:

• 24,349 tested
• 1200 / people / day
• 164 positives – 2,310
• 270 hospitalization at SOME TIME during their illness
• 81 deaths (up 9 yesterda, all were in long term care facilities)
• Seniors should continue to self-quarantine regardless
• Hospital utilization is stable and so are the other curves. Daily hospitalizations, new, may be slowing.
• % of hospitalizations are 12% or less
• Doubling time slowing 3-4, then 8-9 days, now 4 weeks / 30 days based on hospitalization data
• Deaths – last 7 or 8 days, were 30 days. ALL but one are from nursing homes.
• Thus, he just said community transmission is decreasing
• Social distancing working, please still keep the 6foot rule, please wash your hands, please wear masks

Gov Sununu:

We all took this seriously and flattened the curve. Stay at Home 2.0

• In force through May 31
• You are healthier at home.
• Facts, Science, Data – determining the reopening

Heh! A “demos don’t” strikes again – his presentation isn’t going.

Data:

• We didn’t overwhelm our hospital system – we flattened the curve.
• Increased testing. Started at 200/day, now at 1200/day
• Hospital capacity (he’s claiming other types of patients in the hospitals than just COVID-19)
• Contract Testing – we are outstanding compared to the other States. We’re doing every single person.
• PPE availability – very fortunate in the US; done deals quickly and gotten them shipped in.
• Testing: large number of negatives

• 5% beds of total are COVID. Plenty of capacity.

Now what?

Universal Guidelines for open businesses (go to NH.GOV) – results from Task Force:

Keep the in-general:

• Physical separation
• Masks / PPE
• Hygine

Commissioner Shibinette: Hospitals IMMEDIATELY can open as of May 4

• Hospitals:
  • Time senseitvie Procedures
  • MRI or CT Scans
  • Knee / Hip replacements for Chronic pain
  • Biopsies, Invasive Testing
  • segregation of COVID / COVID-19 patients
  • Currently in the EMERGENT / URGENT top of the pyramid:

Each provider status is different. Thus, opening up procedures / activity,

Gov. Sununu

Campgrounds – NH Residents, only member of private campground

• Towns can close public campgrounds
• Additional Physical Distrnacing restrictions (how many people, cleaning, of stores & bathrooms)

Parks:

• Beaches – Seacoast beaches remain closed (thanks MA!)
• Interior State Parks Open
• Health and Safety Guidance to be provided.

Manufacturing:

• Was always open / essential
• Providing Guidance to continue operating safely
• Thanks to those companies that have switched over to PPE et al to help out

Golf: May 11

• Providing Guidance for public / private
• Limited to NH Residents and private club members
• Clubhouse Use prohibited
• Food & Beverage Restrictions (not a virtual restaurant)
• Car to first green, play, back to car
• Food available, box content

Barbers & Hair Salons: May 11

• Reservation Only
• Limited Open Chairs – no more than 10 people in a facility at a time.
• No Congregating – no waiting areas.
• Face Coverings for Employees & customers
• Cuts and coloring only

Retail: Continue curb side delivery and online. May 11

• 50% Occupancy
• PPE Provisions for Employees
• Strict Sanitation

Drive In Theaters: May 11

• Allow for Proper Social Distancing
• Guidelines of Food & Beverage Restrictions
• Congregating Restrictions at Bathroom, other Facilities

Restaurants: May 18

• Takeout, Outdoor Seating; asking towns/cities for help in expanding outdoors
• Tables must be 6 ft apart, 6 person limit
• Masks for Servers
• DPH, NHRLA Regulations
• Indoor seating will be Phase II (and he’s blaming MA)

Thanked the Reopen Task Force. They have more work to do in other areas: bowling, arcade, hotels, tourism destinations – yet to be determined.

He WILL not make Big Steps – “flexing” is the term he kept using. May have to go backwards at times.

Q&A:

1. What level of virus spread can we see from the above?  Good question, don’t know. May take 2-3 weeks to see any differences to base more decisions on (Dr. Chan)
2. Commerce clause as you are a Constitution kind of guy. Gov Sununu. Enforcement of car license plates will be by the facilities  themselves. They would have to call police and then a chat would occur. Aimed at day or weekend visitors (to the above)
3. Yes, we are showing a 14 day downward trend %positive (he didn’t say Trump’s guidelines – heh!)
4. Stay at home order is still in force. We are just opening up a bit more (above) to be included in the earlier order.
5. IF YOU FOLLOW THE RULES, increases will be minimized. He’s not happy that some may not follow them.
6. So, wouldn’t we be helped by enforcement (I think that’s Adam Sexton asking this question, moving more to a police state)? Sununu is emphasising more opening rather than handcuffs. He’s basing things on the industry associations
7. Dates subject to change? They can, depending on incoming data. Too much is unknown.
8. How does MA factor in? Working with Gov Baker on this – glad they have a robust healthcare system. Doing more with ME / VT as we all are more tourism based than MA.
9. Athletic clubs / churches – have them talk with the Task Force. They will be talking with more.

NOTE: NH.GOV crashed!

1. Sununu: some industries have come to us and don’t open us up. Cosmetologists said don’t open us.
2. Churches – how to figure out occupancy rates? How do you turn people away?

NOTE: Not word ONE about the Constitutional Right to Worship

1.  How will PPE get to businesses?  State will get that to them. DMV will be used as distribution points.
2. Unemployment: with businesses reopening, and employees now having to go back or lose unemployment UNLESS they think there is a health risk. No Changes to policy. If they want to stay out, they can stay on unemployment
3. Long term care deaths – Commissioner Shibinette enumerated today’s deaths and locations.
   • They will only test in those facilities if people are exhibiting symptoms.
   • Thus they have NOT gone to all the facilities preemptively (don’t want to introduce new people into those environments.
4. Normal isn’t going to be normal. A lot of businesses aren’t going to open. Normal? Maybe when a vaccine is created.  We don’t know when.
5. If the biz doesn’t think it is safe and doesn’t open, will employees get unemployment? Yes. Ditto if hours are reduced.
6. This is a marathon, not a sprint (question from what did you learn during your 5 month hike of the Appalachian trail?)

Note: claiming transparency. We are all in this together.

1. Working with ME and VT – how was the decision to open NH with ME and VT? Been sharing ideas and comments, talk about concepts we’re thinking of and challenges in other areas
2. Status of prisoner testing: at what point would it be to do universal testing of prisoners and staff?  So far, we’ve been lucky. Would wait for symptoms and then would rethink universal testing.
3. More facilities testing means more contact; contact tracing? We have a robust system in place.