Weekly Update - January 22, 2021 - Nashua, NH
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Weekly Update - January 22, 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 two
metrics: new infections per 100k and the 7-day total test positivity rate.
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 Cases 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: The
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.
New Hospitalizations per 100k: Number of
new hospitalizations within 14 days
standardized by population size to
compare across groups. This shows how
quickly hospitals are being burdened by
disease.
*Rate Not Reliable: For areas with less than 25
cumulative hospitalizations in the last 14 days,
there is insufficient data to draw statistically
meaningful conclusions.
Due to the current rapid surge of COVID-19, 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.
DPHCS Welcomes Nelly Wangoi: Our Newest Community Health Worker
Nelly Gachohu originally from Nairobi, Kenya is in
her last year of college, majoring in Public Health
and minoring in Communications. For the past six
years, Nelly has been a residential counselor which
has prepared her to maintain rapport with
individuals of all spectrums.
Passionate about working in maternal and child
health, she has volunteered and worked with this
population in her country of origin. When not at
work, Nelly enjoys creating content in the form of
photography and videography. Please welcome
Nelly to our team!
New Hampshire Begins Phase 1B of Vaccination!
New Hampshire residents in Phase 1B will be able
to register and schedule appointments with the
State public vaccination clinics beginning today,
Friday, January 22nd.
Vaccinations will begin Tuesday, January 26th. This
includes:
People who are 65 and older
Medically vulnerable individuals at
significantly higher risk, including family
caregivers for those under 16
Staff and residents at residential facilities for
persons with disabilities
Corrections officers and staff working in
correctional facilities
COVID-19 vaccinations for New Hampshire residents
in “Phase 1B” will begin Tuesday, January 26.
To register for the vaccine, NH residents can visit
vaccines.nh.gov or for those without internet
access, call 2-1-1 and they will assist the
registration process.
Phase 1A eligible vaccine recipients will continue to be vaccinated during this time as well:
Hospital health workers through affiliated hospital organizations;
Long term-care facilities (LTCFs) through the federal Pharmacy Partnership Program (PPP) or
through arrangements with their Regional Public Health Network (RPHN);
First responders at NH State-Managed COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic fixed sites or through
arrangements with their RPHN; and
Ambulatory care health workers at NH State-Managed COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics or through
their affiliated hospital organization.
State-managed COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic fixed sites will operate 5 days per week at 13 locations
across the state. The only people eligible to receive vaccine at these sites currently are first responders
and the “most” at-risk ambulatory health workers, but beginning on January 26th, these sites will be
open to Phase 1b categories as well.
For more information on the vaccine, visit the CDC website: CDC FAQ
NH Vaccine Information
Sleeping Tips from Dartmouth Hitchcock
It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has
caused stress, anxiety and depression, leading
many people to experience sleep disruption.
“Anxiety and depression are highly associated with
disturbed sleep and insomnia, and both conditions
make it difficult to fall asleep,” says Brooke Judd,
MD, section chief of Sleep Medicine at Dartmouth-
Hitchcock Medical Center. “Difficulty staying asleep
is another common symptom of anxiety, while
depression typically causes earlier-than-desired
morning awakening.”
There are simple solutions to improve sleep quality and duration. These positive sleep habits,
combined with creating an environment conducive to sleep, are called “sleep hygiene.” Along with
keeping a relatively consistent sleep schedule (going to sleep and waking around the same time each
day) Judd recommends these sound sleep tips to improve your sleep hygiene:
Make your bedroom a sleep sanctuary. Keep it quiet, dark and at a comfortable temperature.
Avoid light emitted from screens before bed—especially LED screens which activate the part of
the brain that keeps you awake.
Refrain from sleep-impacting substances in the evening—caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
Get exercise during the day.
Try not to stress about sleep! It only makes it harder to fall and stay asleep.
* Sleep medications are not recommended for chronic insomnia. If necessary, only use them
once in a while.
It’s important to understand that sleep doesn’t have an on/off switch in the brain—there are increases
and decreases in various neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain) that make sleep or wakefulness
more likely.
