Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services director Bobbie Bagley speaks at a press conference Wednesday regarding the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Jim Donchess, right, also spoke. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

NASHUA — After discussing the matter at length since hearing last week from more than a dozen speakers, all but two of whom voiced strenuous opposition to mandatory mask legislation, members of the city Board of Health — underscoring the troubling spike in COVID cases in the city and state — are issuing a recommendation that the Board of Aldermen either reinstate the previous mask mandate or pass another ordinance requiring masks in public places.

“At a special meeting today the board discussed it, and decided it will move forward with a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen to (institute) a mask mandate … wearing a mask in public places,” Department of Public Health and Community Services director Bobbie Bagley said later Wednesday.

Bagley addressed the recommendation at an afternoon press conference in which she and Mayor Jim Donchess presented an update on COVID-related numbers, mainly in Nashua but including the region and state as well.

Bagley also noted that as of Wednesday, the nation surpassed the 800,000 mark in COVID-related deaths.

As for the Board of Health’s decision, meanwhile, officials stress that the panel is merely making a recommendation to the Board of Aldermen regarding a mask mandate, and that any legislation that is filed, discussed, or acted or voted upon is in the hands of the aldermen.

It was just last week when New Hampshire received the dubious distinction of being the number one state in the nation for new COVID-19 cases per capita.

And that trend hasn’t lost any steam since, Bagley and Donchess said.

“The numbers have been going up since fall, as we expected,” Bagley said, referring to the arrival of “the holiday season” beginning with Thanksgiving.

A chief reason for the holiday-season spike is quite apparent: “We’re all getting together, doing things we love to do,” Bagley said of this time of year.

The best way to minimize the chances of catching, or spreading, the virus, Bagley added, is getting up to date on vaccinations and practicing the basics: Wearing a mask, keep your distance, especially from unvaccinated people, and wash hands often.

Donchess, meanwhile, pointed out that Nashua is currently in the “substantial transmission” category. The numbers show the city has had 1,246 new cases per 100,000 population over the past 14 days. He held those numbers up against those recorded last summer — when most people are spending more time outside and therefore farther apart than during the cold weather — when Nashua recorded an average of roughly 75 new cases per month, a mere fraction of the current rate of 1,246.

City officials and the Board of Health have compiled a list of resources for pandemic-related questions, guidance and updates.

They include:

* Nashua: Public Health & Community Services, 589-4560; COVID hotline, 589-3456; www.nashuanh.gov/covid19.

* New Hampshire: 2-1-1, Information and Referral helpline; www.nh.gov/covid19; www.vaccines.nh.gov.

* National: www.cdc.gov/covid19; www.fda.gov.

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

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