Weekly Update - March 29, 2021 Dear Community Partners, As the chief public health strategist for the Greater Nashua Public Health Region (GNPHR), the Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services (DPHCS) will continue to send weekly updates to inform our community on the current status of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, the response efforts by the City of Nashua and Greater Nashua Public Health Network (GNPHN), and any additional updates related to the health and safety of our community. COVID-19 Data Update We continue to experience substantial community level transmission of COVID-19 in the City of Nashua. Substantial community level transmission is determined by three metrics established in conjunction with the State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When any one of the metrics exceeds the set threshold, a community is designated as "RED" or substantial. Currently we are exceeding the thresholds set on one metric: new infections per 100k. Total Cases: All confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, either active or recovered. Active Case: A case that is currently sick or in isolation due to COVID-19. New Infections per 100k: Number of new cases within 14 days standardized by population size to compare across groups. This shows how quickly disease is occurring in the community or the incidence of disease. 7-Day Total Test Positivity Rate: Number of PCR and Antigen tests that are positive compared to the number of PCR and Antigen tests that are negative over the past 7 days. A rising positivity rate indicates a rising number of infections in the community. Public health officials are strongly urging everyone to stay home if you are sick (except to get medical care), avoid social gatherings, maintain physical distancing of six feet or more, wear face coverings, and wash your hands frequently. Is it COVID-19 or Allergies? Spring has sprung and many are already feeling their
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Weekly Update - March 29, 2021
Dear Community Partners,
As the chief public health strategist for the Greater Nashua Public Health Region (GNPHR), the Nashua Divisionof Public Health and Community Services (DPHCS) will continue to send weekly updates to inform ourcommunity on the current status of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation, the response efforts by the City ofNashua and Greater Nashua Public Health Network (GNPHN), and any additional updates related to the healthand safety of our community.
COVID-19 Data Update
We continue to experience substantial community level transmission of COVID-19 in the City of Nashua.Substantial community level transmission is determined by three metrics established in conjunctionwith the State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When any one of the metrics exceeds the set threshold, acommunity is designated as "RED" or substantial. Currently we are exceeding the thresholds set on onemetric: new infections per 100k.
Total Cases: All confirmed or probableCOVID-19 cases, either active or recovered.
Active Case: A case that is currently sick orin isolation due to COVID-19.
New Infections per 100k: Number of newcases within 14 days standardized bypopulation size to compare across groups.This shows how quickly disease is occurringin the community or the incidence ofdisease.
7-Day Total Test Positivity Rate: Numberof PCR and Antigen tests that are positivecompared to the number of PCR andAntigen tests that are negative over thepast 7 days. A rising positivity rateindicates a rising number of infections inthe community.
Public health officials are strongly urgingeveryone to stay home if you are sick(except to get medical care), avoid socialgatherings, maintain physical distancing ofsix feet or more, wear face coverings, andwash your hands frequently.
Is it COVID-19 or Allergies?
Spring has sprung and many are already feeling their
spring allergies. However, allergy symptoms often overlapwith symptoms of COVID-19 and it can be hard todifferentiate between the two.
As New Hampshire loosens restrictions, schools continueto open, and sports tournaments continue, there has beenan increase in transmission of the COVID-19 virus. We askthat you take EVERY symptom seriously and don't assumeit is "just allergies".
Use the chart on the right to think about your symptomsin a different way. If there is every any doubt, seekmedical advice and arrange for a COVID-19 test.
Vaccine Registration continues to Open!
On Thursday, March 25th, Governor Sununu announced that starting next Friday, April 2nd, all GraniteStaters over the age of 16 will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. When eligible, individuals can registerat vaccines.nh.gov or call 2-1-1.
Check below to see when registration and scheduling opens for different age brackets:
Vaccine Hesitancy: de Beaumont Foundation Focus Group
Recently, the de Beaumont Foundation conducteda focus group of like individuals who were eitheron the fence about receiving the COVID-19vaccine or against it.
While this focus group targeted one group, theinsights gleaned from the discussion can certainlybe applied to a wide-range of people in order toincrease vaccine uptake in our community. Theresults of this focus group are informing thecreation of a nationwide survey next week.
The group had presentations from medical experts including Tom Friedan, former director of the CDC,and others like Chris Christie, former New Jersey Governor and aide to President Trump. Dr. Friedan'spoints were the following:
1. If you get infected with the virus, it will go all over your body and stay there for at least a weekand be much more likely to cause you long-term problems than the vaccine.
2. If you get the vaccine, it will prime your immune system, but then the vaccine is gone. It will notbe with you anymore.
3. More than 90% of the doctors who have been offered this vaccine have chosen to get it.4. The more we vaccinate, the faster we can get back to growing our economy and doing the things
we want to do.5. If people get vaccinated, we’re going to save at least 100,000 lives of Americans who would
otherwise be killed by COVID.
