Staff photo By Damien Fisher Mayor Jim Donchess speaks at Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for the The Residences at Riverfront Landing housing development

NASHUA – Mayor Jim Donchess held a virtual press conference this past week to update the community on COVID-19 numbers and discuss Nashua’s role in fighting the disease and preventing mass outbreaks.

Donchess thanked residents for coming together with social distancing and wearing masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“With so much participation, we’ve been able to contain the spread of the virus to a great degree,” he said. “We’ve been able to save people’s lives and I thank everyone for doing this.”

As of Wednesday’s press conference, Nashua had 761 cases that have been reported. Donchess noted that that’s more than anyone wanted, but less than other neighboring cities such as Lowell and Lawrence to the south, and Manchester to the north.

“We have only 33 active cases,” Donchess said. “In other words, those are people who still contagious, still have the disease but have not recovered. Those people have been in contact with 127 others. What happens is our public health department, led by director Bobbie Bagley, and our public health nurses, Kim Bernard and others, work with patients who have tested positive and determine who those people have been in contact with (see contact tracing story, starting on Page A1 for additional details).

Forty-one people in Nashua have died from COVID-19.

“This has struck families deeply,” Donchess continued. “Anytime that anyone gets COVID-19 and ends up in the hospital, it’s a very difficult experience for the family. And the reason for that is that unlike if when someone has cancer or heart disease, the family can spend time with the stricken loved one. But with COVID-19, visits aren’t really allowed and not doable, because the person in the hospital could communicate this disease to family members.”

Donchess said that the measures that must be taken, including wearing a mask, which is a city ordinance, and staying at home much of the time, are “hard things and it gets harder every day.”

Most Nashuans are making the sacrifice to take the necessary precautions as more and more stores enforce “mask only” policies.

“By working together, we have greatly limited the prevalence of the disease here in Nashua,” Donchess said. “But we really need to continue to exercise caution. We see what happened in other states when they opened too early and they dropped the precautions.”

He listed Florida and Arizona as among the states with high numbers.

“As of today, Florida had 9,000+ new cases and they’ve been at that level, even at 10,000 and 15,000 cases per day,” Donchess stated. “Arizona, a smaller state population wise, has been ranging between 2,000 and 5,000 cases per day, to the point where the disease is more prevalent now in Arizona than it is in New York state.”

Donchess said many considered New York state to be the epicenter of the coronavirus. And likewise, that Boston could be a hotspot.

“But in terms of cases per population, it is far more prevalent in Florida, Arizona and Louisiana than it ever was in Massachusetts,” he said.

The states outside of our region who have not exercised the same kind of caution that has been exercised in New Hampshire are experiencing outbreaks that exceeded anyone’s expectations.

“That shows you what the consequences are when not taking precautions,” Donchess said. “Washington D.C. is not helping because there are certainly mixed messages coming out down there. But here in New Hampshire, in New England, we understand the importance of working together to contain the virus.”

Donchess said that anyone who wants to be tested may be tested at the Elm Street parking garage every Thursday from 3-5 p.m.

“Those tests are done by our public health nurses and by school nurses who are volunteering,” he said. “The testing is by appointment only, because they want to make sure that the people who come in are spaced out in terms of timing. You can call 603-589-3456.”

People wanting to be tested will receive an appointment for a nasal swab, which will take two or three days to get results.

On a different subject, city clerk Sue Lovering discussed the upcoming election and how to cast ballots by absentee ballot without having to go to the polls.

“If you’re unable to register to vote in person, or to cast your vote due to concerns over the coronavirus, you can request an absentee voter registration packet and/or an absentee ballot by mail,” she said. “Upon receipt of your request, we’ll ensure that we get these packets to your home.”

Lovering also said that August 27 is the last day to register to vote or make changes to your voter registration information prior to the September 8 state primary.

“Our office continues to accept appointments in person to register to vote or make changes to your informational card,” she said. “You may also contact our office by mail, email, fax or telephone, and request that these forms be mailed to your home.”

Once completed, the city clerk’s office requests that you mail them back to City Hall or drop them off in the drop box located behind City Hall on Elm Street.

“After August 27, you may also register at the polls in person, or check off a box on the absentee ballot request form and we’ll mail you the registration packet form when we send you your absentee ballot,” Lovering said.

For more information, visit www.nashuanh.gov or call 603-589-3010, option 5.

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