Current hospitalizations at all-time low since metric first listed in April

CONCORD - A key indicator of how the state is doing in its battle to corral the Coronavirus continued to trend downward on Friday with current hospitalizations statewide now at just 32, the lowest they've been since they started tracking the metric on April 13.

The current hospitalizations figure reached its highest levels in May, often reaching upwards of 110.

The low hospitalization rate is a huge benchmark for state health officials as paramount throughout the pandemic has been the overarching need to keep the state's medical infrastructure from being overwhelmed.

DHHS on Friday also announced 34 new positive test results for COVID-19, including two from Strafford County. Only one new case requiring hospitalization was listed.

Locally, Rochester remains the repository of the most current cases in the county with 15 followed by Dover with seven. Somersworth numbers five while Barrington, Farmington, Milton and Strafford all have 1-4.

DHHS also announced eight new deaths related to COVID, seven from Hillsborough County and one from Rockingham.