Overall, the group findings concluded the following about messaging to those who are hesitant to getvaccinated:
Politicians are ineffective messengers - the mistrust of government and political leaders issignificant, so it’s important to decouple science and politics.Unknown side effects are a major concern.Good stories help.The ability to travel is a strong motivator for getting a vaccine.These participants were more interested in facts and data than emotional arguments - and they
don’t want to be told what to do. As one of them said, “We want to be educated, notindoctrinated".
To read more and get some effective messaging tips, click on the summary button below.
Focus Group Summary
Video Series: "I Got VaccinatedAgainst COVID-19 Because..."
Learn why leaders in our community are gettingvaccinated to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
This week, we spotlight DT Bruno, Social Workerat Greater Nashua Mental Health, who createdthis video in American Sign Language (ASL) topromote the COVID-19 Vaccine.
Check it out by clicking the video on the right!
Join Us in Celebrating National Public Health Week!
If your organization would like to get involved, email Nicole Chute with further information or anyquestions. We will promote and support your event on our website!
Download & Share our Public Health Week FlyerEnglish / Spanish / Portuguese / French / Swahili
This past weekend the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) sent outan Emerging Threat Alert - Meth in the disguise of Adderrall pillsare making their way into the state. These counterfeit Adderrallpills appear legitimate and intentionally have a similar size, shape,color, an identification stamp as the authentic Adderrall pills.
Meth has also been on the rise since 2016 in NH with about 50fatalities in 2020. In the last few years we have seen an increasein Meth use over the summer months as people who usually useHeroin or Fentanyl would use Meth to be able to get to work orout of the house.
Meth use presents very differently fromHeroin/Fentanyl/Opioids. In the past we may have encounteredpeople we suspected were under the influence of Opioids.Opioids are considered depressants and people who use thesesubstances present by nodding off or seeming to fall asleep inmid conversation or present with very low energy. Meth is almostthe opposite. Meth is considered a stimulant. People under theinfluence of Meth present as hyperactive, may have twitches, paranoia, and appear agitated amongother symptoms.
Due to this shift in presentation and symptoms, we encourage you to attend a training to learn more.Please note that there are three separate dates and times when the training is available.
In honor of Women’s History Month, the DPHCS ishonored to shine a light on the public health workthat Dr. Marilyn Hughes Gaston (b. 1939-) hascontributed the United States.
In 1986, Dr. Gaston made history for her publicationof a sickle-cell disease study that ultimately resultedin a nationwide screening program for newborns. Hergroundbreaking findings contributed to a significantreduction of morbidity and mortality in youngchildren with sickle-cell disease globally.
Dr. Gaston broke other barriers for the United States, too. In 1990, Dr. Gaston became the first AfricanAmerican woman to direct the Bureau of Primary Healthcare. Speaking about what inspired her todedicate her life to poor and minority health initiatives, Dr. Gaston said, “One day I was with mymother... and that day she fainted in the living room. And I had no idea what was wrong. It was veryfrightening to me, and back then we didn't have 911 and so I didn't really know what to do... she hadcancer of the cervix. We were poor, we were uninsured, she was not getting health care...and that'swhy she fainted. And from that point on, I knew that I wanted to do something to change thatsituation.”
Under her direction, she prioritized a significant expansion of community health centers, migrant healthcenters, and the National Health Service Corps. Throughout her years of service, Dr. Gaston has beensteadfast in her commitment to serving low-income populations by improving access and quality ofhealthcare services to close the gap of health disparities regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, andsocioeconomic status. We honor Dr. Gaston’s inspiring work and celebrate the path she paved formany women in public health service today.
Additional Resources
Nashua COVID-19 Hotline: 603-589-3456
New Hampshire COVID-19 Website
Nashua COVID-19 Website
Greater Nashua DataDashboard
CDC COVID-19 Website(English)
Upcoming Events
Harbor Care COVID-19 Testing ClinicMarch 29, 3 - 6 p.m.(45 High St., Nashua)By Appointment: 603-821-7788
DPHCS COVID-19 Testing ClinicMarch 30, 3 - 4:30 p.m.National Guard Armory(154 Daniel Webster HWY, Nashua)By Appointment: Register Here
STD/HIV/HCV TestingApril 1, 5 - 7 p.m.Lamprey Health Care (22 Prospect St., Nashua)By Appointment: Register Here
PLEASE NOTE: COVID-19 vaccines are NOT offered atour mobile immunization clinics listed in this section.For information about getting vaccinated againstCOVID-19, please visit vaccines.nh.gov or call 2-1-1.
Full DPHCS Mobile Outreach Schedule
Nashua Division of Public Health and Community ServicesGreater Nashua Public Health Network
