Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Scenes like this became the rule rather than the exception over the weekend in local supermarkets, as folks stocked up on certain items because of the COVID-19 virus.

CONCORD – State epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan on Sunday confirmed Nashua’s first case of COVID-19, bringing to 13 the number of New Hampshire residents who have tested positive for the virus.

All 13 individuals are in isolation at home with what Chan described as “mild” symptoms, and none require hospitalization at this point.

Chan updated the numbers at a press conference Sunday afternoon, at which Gov. Chris Sununu announced he was directing all New Hampshire public schools to close for three weeks in order to help prevent the spread of the virus, which is also known as coronavirus.

But students should not view the lengthy absence as an extended school vacation, according to Sununu and state Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut, who said students will soon be engaging in “remote instruction” once all the state’s school districts have their respective systems up and running.

“Remote instruction, plus remote support, results in remote learning for our students,” Edelblut told a bevy of news media Sunday afternoon. He said that given the threat COVID-19 presents, and the expectation that it will increase over the next week or two, the state Board of Education on Thursday passed an emergency measure that allows schools to implement remote instruction.

He said state officials’ initial step was to survey each school district to determine how much time they would need to prepare for the implementation of remote instruction.

Some districts already have the technology in place, Edelblut said, while others need a little time to prepare what will amount to a “hybrid” of technical and analog remote instruction.

Still others will implement a fully analog system, he added.

Edelblut said that in order to give districts ample time to prepare, remote instruction will “go live” a week from today.

During a question and answer period, a reporter referred to the “the state’s second largest school district,” and Edelblut, without naming Nashua specifically, referred to the district’s geographical location.

“I think you refer to the district down south in particular,” he responded, adding that the district “had not made any previous plans in the eventuality of having to do this,” referring to implementing remote instruction.

“I’ve personally spoken with the superintendent of that district to work on plans to roll this out,” Edelblut said. He said he was told some residents don’t have internet access, and there often aren’t enough individual classroom devices, such as Chromebooks, to go around.

Edelblut said he’s looking into getting some federal funding “to be able to support that district” with those issues as part of “getting them up to speed.”

Meanwhile, Sununu’s remote-instruction directive applies only to public schools, although most private schools are choosing to follow the directive, according to a Sununu spokesman.

When the three-week period ends on April 3, Sununu and Edelblut said officials will evaluate the situation and go from there.

COVID-19, meanwhile, has infected roughly 150,000 people worldwide and about 3,000 in the U.S., according to Chan, and more cases are likely.

Of the 13 New Hampshire cases, nine have been reported in Rockingham County and three in Grafton County. Nashua’s first case is also the first reported in Hillsborough County.

As of Sunday, about 380 people in New Hampshire have been tested. The results of roughly 100 of those tests are pending, while some 450 people are being monitored across the state.

“As (the reported cases) increase globally and the virus spreads through the United States, we can expect more diagnoses of COVID-19 in the coming days and weeks,” he said.

The virus can be tricky, as evidenced in how it spreads, Chan said. “There’s been a lot of discussion … there are concerns it can spread through asymptomatic transmission,” he said, which means someone may be unaware they have the virus because they’ve yet to show any symptoms.

“But we still believe the main driver is people who are symptomatic and are exposing other people … that includes people who have very mild symptoms,” Chan said.

It’s important for people to take appropriate steps and precautions … at the first symptoms of not feeling well, stay home,” he said. And likewise, any employees “identified as feeling unwell should be sent home.”

If there’s a silver lining, it could be the fact that more than 80 percent of people who contract COVID-19 will suffer only mild symptoms, and almost always fully recover, Chan said.

About 15 to 20 percent will face more severe symptoms, and often require hospitalization.

At high risk to contract the virus are people over age 60, and those who have multiple, or chronic, medical problems, Chan said.

“We urge anyone in the high-risk group to avoid large gatherings, practice social distancing and not travel,” he added.

Additional, and updated, information can be found at www.nh.gov/covid19.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

—

EDITOR’S NOTE: This content is being provided for free as a public service to our community during the coronavirus outbreak. Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Telegraph at https://home.nashuatelegraph.com/clickshare/checkDelivery.do;jsessionid=40C089D96583CD7318C1C1D9317B6162.