Harrison Thorp 8:40 a.m.
Monday, December 7, 2020 8:42 am

CONCORD - DHHS announced 656 new positive test results for COVID-19 and five more deaths on Sunday. The identified cases also include some reported from Wednesday through Saturday.

Of those with complete information, there are 71 minors and 23 from Strafford County.

DHHS also announced five additional deaths related to COVID-19, including a Strafford County man over 60.

Locally, Dover is now the current county COVID hot spot with 70, followed by Rochester at 67. Other local numbers show Somersworth at 36, Barrington at 13, Milton at 11, Farmington at six and Stafford at 10.

While the new numbers show the virus is still with us with a vengeance, The Rochester Voice was able to report last week that even though New Hampshire and the country are undergoing a fall surge, the state's fatality rate for those contracting the virus is just 2 percent today from a high of 5 percent in May.

Taken into consideration with the exponential rise in positive cases here and nationwide, the statistic is even more telling.

Now, today, for the first time since the pandemic ramped up in March, the hospitalization rate is also down to its lowest point - 3 percent.

It should also be noted that the hospitalization and death rate among people under 70 is much lower than the numbers above.

For instance the virus death rate for those under 70 is just .3 percent; for those under 60 it is .08 percent.

NH Novel COVID-19 Summary Report

NH Persons with COVID-191 24,771

Recovered 19,553 (79%)

Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 564 (2%)

Total Current COVID-19 Cases 4,654

Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 849

(3%) Current Hospitalizations 169