State launches 2-1-1 COVID-19 hotline

CONCORD – New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and New Hampshire Homeland Security and Emergency Management, announced that 211NH has been mobilized to handle all COVID-19 related calls from Granite State residents. All residents with questions or concerns surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak can call 2-1-1.

“211NH will serve as a coordinated and streamlined process for any Granite Stater concerned about the coronavirus,” said Gov. Chris Sununu. “Now that it is up and running, any New Hampshire residents can call with questions or concerns. I would like to thank the folks at Granite United Way and Public Health for working around the clock to stay on top of this evolving public health situation by making this critical resource available 24/7.”

“It is important during an outbreak that residents get the information they need to protect their health and the health of their community,” said HHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette. “2-1-1 provides that resource for our residents to get the most up to date and accurate information about the presence of coronavirus in New Hampshire.”

211NH is New Hampshire’s statewide, comprehensive, information and referral service operated by Granite United Way and will replace the current Department of Public Health Hotline – 603-271-4496 – for COVID-19 related questions.

Members of the media and local city and town officials, as well as emergency management officials should still call the state’s Joint Information Center.

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Depart. of Ed. seeks USDA meal waivers

CONCORD – The New Hampshire Department of Education is seeking three waivers from the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services. The purpose of the waivers is to support schools and communities in providing meals to children in areas experiencing school disruptions in response to COVID-19. At this time, no New Hampshire schools have opted for long-term remote instruction. Should a school decide to shift to long-term remote instruction, the buildings would be closed, but students would continue their education remotely. Should the waivers be granted, schools could use their building to provide meals with limited interaction.

The first waiver would allow for an alternative or grab-and-go meal services that would limit participants’ interaction and proximity to other participants and decrease the risk of COVID-19 exposure.

The second waiver would allow schools in areas not designated as high need to cover meals provided to students under the Emergency School Closure provision of the Summer Food Service Program or Seamless Summer Options.

The third waiver would allow sponsors to provide reimbursable meals pending availability of meal pattern components.

Should the waivers be granted, all meals would be free to students at all locations, and families would be able to bring meals home to reduce contact between participants. The program would be similar to the Summer Meal Service Program, which provided nutritious meals to New Hampshire families at more than 100 locations last summer. Local school officials would determine where and how meals would be distributed.

Schools considering long-term remote instruction who wish to continue meal service should contact Cheri White, administrator of the Office of Nutrition Programs and Services at 603-271-3860 or cheri.white@doe.nh.gov.

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Senate announces COVID-19 package

CONCORD – Senate Democrats announced a package of legislative reforms and initiatives to help New Hampshire respond to the coronavirus threat on Thursday. The package comes after a joint Senate committee briefing was held with state agencies and public health organizations on Tuesday. The Senate Democrats’ coronavirus response package of reforms will be heard as an amendment to Senate Bill 507 – introduced by Sens. Dan Feltes and Martha Fuller Clark and Reps. Doug Ley and Mary Jane Wallner – on March 17.

The preliminary package includes the following measures: unemployment insurance benefits for quarantined workers and small business owners; job protection for quarantined workers; required waiver of insurance cost-sharing requirements imposed for state employees needing coronavirus tests and treatment; and the requirement of Gov. Chris Sununu and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to apply for a 1115 waiver to cover testing and treatment costs for uninsured Granite Staters.

After the announcement, Sen. President Donna Soucy, D-Manchester, Sen. Majority Leader Feltes, D-Concord), and Sen. Dr. Tom Sherman, D-Rye, issued the following statements:

“We want to thank our federal delegation for their work to secure at least $4.9 million for New Hampshire to deal with the coronavirus. We look forward to working with Gov. Sununu and state agencies to ensure the wise and appropriate use of taxpayer money, including enhancing and advancing the coronavirus testing capacity here in New Hampshire,” Soucy said.

“There are concrete steps we can take in New Hampshire to curb the impact of coronavirus, protect our citizens, protect quarantined workers, and protect public health,” Feltes added. “We look forward to moving these commonsense measures through the Legislature to proactively prepare for the coronavirus’ effect on our workforce, our communities, and our state. We have asked the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services for any and all additional legislative changes they may need to help do their job.”

Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chair Dr. Tom Sherman, D-Rye, said, “Public health and public safety are our top priorities as elected officials. That’s why we have put forward this comprehensive proposal to help minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission within our communities while providing essential financial support for working families impacted by the outbreak. The bill will be heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday, March 17th.”

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