Concord, NH - Today marks 100 days since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced in New Hampshire on March 2, 2020. In the 100 days since, the State has taken historic action to protect the health and well-being of New Hampshire citizens.
“I would like to thank the people of New Hampshire for standing with us since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was announced in New Hampshire 100 days ago,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “The public health crisis we are facing has presented challenges of an unprecedented nature - but at each step along the way, our team has stepped up and gotten the job done.”
“It’s hard to believe that in just 100 days, we’ve gone from having little PPE to regularly securing planeloads filled with thousands and thousands of pounds of the equipment,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “We took immediate action to expand unemployment benefits, have set the gold standard for the rest of the country with remote learning, have allocated hundreds of millions of dollars in relief funds, and have made tests available to any New Hampshire resident who wants one. There’s still more work to be done, but our team has moved mountains in the past 100 days.”
To date, there have been 5,132 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire, with 88,647 tests performed. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, less than 5% of New Hampshire’s hospital beds have been occupied by COVID-19 patients, on average.
COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTS TIMELINE: 100 DAYS OF HISTORIC ACTION
- March 2: The first confirmed case of COVID-19 is identified in New Hampshire
- March 12: Governor Sununu announces an Insurance Department Order for New Hampshire insurance companies to cover COVID-19 testing costs
- March 12: Governor Sununu proposes an unprecedented expansion of unemployment benefits for those affected by COVID-19
- March 12: New Hampshire launches the 2-1-1 COVID-19 Hotline
- March 13: Governor Sununu officially declares a State of Emergency and opens the State’s Emergency Operations Center to ensure a level of consistency, coordination, and preparedness between the State, local emergency management officials, and New Hampshire’s healthcare system
- March 15: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #1, transitioning all K-12 public schools to remote instruction
- March 16: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #2 to prevent the spread of COVID-19, limiting the size of gatherings and transitioning restaurants to carry-out, delivery, and curbside pickup only
- March 16: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #3 , prohibiting utility providers from disconnecting or discontinuing service for non-payment for the duration of the State of Emergency
- March 16: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #4 , prohibiting the start of eviction proceedings for those unable to pay due to their financial situations
- March 16: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #5 , providing immediate access to unemployment benefits for those affected by COVID-19
- March 18: New Hampshire’s application to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is approved for Economic Injury Disaster Loans, making available up to $2 million in assistance for small businesses who applied
- March 18: Governor Sununu writes to Secretary Azar and Administrator Verma regarding a special open-enrollment period in the wake of COVID-19
- March 19: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #9, establishing the COVID-19 Emergency Healthcare System Relief Fund. A total of $100 million has been allocated to the fund
- March 23: Governor Sununu announces Southern New Hampshire University will house the state’s first clinical surge flex facility
- March 24: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #16, temporarily prohibiting scheduled gatherings of 10 or more attendees
- March 24: Governor Sununu mobilizes a coordinated volunteer effort in response to COVID-19
- March 26: Governor Sununu issues a Stay at Home Order and closure of non-essential businesses
- March 30: Governor Sununu signs the CARES Act agreement and boosts unemployment benefits available to individuals affected by COVID-19
- March 31: Governor Sununu writes to ABLE NH regarding educational opportunities for students with disabilities
- March 31: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #20, providing temporary wage enhancement for New Hampshire Liquor Commission retail employees
- April 1: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #21, establishing the COVID-19 Emergency Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Relief Fund with an allocation of $600,000 in emergency funding
- April 1: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #22, allocating $2,000,000 in emergency funding to help New Hampshire’s vulnerable children
- April 3: Governor Sununu announces that 14 clinical surge flex facilities will be built out across the state, bringing the total number of available beds to nearly 5,300
- April 6: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #27, temporarily suspending lodging accommodations for non-essential purposes
- April 7: Governor Sununu establishes the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR)
- April 9: Governor Sununu announces the NH Nonprofit Response Fund to provide New Hampshire nonprofits with resources of up to $100,000 for working capital, equipment purchases, and programming expenses
- April 10: Governor Sununu announces $82.4 million in funding through the Education Stabilization Fund to provide assistance to schools and higher education institutions across New Hampshire
- April 10: Governor Sununu tours the new clinical surge flex facility, housed at NHTI in Concord
- April 12: 91,000 pounds of PPE land at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, the first major delivery of PPE secured by the State of New Hampshire
- April 15: Governor Sununu announces creation of the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery Stakeholder Advisory Board
- April 16: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #31, establishing the COVID-19 Long Term Care Stabilization Program and making available $300 per week in stipends to qualifying full-time frontline workers
- April 17: Governor Sununu announces the first batch of healthcare facilities to receive zero-interest loans through the COVID-19 Emergency Healthcare System Relief Fund
- April 17: Governor Sununu announces that the Department of Health and Human Services will use $2 million in grant funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to establish NH Rapid Response - a comprehensive system to provide crisis intervention services, mental health and substance abuse disorder treatment, and recovery supports for those impacted by COVID-19.
