Number of new cases drop after weeklong surge; 11 prison staff test positive

The state men's prison in Concord.where seven staff have tested positive. The Dept of Corrections said four other staff statewide have also tested positive. (Courtesy photo)

CONCORD - DHHS announced 53 new positive test results for COVID-19 on Friday, bringing to 1,720 the number of cases diagnosed in New Hampshire.

The new cases reside in Rockingham (15), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (9), Strafford (3), Merrimack (2), Belknap (2), Grafton (1), and Sullivan (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (15) and Nashua (5). None were reported in Strafford County.

Six new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 224 (13%) of 1,720 cases.

DHHS also announced two additional deaths, both men 60 or over, from Strafford and Rockingham county.

The governor has indicated the state of emergency will continue for at least another three weeks, but said any decision on whether to lift the stay at home order on May 4 won't be made till next week.

Locally, cumulative Dover cases remain at over 50, Rochester, Barrington and Somersworth remain at 10-19, Farmington at 5-9 and Milton at 1-4.

Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases in Maine rose to 965, with 499 recovered, 152 hospitalizations and 47 deaths.

Other NH numbers

NH Persons with COVID-191,720

Recovered 578 (34%)

Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 53 (3%)

Total Current COVID-19 Cases 1,089

Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 224 (13%)

Current Hospitalizations 89

Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 2,250