Sununu expected to announce first baby steps for state's reopening today

Gov. Chris Sununu at recent press conference. (Jeffrey Hastings photo/IndepthNH.org)

CONCORD - Today it is expected that New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu will announces some relaxation of business closures mandated by his state of emergency that began in March.

The governor indicated on Wednesday that he was considering allowing hospitals to get back to performing elective surgeries as the caseload of COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to flatten and stabilize. On Thursday state health officials indicated 112 coronavirus patients remain in New Hampshire hospitals, with 96 new positive test results for the disease. Of those newly diagnosed only three had to be hospitalized.

Hospitals have been hemorrhaging fiscally since the pandemic fiscally unable to perform revenue generating elective procedures that are their bread and butter.

Of the new COVID cases with complete information, there is one individual under the age of 18 while the rest are adults, with 67% being female and 33% being male. The new cases reside in Merrimack (32), Rockingham (23), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (18), Grafton (2), Strafford (2), Belknap (1), and Sullivan (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (9) and Nashua (7).

With fewer and fewer being hospitalized the percentage of cumulative hospitalizations continues to shrink, now down to just 12 percent.

DHHS has also announced 6 additional deaths related to COVID-19, including two Hillsborough County women 60 or older, two Rockingham County men 60 or older, one Rockingham County woman 60 or older and a Strafford County woman 60 or older.

Meanwhile in Maine which opens its barbershops, hair salons, car washes and auto dealerships today, the number of confirmed cases rose to 1,085 with 170 cumulative hospitalizations and 53 deaths.

Current hospitalizations stand at 35, up three from Wednesday.