Anyone experiencing sleep disruptions consistently affecting daily functioning should contact their
primary health care provider. Providers can make sleep hygiene recommendations or determine if an
underlying medical or psychiatric condition is causing, or contributing, to the sleep disturbance.
“My best advice is don’t get too frustrated about not sleeping–it only makes it worse,” continues Judd.
“Nearly everyone experiences trouble sleeping at some point in their lives. There is generally an
underlying problem causing the sleep disturbance. Try to understand and address the cause (stress,
anxiety, pain, etc.), or contact a health care provider for assistance.”
For more sleep tips: Click here.
-Dartmouth Hitchcock, 2021
Equity Corner
A Long History of Racism in Health Care has Impacted Health and Trust
Black, Latino, and Native American
populations have been hurt more than
any other community affected by
COVID-19. This flyer developed
specifically to allay the concerns and
fears over vaccination that we
understand come from the Black, LatinX
and other immigrant communities.
Some common messages to these
groups include:
Medical experts confirm that COVID-19
vaccines are safe and effective, studied
widely in diverse populations.
The vaccine can not give you COVID-19.
The vaccine is FREE - you do not need
health insurance.
Two doses of vaccine are needed. Best
protection occurs 14 days after the 2nd
dose.
Scientists and medical experts have
been researching this type of virus for
years which allowed for faster creation
and distribution of the vaccine.
In Nashua, community health workers
(CHWs) are connecting with local
agencies, faith communities, and those
working with vulnerable communities to
broaden reach for COVID-19 testing and vaccination.
Make Eye Exams a New Year's Resolution
January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an important time
to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease. Glaucoma is a
leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the United States,
affecting over 3 million people. The National Eye Institute projects this
number will reach 4.2 million by 2030. Glaucoma has no symptoms in
its early stages and once vision is lost, it's permanent. As much as 40%
of vision can be lost without a person noticing.
Anyone can get glaucoma, but those at higher risk include:
African Americans over age 40
Everyone over age 60, especially Hispanics/Latinos
People with a family history of the disease
The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam. There’s no
cure, but early treatment can often stop the damage and protect your vision. We encourage people at
higher risk for glaucoma to make eye health a New Year’s resolution by getting a dilated eye exam.
Combined with our aging population, an epidemic of blindness is in our future if we don't raise
awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision.
-National Eye Institute, 2021
Videos & Webinars Article & Fact Sheets
Additional Resources
Nashua COVID-19 Hotline: 603-589-3456
Upcoming Events
New Hampshire COVID-19 Website Harbor Care COVID-19 Testing Clinic
January 25, 3 - 6 p.m.
(45 High St., Nashua)
By Appointment: 603-821-7788
DPHCS COVID-19 Testing Clinic
Nashua COVID-19 Website January 26, 3 - 5 p.m.
National Guard Armory
(154 Daniel Webster HWY, Nashua)
By Appointment: Register Here
SSANA
January 25, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Greater Nashua Data
Between Temple St. & Cottage St., Nashua
Dashboard
Immunizations (Including Flu) & Child Lead Testing
January 26, 3 - 5 p.m.
Elm Street Middle School Front Parking Lot
(117 Elm St., Nashua)
CDC COVID-19 Website Immunizations (Including Flu) & STD/HIV/HCV
(English) Testing
January 27, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Nashua Public Library (2 Court St., Nashua)
SSANA
CDC COVID-19 Website (Spanish) January 27, 2 - 4 p.m.
Between Temple St. & Cottage St., Nashua
STD/HIV/HCV Testing
January 28, 5 - 7 p.m.
Lamprey Health Care (22 Prospect St., Nashua)
Vaccination Information By Appointment: Register Here
Full DPHCS Mobile Outreach Schedule
Public Health Matters
Birth Defects Prevention Month
Hot: Jane Goodman, Public Health Strategist
Guest: Janine Keever, MD, OB/GYN, Solution Health
Watch the full segment here!
Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services
Greater Nashua Public Health Network
www.NashuaNH.gov/DPHCS
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