City workers being repurposed, working remotely in move to avoid layoffs

For the first time ever City Council chambers will be empty on meeting night. (Courtesy photo)

New Hampshire has recorded its third COVID-19 death, this one out of Rockingham Country, which includes nearby Portsmouth.

Both of the previous deaths were out of Hillsboro County.

According to health officials, the victim was a woman over the age of 60 who suffered from underlying health issues.

Meanwhile, the number of positive cases in Strafford County rose on Sunday by five, to a new total of 17.

Statewide, DHHS announced 44 new positive test results for COVID-19 for a new total of 258 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire.

The new cases are 25 adult females and 19 adult males. The new cases reside in Rockingham (14), Strafford (5), Merrimack (4), Carroll (2), Grafton (2), Hillsborough other than Manchester and Nashua (1), Cheshire (1), and Sullivan (1) counties, and the cities of Nashua (7) and Manchester (7). Twenty-one of the new cases have no identified risk factors. Community-based transmission continues to increase in the State and has been identified in all of counties with cases. Most of the remaining cases have either had travel to domestic or international locations or have had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Five of the new cases were hospitalized for their illness; thus far, 39 patients of the 258 positive cases (15%) have been hospitalized.

In Maine, health officials announced two more deaths and 85 new cases over the weekend, with statewide totals in deaths and confirmed cases at three and 253, respectively. York County has seen 47 positive tests.

No city layoffs planned

In other local COVID-19 news, there was good news for city of Rochester employees as no worker layoffs or furloughs are planned, City Manager Blaine Cox said on Friday.

"We have extensive capabilities to work remotely. We have been transitioning away from desk top computers for several years now," Cox said. "Most employees now have laptop devices, and we have a robust VPN established that is secure. Most employees can work from anywhere there is an internet connection."

Cox added that employees who do not work on computers are being deployed in workspaces where they can be distanced from each other.

Remaining staff whose normal workload is suspended - such as recreation department staff - are being deployed to other departments and tasks that are outside their normal duties, he added.

Remote public hearing, City Council meeting set for Tuesday

The City of Rochester has temporarily postponed public meetings, and will be holding such meetings remotely beginning with Tuesday's Public Hearing and City Council meeting.

The public hearing and meeting will be broadcast on Cable Channel 26 for Atlantic Broadband customers, and audio of the meeting will stream live on the City's website at www.RochesterNH.net.

For members of the public looking to participate they can submit questions, concerns or comments by emailing PublicInput@rochesternh.net no later than by 5 p.m. on the day of the meeting.

Residents can also leave voicemail input by calling 603-330-7107 no later than by noon on the day of the meeting.

Residents can also leave voicemail input by calling 603-330-7107 no later than by noon on the day of the meeting. All email and voicemail input will be read aloud by Cox and included with the City Council's packet as an addendum.