Spending panel hears from agencies about virus response

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — State agency heads on Wednesday described the challenges they’ve faced during the coronavirus pandemic. A legislative panel advising the new Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery heard from half a dozen departments while it waits for further guidance on the $1.25 billion New Hampshire expects to receive from the federal aid bill.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES:

Every part of the state’s health care system is stressed, said Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette. She reminded the committee that while hospital and nursing homes obviously will need help, so, too, will other health care providers, from individual dentists to community mental health centers.

“The infrastructure itself is held up by services that wrap around those big entities,” she said. “All of the services and service providers that keep people healthy in the community are the people that we don’t always see, and those are the organizations that we also need to support.”

The state now has a great supply of surgical masks but still needs protective gowns, she said, as well as supplies for the rapid COVID-19 testing machines it recently received. So far, only four of the 15 machines are being used.

The department also has been struggling with how to alleviate crowding at homeless shelters to reduce the risk of spreading the virus and how to provide safe shelter for homeless individuals who have been exposed, she said. Contracts are expected to be in place by the end of the week to address both of those problems, she said.

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DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY:

Since expanding unemployment benefits last month, the state has paid $31.7 million to more than 114,000 people, said Commissioner George Copadis. About 70% of claims have been paid so far. The federal government will cover 40% of those costs, he said.

Deputy Commissioner Richard Lavers said Tuesday marked the state’s largest payment day ever when 35,000 people were paid $9.8 million. In contrast, the state paid out about $40 million all of last year.

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DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY:

Officials said 76 emergency service workers were in quarantine Wednesday: 48 police officers, 12 firefighters and 12 emergency medical technicians. A similar number of state law enforcement officers also were quarantine.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

Commissioner Frank Edelblut said remote learning has gone extremely well.

“The transition and the pivot was astonishing in terms of how well our educators and our education system pulled this off,” he said.

There have been costs, however, including training and technology. Schools also are concerned about canceled contracts for transportation, he said. And at the university level, schools are being hit financially as they refund room and board and activity fees.

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THE NUMBERS

As of Wednesday, 1,139 people in New Hampshire have tested positive for the virus, and 32 have died. A total of 365 have recovered.

For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.

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SPENDING SPAT

Meanwhile, a hearing has been scheduled for Friday in a lawsuit seeking to block the state from spending federal COVID-19 relief funds without lawmakers’ permission.

Democratic leaders of the New Hampshire Legislature sued Republican Gov. Chris Sununu this week arguing that only the legislative fiscal committee has the power to spend the $1.25 billion the state is expected to get. Sununu counters that state law grants him authority to take immediate action during a crisis, including creating the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery to disburse the money.