COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in New Hampshire at levels we haven’t seen since earlier this year during the Omicron surge, and these levels are well below the actual rates of new cases given the abundance of at-home tests.
Thankfully, we have not yet seen the kind of significant spike in hospitalizations that we saw previously, but community transmission rates are high and will no doubt lead to further hospitalizations. While we all may be growing weary of the pandemic, we can take steps to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and help us all get back to doing the things we want to do safely.
Vaccination continues to be the most effective tool we have to limit the spread of COVID-19 and reduce long COVID symptoms. If you haven’t received a vaccine, now is the time to do so. If you have, please get your booster when it is appropriate for you to do so for ages 5 and above. We know that immunity wanes over time, so being up to date on your vaccines is critical to preventing infection, serious illness, hospitalization, and death.
If you are not feeling well, stay home and get tested. If you test positive, talk to your doctor or health care provider about the approved therapeutics that can help you manage your case of COVID-19. And when community transmission rates are high, as they are in most of New Hampshire today, please consider wearing a mask when in indoor spaces to protect yourself and others.
All of these evidence-based measures have been shown to help reduce the prevalence of COVID-19 and will help prevent our health care system from being overwhelmed, so that they are able to continue providing high quality care to every patient, regardless of whether they have COVID-19 or some other urgent health care issue.
We are all in this together, and together, we can make a difference to protect our health and the health of those we love and others in our community. This is our shot to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 so that we can keep New Hampshire healthy and better enjoy the summer.
Steve Ahnen Jim Potter, CAE Pamela DiNapoli, PhD, RN, CNL
President Executive Vice President Executive Director
NH Hospital Association NH Medical Society NH Nurses Association
The New Hampshire Medical Society is dedicated and committed to advocating for patients, physicians, and the medical profession, as well as health-related rights, responsibilities and issues for the betterment of public health in the Granite State.
Current Issue - April 2024