State's top epidemiologist 'not surprised' at difference between state, city numbers

EOC Chief Mark Klose, left, at the center's headquarters in the City Hall Annex earlier this spring. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - The state's top epidemiologist at the forefront of the state's COVID-19 response told The Rochester Voice on Tuesday he is not surprised the state's number of current virus cases in Rochester vary greatly from what the city's own Emergency Operations Center indicate.

"We assign cases by town of residence," said Dr. Benjamin Chan on Tuesday. "We don't always notify town officials, because we have to maintain confidentiality."

Dr. Benjamin Chan NH state epidemiologist (Courtesy photo)

City EOC and Rochester Fire Chief Mark Klose has said for more than a month that the numbers are consistently disparate, but said he had no clue why that was.

Klose has explained that his numbers are based on the number of addresses the state sends to the city EOC each day where someone has either tested positive for the virus or is being quarantined because they may have been exposed.

This is done to help alert first responders of the potential risk if they are called to any specific address, Klose noted.

For an entire week earlier this month, Klose said there were no current cases in the city, however state numbers from Concord have consistently shown some eight since the first of the month.

Chan said on Tuesday there is "no surprise there is a difference between town and state numbers."

Meanwhile on Wednesday, DHHS announced 24 new positive test results for COVID-19 on Wednesday, including three under the age of 18.

Three new hospitalized cases were also identified for a cumulative total of 668, but only 24 are currently being treated in state hospitals.

State numbers continue to show eight cases in Rochester.

DHHS also announced two additional deaths related to COVID-19, both female residents of Hillsborough County 60 or older.

Summary Report for NH

Persons with COVID-191 6,113

Recovered 5,125 (84%)

Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 394 (6%)

Total Current COVID-19 Cases 594

Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 668 (11%)

Current Hospitalizations 24

Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 3,575