- April 17: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #33, activating New Hampshire’s Crisis Standards of Care Plan
- April 18: Over 500,000 medical-grade masks land at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, in partnership with Boeing and Dean Kamen.
- April 21: Governor Sununu announces formation of the Governor’s Re-Opening Task Force
- April 30: 110,000 pounds of PPE land at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, with 4.5 million masks secured by the State of New Hampshire for the Department of Veterans Affairs
- May 1: Governor Sununu announces Stay at Home 2.0 and issues Universal Guidance , as well as guidance for: public and private campgrounds , State Parks , manufacturing industries , health care services , retail stores , drive-in movie theaters , public and private golf courses , barbers and hair salons , and restaurants
- May 4: GOFERR announces the allocation of $40 million to New Hampshire municipalities and counties to help cover COVID-19 expenses
- May 4: Governor Sununu announces the provision of weekly stipends to police, firefighters, and EMS first responders
- May 4: Governor Sununu announces that eligible businesses may request free face coverings from the State for their employees and customers
- May 5: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #41, expanding Medicaid eligibility for uninsured individuals
- May 6: New Hampshire launches a new online portal to process test requests
- May 8: Governor Sununu announces reopening guidance for dentist offices
- May 8: Governor Sununu announces that antibody tests are now available to New Hampshire residents through ClearChoiceMD and that test costs will be covered by the State for those who do not have health insurance, or whose insurance plan does not cover the test
- May 11: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #42, authorizing temporary health partners to assist in responding to COVID-19 in long-term care facilities
- May 12: Governor Sununu announces the launch of a new drive-thru testing site in Concord - the State’s 8th such facility
- May 13: Governor Sununu announces $575,000 in funding for police and fire departments to purchase ventilators, PPE, supplies, and to cover overtime costs
- May 15: Governor Sununu announces $595 million in COVID-19 recovery funds, including: $400 million to the Main Street Relief Fund, $60 million to New Hampshire nonprofits, an additional $50 million to the Healthcare Relief Fund, $30 million to the Business Finance Authority Safe Harbor Forgivable Loans program, $25 million to the NH Child Care Recovery and Stabilization Program, $15 million to the Public Higher Education Relief Fund, $10 million to the NH Agriculture Relief Program, and $5 million to the New Hampshire Food Bank Grant.
- May 15: Governor Sununu announces an expansion of front-line stipends.
- May 18: Governor Sununu announces reopening guidance for outdoor seating at restaurants , equestrian facilities , select outdoor attractions , and child care
- May 22: Governor Sununu issues Emergency Order #47, expanding access to COVID-19 testing via licenses pharmacists
- May 22: Governor Sununu announces reopening guidance for acupuncturists , massage therapy centers , body art , tanning salons , nail salons , small group fitness , amateur and youth sports , and revised child care guidance
- May 28: Governor Sununu forms the COVID-19 Equity Response Team
- May 28: Governor Sununu announces that most clinical surge flex facilities across New Hampshire will be closed. No patients have ever been treated at a clinical surge flex facility. Facilities remain operationalized in: Manchester, Plymouth, Durham, and Littleton
- May 29: Governor Sununu announces reopening guidance for day camps , lodging , places of worship , and behind-the-wheel driver’s education .
- May 30: Governor Sununu calls the organizers ahead of New Hampshire’s first major George Floyd Protest in Manchester, NH, to offer the state’s support. This became the first of many peaceful protests across New Hampshire in advocating for social justice.
- June 5: Governor Sununu releases reopening guidance for beaches , indoor dining , weddings , overnight summer camps , outdoor attractions , and updated public and private golf course guidance
- June 5: Governor Sununu announces ASAP - the Asymptomatic Spread Assessment Program - making available COVID-19 tests to all Granite Staters, regardless of whether or not they are exhibiting symptoms
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