Just two of the 12 Granite Staters who died of COVID-19 last month were considered fully vaccinated, health officials said Tuesday.Health officials said the COVID-19 vaccines in use are highly effective at stopping infection and prevent nearly all deaths, but breakthrough cases can happen. They said about 99% of cases have occurred in unvaccinated people.Officials said COVID-19 transmission across the state is low, but they are keeping an eye on the delta variant, which has been linked to surges in infections in other parts of the world. There have been 15 cases of that variant identified so far in New Hampshire, but health officials expect that number to go up as cases of the delta variant rise across the country. “COVID-19 is still here,” said Dr. Beth Daly, chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control. “These low levels of transmission don’t mean it’s not a risk, so it doesn’t really change our messaging that people should be aware of COVID-19. It could be in our communities. You should take precautions like you normally would for preventing illness, like washing your hands.”The 7 day rolling average of new COVID-19 cases was less than 25 a day on Tuesday. But, officials said they are keeping a close eye on the numbers. In terms of variants, DHHS said 15 Granite Staters have tested positive for the delta variant. They said that number could rise. “We do know it has been increasing across the country and globally,” Daly said. “So, we could see more cases in the future and we should continue to monitor for it.” State health officials said that even unvaccinated people do not have to wear masks in New Hampshire at this time because transmission is low, but anyone who wants or needs more protection can wear a mask.
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
Just two of the 12 Granite Staters who died of COVID-19 last month were considered fully vaccinated, health officials said Tuesday.
Health officials said the COVID-19 vaccines in use are highly effective at stopping infection and prevent nearly all deaths, but breakthrough cases can happen. They said about 99% of cases have occurred in unvaccinated people.
Officials said COVID-19 transmission across the state is low, but they are keeping an eye on the delta variant, which has been linked to surges in infections in other parts of the world.
There have been 15 cases of that variant identified so far in New Hampshire, but health officials expect that number to go up as cases of the delta variant rise across the country.
“COVID-19 is still here,” said Dr. Beth Daly, chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control. “These low levels of transmission don’t mean it’s not a risk, so it doesn’t really change our messaging that people should be aware of COVID-19. It could be in our communities. You should take precautions like you normally would for preventing illness, like washing your hands.”
The 7 day rolling average of new COVID-19 cases was less than 25 a day on Tuesday. But, officials said they are keeping a close eye on the numbers. In terms of variants, DHHS said 15 Granite Staters have tested positive for the delta variant. They said that number could rise.
“We do know it has been increasing across the country and globally,” Daly said. “So, we could see more cases in the future and we should continue to monitor for it.”
State health officials said that even unvaccinated people do not have to wear masks in New Hampshire at this time because transmission is low, but anyone who wants or needs more protection can wear a mask.