WNTK Local News

Multiple groups of Chinese and Chinese-American Dartmouth College community members are working to donate PPE to the Hanover, New Hampshire region, reports The Dartmouth.

Since first news of COVID-19 hitting Hanover in March the groups comprised of students, parents, and alumni have donated 144,000 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment to Dartmouth and the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. This includes 141,800 masks, 2,000 pairs of gloves, and 200 protective gowns.

Shudong Jiang, an engineering professor and parent, stated that a large group of students and parents created a bank account to help collect donations, and as of The Dartmouth’s publishing, has raised over $30,000.

The remaining 184 students left on Dartmouth’s campus have each received five face masks each from the donations, to comply with Center for Disease Control guidelines.

A gas leak at the West Lebanon, New Hampshire Hannaford closed the store for two hours Thursday, reports The Valley News.

At approximately 11:20 AM, firefighters evacuated the building when responding to a call reporting a “gas leak.” It was identified as a Freon leak used in the store’s produce area. The leak was discovered when a technician found a whole in some piping in the area. The store was closed until 1:30 PM for repairs and to remove the Freon.

No injuries were reported.

WCAX has provided a Vermont COVID-19 update for Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

Health officials announced that the state has 759 positive cases, and has seen 30 deaths. So far, a total of 11081 tests have been conducted. 800 citizens have completed monitoring, while 32 are still being monitored for symptoms.

While health officials are pleased with the dropping number of new cases each day, they remain very cautions about whether the state has reached its virus peak.

They ask citizens to continue social distancing. Governor Phil Scott’s “stay-at-home” order currently remains in effect until May 15.

New Hampshire health officials reported five more COVID-19 related deaths on Wednesday, according to WMUR.

Of the five deaths reported, three were citizens under the age of 60-years-old. 53 new positive tests were announced as well, with 15 new hospitalizations. As of now, 70 NH citizens are hospitalized due to the coronavirus.

NH now has 1139 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 742 still active.

The 39th annual Prouty will go on as planned, digitally, reports WMUR.

The event, which raises money for cancer research at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, will be held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will be asked to choose a date between June 1 and June 11 to bike, row, walk, or get active while practicing correct social distancing.

The event typically draws around 4000 people to the Hanover, New Hampshire area and has raised more than $40 million for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center.

Health officials in Vermont have provided a COVID-19 update for Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

As of today, VT now has 752 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 29 resulting in deaths. 10,585 tests have been conducted. There are currently 35 citizens being monitored for symptoms, while 796 have completed monitoring. Chittenden County leads the state with 372 confirmed cases, while Essex County only has one.

For further information, contact the VT Department of Health at 802-863-7240.

(All numbers sourced from WCAX)

At a press conference Tuesday, New Hampshire health officials gave another COVID-19 update, reports WCAX.

Officials announced that the virus’ death toll has now reached 27 in the state, while 1091 have tested positive. Governor Chris Sununu also announced that his newly formed task force (Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery, or GOFER) will handle aid applications in the state. The group is bipartisan, and has authority to spend relief funds during this time of emergency.

He also announced a $300 weekly stipend that he hopes will help retain frontline staff at Medicaid-funded residential facilities and social services that are experiencing a worker shortage.

Hanover High School has found a new girls varsity lacrosse coach in Sarah Martin, reports The Valley News.

Martin, a former Dartmouth College assistant women’s lacrosse coach, takes over for Chris Seibel who was let go before the 2020 spring sports season. Martin graduated from Middlebury College in 1995, and went on to coach the Big Green for 13 seasons beginning in 2000. She would take over coaching duties for the season, if the 2020 spring season ever begins due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As of now, the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) will not be starting practices until May 4, with games hopefully beginning on May 13.

Top NH House Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday morning in an attempt to force Governor Chris Sununu to get permission from lawmakers prior to spending the $1.25 billion stimulus package, reports nhpr.

The lawsuit follows a tense week in which House Democrats claimed Republican Governor Sununu is cutting them out of the plan on how to respond to NH’s financial threat due to the pandemic. Sununu claims that he has a greater leeway during the state of emergency to act without legislature approval.

Sununu and Attorney General Gordon MacDonald point towards prior instances to back their argument, like the 2002 law which gives governors power to act unilaterally during emergency.

Democrats argue that prior governors spent federal aid with the consent of the fiscal committee, pointing towards the flooding in 2003 and 2008 to boon their case.

Sununu plans to stay course, and called the first meeting of a bipartisan COVID-19 “legislative advisory board” on Monday.

On Sunday, a plane carrying 91000 pounds of personal protective equipment touched down in New Hampshire, reports The Eagle Times.

The plane, traveling from Shanghai, China touched down on Sunday afternoon at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport and was greeted by Governor Chris Sununu, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Dean Kamen. According to Sununu, the gear will be distributed to the areas within the state with the greatest need.

Personal protective equipment is described as protective clothing, helmets, goggles, or other garments or equipment that protect the wearer’s body from injury or infection.