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Testing begins in Rochester; gov expected to reopen sliver of NH biz on Friday

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Army National Guard Lt. Michael Canavan and his detail will be available to perform COVID-19 testing every day till the "mission is completed" he said on Wednesday. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - Even as Rochester climbed into the 20-49 confirmed COVID-19 case category and another Strafford County man died from the disease, Gov. Sununu on Wednesday pointed to reduced percentages of hospitalizations percentages and those testing positive, signaling the worst may be behind us.

The governor also said he would be rolling out his plan to slowly and incrementally reopen the state on Friday, hinting that allowing hospitals to begin performing elective surgeries and procedures may be among the first steps.

It's likely Rochester hair salons and barbershops will be hoping they will also be among the first round of businesses allowed to reopen; their Maine counterparts already got the green light for opening Friday from Gov. Janet Mills.

Gov. Sununu also announced the five regional drive-through testing sites are up and running, including one at the National Guard Armory on Brock Street in Rochester, where Army National Guard Lt. Michael Canavan directs a detail of 17 who will administer the tests to anyone who has filed their request with a health care facility or pcp.

Canavan said the drive-thru test site will be open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. until the "mission is accomplished."

He said they have the capability to perform 125 tests a day and those being tested via a swab of each nostril won't even have to get out of their vehicles.

"We don't want them to get out, it's a safety thing," Canavan added. He said folks would have their results in 24-48 hours.

Anyone who believes they are symptomatic and doesn't have a personal care provider can call 603.271.5980 and register to get a test, he said.

During Wednesday's Concord press conference, DHHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette announced 50 new positive test results for a total of 2,054.

Of the cases with complete information, there are two individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults, who reside in Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (21), Rockingham (7), Strafford (3), and Merrimack (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (11) and Nashua (5).

Ten new hospitalized cases were identified for a total of 259 (13%) of 2,054 cases.

DHHS also issued the COVID-19 Weekly Summary Report, which includes additional epidemiological and demographic data. The COVID-19 Weekly Summary Report for the week of April 27 is available at: https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/cdcs/covid19/covid-weekly-report-04272020.pdf

Meanwhile in Maine, the total cases rose to 1,056 with 166 cumulative hospitalizations and 52 deaths. The total currently hospitalized is 32.

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