NASHUA – Officials in area communities are doing their best to cope as the COVID-19 crisis continues.

On Monday, Mayor Jim Donchess joined a virtual meeting of the Rotary Club of Nashua where he provided club members with an update on the city’s COVID-19 efforts and answered questions. During this meeting, Donchess said the point at which medical professionals will experience a surge in patients is not yet known. He said the surge could be in the range of April 23 into the middle of May. Gov. Chris Sununu’s stay-at-home order runs through May 4.

Donchess said part of the social distancing that is being enforced in Nashua and around the state is to push out the surge’s arrival, hopefully minimzing the number of people needing care simultaneously. When asked about the odds of this stay-at-home order getting pushed beyond May 4, Donchess said he believes they are very high.

“The state has around 300 cases, and they’re expecting those numbers to climb pretty rapidly, and again, I think the social distancing efforts are having an effect in terms of extending things and reducing the level of the surge … But I would be surprised if things just go back to normal on May 4,” Donchess said.

Donchess would like to see more people getting tested to gauge the extent of the spread and get a better picture of what the state and the community would be facing if COVID-19 subsides during the summer, then re-emerges in the fall or winter.

“We had a conference call with the governor this morning (Monday morning), and they’re running about 500 tests a day now, but that’s their capacity at the moment,” Donchess said.

However, Donchess said the state is increasing that number, and is working with Dartmouth-Hitchcock to use their facilities to increase the number of tests.

Nashua Police officers are limiting their contact with the public as much as they can and maintaining six feet of distance. Donchess said some encounters such as domestic-related calls, require officers to go into situations quickly, making the potential risk of exposure higher.

“Three officers are exhibiting symptoms, so they are in quarantine and they’re not working,” Donchess said.

These officers have not tested positive so the symptoms could be something other than COVID-19.

In terms of students attending city schools, there is also a possibility schools could remain closed through the end of the academic year.

Last week, the National Guard began setting up cots at Nashua High School South in the event a surge occurs and fills local hospital. Donchess said that the alternative care site is still stocking medical supplies and making logistical arrangements.

“We know right now there are 22 documented cases in Nashua, but there are more presumptive positives at each of the hospitals,” Donchess said. “So, that number is definitely going to rise.”

SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

Merrimack Town Manager Eileen Cabanel said while most of the town buildings are closed off to the public, town employees are still working, with some working remotely. Merrimack Police Chief Denise Roy said town officials closed Merrimack’s parks after noticing people, using equipment with no one sanitizing it afterward.

Roy said unless in emergency situations, the department is handling situations over the phone and limiting access to the station’s lobby. There is a list of questions that callers are walked through to help keep officers safe when they respond to calls, such as if the caller has traveled recently.

With more people cooped up in their homes, in some situations without income, Roy understands these times can create a stressful atmosphere, which could lead to more domestic calls. So far, she said there has not been a dramatic increase in domestic calls.

“We anticipate if this continues, we will see a pretty significant increase in those types of calls,” Roy said.

Roy said now is the time for residents to be looking out for the welfare of their neighbors, especially the elderly.

Similarly to Roy in Merrimack, Brookline Town Administrator Tad Putney emphasized the importance of following the guidance that is coming out of Concord. Putney said the town, through the selectboard, has reached out to its residents on seven occasions through last Friday. During the most recent outreach effort, officials suggested older residents in town notify the police department to let it know if they have any needs. At this point, most of the town’s public meetings are continuing, consistent with the Governor’s order that allows for them to take place electronically.

“It’s not ideal, but we are able to continue to move forward with the business of the town,” Putney said.

Chairman of the Hollis Selectboard Mark Le Doux said that town hall has been closed from public access, with most everything being done by appointment, email or telephone calls. Amherst Town Administrator Dean Shankle said the town has also had to lock up town hall, and that officials are doing everything they can to keep people away from one another. One way of doing so is holding meetings using Zoom. Despite locking town hall from the inside door, there is still a drop box for people to use in making various payments, for example. The town also implemented a service window to assist residents.

Shankle said the town is rotating staff, with some people working from town hall while others work from home.

Hudson Town Administrator Steve Malizia said the town is continuing to function, providing the essential services to the public such as Fire, Police, EMS, public works, trash pickup, water and sewer. Similarly to other towns, Hudson is rotating staff to ensure they are able to provide these needed essential services while also keeping their employees healthy. The town’s Emergency Operations Center meets virtually twice a day to discuss problems and issues that need to be resolved quickly.

“We have put Continuity of Operations plans in place to reduce the number of employees that are in one place at a time,” Malizia stated via email. “Most of our employees can and are working remotely, but police, fire, EMS and public works can’t totally do that as they are first responders and life goes on.”

The town has also closed all of its parks to limit public gatherings. Additionally, the town has closed the Recreation Department and the library.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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