WNTK Local News

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center has begun a clinical trial to research a COVID-19 medication, reports WMUR.

The goal of the medication would be to slow the progression of the virus. At this time, some patients who have tested positive for coronavirus are taking a medication called remdesivir, which was reportedly developed during the ebola outbreak. The clinical trial is being performed both by a team of researchers at the medical facility, and in more than 90 other sites around the world. A group of 25 nurses are giving patients the medicine, with the goal being to see it’s effects on patients with moderate to severe symptoms.

The number of patients receiving the medicine is not being shared at this time.

A Claremont, New Hampshire man was found dead early Thursday morning following a fire, reports 7 News Boston.

At approximately 4 AM Thursday, emergency personnel reported to a fire at 21 Dennison Drive. Upon arrival, they were met by a mobile home engulfed in flames. Firefighters were able to put out the blaze, but upon entering the home, found a deceased man. An autopsy will be performed in the coming days to find cause of death and to identify the man. There were no other reported injuries.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

On Wednesday, New Hampshire state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan announced the state’s fourth COVID-19 related death, reports WMUR.

Chan stated that other deaths could be related to the virus, as some have died without testing. He also speculates that some hospital patients may have it without knowing.

At this time, there are 415 confirmed cases, with 59 hospitalized patients. 6400 NH citizens have been tested in total. Chan believes that the virus is widespread in the state, and in most communities, but that many have mild to no symptoms, so they have not been tested.

Finally, Chan states that the peak of infections in NH are still weeks away, and that although numbers may decline, there could still be months of precaution needed to ensure the slow of the virus.

The Hartford, Vermont Police Department are aiding in the search for a missing man, reports The Valley News.

Earlier last month, Joshua Webster, 39, of Springfield, VT reportedly went missing in Chester, VT. He was last seen walking in the early morning of March 7, 2020 on Regina Lane. He was reported missing on March 15. Hartford PD along with the VT State Police have launched an investigation into his disappearance, beginning with the search of a home Webster owns on Quechee West Hartford Road.

If you have any information pertaining to his whereabouts or his disappearance, please call the Hartford PD at 802-295-9425.

Vermont state officials expecting ‘stay-at-home’ order to be extended, reports WCAX.

The order given by Governor Phil Scott was originally set to end on April 15, but he says that timeline will likely be extended. State health officials state that further testing will help the state make decisions on the extended order as it lends to better data projections.

Governor Scott is expected to share updates on the situation in the coming days.

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu has announced the further expansion of state unemployment benefits, reports WMUR.

Minimum unemployment benefits in the state will rise from $32 a week to $168 a week. An additional $600 a week will go to unemployed workers through federal funds. Unemployment benefit duration will now extend from 13 weeks to 39. At this time, the process to apply will stay the same, and nothing additional will be required of filers to qualify or get expanded benefits.

New Hampshire will receive $1.25 billion in benefits from legislation President Trump signed last week.

On Monday, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu announced the suspension of standardized testing requirements for the state’s students, reports The Laconia Daily Sun.

Sununu states, “While remote learning has gotten off to an incredible start, we must continue to have flexibility in our approach to education, and onerous standardized tests from Washington send the wrong message to New Hampshire families who are already working hard to adapt to this new, challenging environment.”

As SATs and 11th grade assessments cannot be administered remotely, efforts have begun to make them available to students in the summer or early fall.

As of Monday, March 30, 2020, New Hampshire is up to 314 confirmed coronavirus cases, reports Info NH.

The Department of Health and Human Services announced that Monday saw 56 new cases, with 35 being adult women, and 21 being adult men. 16 of the new cases were in Rockingham County, the most of any county in the state. Four of the new cases have been hospitalized.

34 of the new cases have no identifying risk factors, pointing to community spreading of the virus.

Famed author and New London, New Hampshire Tomie dePaola passed away Monday at the age of 85, reports the Associated Press.

DePaola wrote nearly 250 books in his nearly half-century of publishing, selling upwards of 15 million copies in 20 languages worldwide. The author spent much of his recent years writing and drawing in his 200-year-old barn in New London. In 2011, dePaola received a lifetime achievement award from the American Library Association.

He passed away at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center following complications of a surgery needed after a bad fall last week.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott is now discouraging people from traveling to the state from COVID-19 epicenters, including VT snowbirds, reports WCAX.

While he is not closing borders, he is asking people to follow their best discretion. Scott asks that any VT residents attempting to return from their winter homes self-quarantine for 14 days.

Additionally, the state will be sending state police to lodging facilities that have stayed open despite Scott ordering the closure of all non-essential businesses. According to VT Attorney General TJ Donovan, not following an executive order can result in as much as a $10,000 fine and six months in jail. Lodging that aids healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus or emergency housing approved by the state is allowed.

COVID-19 response or essential workers can still travel across state lines.