CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Republican Gov. Chris Sununu on Friday extended New Hampshire’s state of emergency declaration for another three weeks, while retailers began outlining their goals in reopening the economy.
Developments in how the coronavirus is affecting New Hampshire:
EMERGENCY DECLARATION
Sununu, a Republican, initially declared a state of emergency on March 13 and has continued to extend it as it expires every 21 days. Further extension is necessary given that the pandemic has caused an unprecedented public health emergency and economic devastation, he wrote.
Among other things, the order continues expansion of unemployment benefit eligibility and protections against housing evictions and utility shutoffs. Separate orders, including a stay-at-home order, business closures and restaurant restrictions, are due to expire May 4 but Sununu has said extensions are likely.
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NONPROFITS
Demand is up and revenues are down for New Hampshire’s critical nonprofit sector, officials told lawmakers Friday.
“There’s a fundamental paradox with nonprofits. When your ‘business’ is up, when more and more clients need you, your revenues almost by definition are down because you’re in a down economy,” Dick Ober, president of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, told the legislative advisory board for the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery.
Martha Stone, executive director of the Crossroads House in Portsmouth, said the homeless shelter already was operating above capacity before the pandemic. Half of her annual $2 million budget comes from fundraising, but she’s had to cancel a major event that typically brings in $400,000. At the same time, expenses are rising, including spending $12,000 to house the most vulnerable residents in hotels. And she fears there will be a surge in homeless residents once the current prohibition on evictions is lifted.
Nonprofit organizations employ 83,000 people in New Hampshire, according to the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits. In a survey this week, the average nonprofit reported losing a third of its annual budget because of the pandemic.
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HIGHER EDUCATION
The only way to get college students back on campus this fall is through robust virus testing, the head of the University System of New Hampshire said Friday.
Chancellor Todd Leach told lawmakers that it would cost about $6 million to conduct such testing. He also said the university system needs $6 million to upgrade classrooms for remote learning, in case some student aren’t comfortable returning or there is another wave of the virus.
Colleges and universities are hoping to reopen in the fall, but haven’t made final decisions. The university system has already refunded $41.6 million in room and board for the current semester.
Michele Perkins, president of New England College, is chairwoman of the New Hampshire College and University Council. The group’s 21 members report having lost more than $185 million because of the pandemic.
“This crisis has the potential to cause the demise of many great institutions across this country, and those states that can preserve their institutions will be at an advantage in terms of workforce development when this crisis is over,” said Perkins.
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REOPENING RETAIL
Nonessential stores, hair salons and barbershops should be allowed to open by appointment only as soon as possible, the president of the New Hampshire Retail Association said Friday.
Speaking to the Governor’s Economic Re-opening Task Force, Nancy Kyle outlined a three-phase approach to expanding permissible retail activity that has been shutdown or curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic.
A significant public relations campaign will be needed to assure shoppers they will be safe, and she said timing is key. Many stores will be struggling to rehire workers who are making more money collecting unemployment benefits, she said.
“Don’t do it on Memorial Day weekend. Try to do it midweek, so people can ease into it,” she said.
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THE NUMBERS
As of Friday 1,720 people in New Hampshire had tested positive for the virus. About a third have recovered, and 53 died.
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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MORE AID
New Hampshire is set to receive at least $17 million for coronavirus testing in the latest emergency relief package, the state’s congressional delegation said.
President Donald Trump signed the measure into law Friday. It provides nearly $500 billion in funding for businesses, hospitals, and a nationwide testing program.
Health officials said Thursday that the state is testing nearly twice as many people each day as it was a week ago.
“This new law will help small businesses, including those who don’t have relationships with big banks, assist our hospitals as they fight this pandemic and help ramp-up testing nationwide which is absolutely critical to re-opening our economy,” said U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat.
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Associated Press Writer Kathy McCormack contributed to this story.
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