New isolation and quarantine guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a step in the right direction, according to New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.Sununu said Tuesday that he expects the surge in COVID-19 cases to last at least well into January. He said the CDC’s new recommendations, essentially cutting isolation and quarantine periods in half, are a step in the right direction.”My sense is that it’s going to provide a little more flexibility based on science and the data and really where we need to take things to make sure that we’re keeping safe, but also keeping things flexible, as well,” he said.Sununu said the state will wait to receive specific information on the new recommendations before making any changes.The Christmas weekend was tough for New Hampshire in terms of COVID-19 numbers, with the state reporting 58 deaths over the past two days, though several of those deaths occurred in previous weeks and were recently confirmed as related to COVID-19. The governor said he hopes people take notice.”They need to get their vaccinations, their boosters, take the right precautions and take this winter surge seriously because it is here and likely will be here at least for the next few weeks,” he said.Sununu also addressed efforts to keep hospital beds available, noting that even though hospitals are at capacity, they’re not overcapacity, and the system is not failing.”Hospitals are open, and we’re providing those resources to keep those beds as flexible as possible,” he said.Sununu said hospitalization numbers will be the key moving forward, as more people begin testing for COVID-19 at home.”As you find out you’re positive or negative in your home, you’re not necessarily going to let the government know, so the accuracy of case data will become much more inaccurate as we go forward,” Sununu said. “That’s why we’re always looking at hospitalization.”The state still has free at-home test kits available through its website. Sununu is encouraging people to get them ahead of the New Year.
CONCORD, N.H. —
New isolation and quarantine guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a step in the right direction, according to New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.
Sununu said Tuesday that he expects the surge in COVID-19 cases to last at least well into January. He said the CDC’s new recommendations, essentially cutting isolation and quarantine periods in half, are a step in the right direction.
“My sense is that it’s going to provide a little more flexibility based on science and the data and really where we need to take things to make sure that we’re keeping safe, but also keeping things flexible, as well,” he said.
Sununu said the state will wait to receive specific information on the new recommendations before making any changes.
The Christmas weekend was tough for New Hampshire in terms of COVID-19 numbers, with the state reporting 58 deaths over the past two days, though several of those deaths occurred in previous weeks and were recently confirmed as related to COVID-19. The governor said he hopes people take notice.
“They need to get their vaccinations, their boosters, take the right precautions and take this winter surge seriously because it is here and likely will be here at least for the next few weeks,” he said.
Sununu also addressed efforts to keep hospital beds available, noting that even though hospitals are at capacity, they’re not overcapacity, and the system is not failing.
“Hospitals are open, and we’re providing those resources to keep those beds as flexible as possible,” he said.
Sununu said hospitalization numbers will be the key moving forward, as more people begin testing for COVID-19 at home.
“As you find out you’re positive or negative in your home, you’re not necessarily going to let the government know, so the accuracy of case data will become much more inaccurate as we go forward,” Sununu said. “That’s why we’re always looking at hospitalization.”
The state still has free at-home test kits available through its website. Sununu is encouraging people to get them ahead of the New Year.