This 2020 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles which cause COVID-19. According to research released in 2021, evidence is mounting that having COVID-19 may not protect against getting infected again with some of the new variants. People also can get second infections with earlier versions of the coronavirus if they mounted a weak defense the first time. (Hannah A. Bullock, Azaibi Tamin/CDC via AP)

CONCORD – The state Department of Health and Human Services announced announced 259 new positive test results for COVID-19 and the death of a Cheshire County woman older than 60 Tuesday, for a current PCR test positivity rate of 2.6%.

Today’s results include 136 people who tested positive by PCR test and 123 who tested positive by antigen test. There are now 2,728 current COVID-19 cases diagnosed in New Hampshire. Of the results reported today:

2/22: 259 new cases

Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, there are thirty-six individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 49% being female and 51% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (53), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (49), Grafton (23), Strafford (18), Merrimack (17), Carroll (15), Cheshire (11), Coos (8), Belknap (7), and Sullivan (4) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (21) and Nashua (13). The county of residence is being determined for twenty new cases.

Community-based transmission continues to occur in the State and has been identified in all counties. Of those with complete risk information, most of the cases have either had close contact with a person with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis or have recently traveled.

There are currently 112 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19. In New Hampshire since the start of the pandemic, there have been a total of 73,923 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed.

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