WELCOME TO THE INTER-HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION.
AND PLEASED TO WELCOME YOUI.
WE JUST FINISHED A PRODUCTIVE AND HELPFUL DEBRIEFING FROM OUR STATE OFFICIALS WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN MANY OTHERS.
SO I WILL TURN THIS OVER TO THE SENATOR FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS.
SEN. JEANNE SHAHEEN: THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU TO THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION FOR HOSTING US.
IT IS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR EVERYBODY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT THE ENTIRE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, THE GOVERNOR AND STATE OFFICIALS ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE STATE AND FEDERAL
RESPONSE IS TO THE CORONAVIRUS.
AND WE WANT TO WORK VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL THREAT.
I’M -- EVERYONE WILL SPEAK BRIEFLY SO WE HAVE TIME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
AND LET ME SAY HOW PLEASED WE ARE TO HAVE THE COMMISSIONER HERE, DR. CHAN, THE STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST.
AND FOLKS FROM DIFFERENT HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, AND FROM NASHUA AND MANCHESTER PUBLIC HEALTH.
THE MEETING WE HAD WAS VERY INFORMATIVE.
AS WE KNOW, MUCH IS STILL UNKNOWN ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC STAYS INFORMED AND THAT WE WORK TOGETHER TO GET ASMUCH INFORMATION AS WE CAN.
THERE WERE POINTS MADE, MOSTLY THE NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE CDC WEBSITES HAVE INFORMATION ON THE VIRUS AND WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE
TAKEN, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOWS THOSE ARE AVAILABLE AND IT SHOULD LOOK AT THOSE AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
NOW, THOSE RESOURCES INCLUDE BEST PRACTICES FOR HYGIENE, FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
THEY ARE IMPORTANT REMINDERS TO STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK, SEEK GUIDANCE IF YOU ARE TRAVELING, AND IF ANYONE HAS TRAVELED TO AN AREA WHERE THE VIRUS HAS SPREAD AND IS EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS, GO
TO YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND BE TESTED.
THE -- I AND THE REST OF THE DELEGATION, INCLUDING SEN.
MAGGIE HASSAN AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN WORKING IN WASHINGTON AND THE STATE TO MAKE SURE THAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
WE HOPE TO HAVE SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION GOING THROUGH THIS WEEK.
THE CONGRESSWOMAN WILL SPEAK TO THAT IN MORE DETAIL.
WE ARE ENCOURAGING THE MINISTRATION TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OFFICIALS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.
AND TO RECOGNIZE, FOR ALL OF US, THAT IS SCIENCE THAT SHOULD BE DRIVING OUR RESPONSE ON THIS VIRUS.
AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL SEE THAT IN ALL THE RESPONSE.
NOW, WE ARE ALSO ASKING ANY FEDERAL LEGISLATION REIMBURSE THE STATE, NOT JUST FOR MONEY ALREADY EXPENDED, BUT FOR FUTURE POTENTIAL COSTS.
WE THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF THE STATES.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE HERE TODAY FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ADDRESS THE PUBLIC CONCERN AND THE NEED TO RESPOND TO THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER.
THANK YOU.
THE SENATOR WILL SPEAK NEXT.
SEN. MAGGIE HASSAN: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US . AND TO ALL THE EXCELLENT HEALTH OFFICIALS WHO ARE HERE, THANK YOU FOR THE BRIEFING AND FOR WHAT YOU AND YOUR TEAMS ARE
DOING.
AS MENTIONED, WE JUST FINISHED THE BRIEFING ON THE RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS.
AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER, BUT ALSO WITH THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE THAT WE NEED TO TAKE SERIOUSLY.
THE SINGLE BEST THING FOR THE PUBLIC TO DO RIGHT NOW IS TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW TYPICAL FLU PREVENTION MEASURES, INCLUDING WASHING YOUR HANDS OFTEN, AVOIDING TOUCHING YOUR EYES,
MOUTH AND NOSE WITH UNWASHED HANDS, AND AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH THOSE WHO ARE SICK.
IN ADDITION, ANYONE WHO HAS TRAVELED TO A COUNTRY WHERE THE CORONAVIRUS HAS SPREAD AND IS EXPERIENCING COLD LIKE SYMPTOMS, SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CALL YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER, AND IF THEY
RECOMMEND COMING IN, GO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.
AND PROVIDE YOUR PROVIDER WITH YOUR RECENT TRAVEL INFORMATION.
WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE AS A DELEGATION TO WORK A CLASS AISLE WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY RESOURCES THAT WE NEED, AND TO ENSURE THE ADMINISTRATION IS COORDINATING
WITH ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.
I’M GRATEFUL FOR THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOV. SUNUNU AND HIS OFFICE AS WE COME TOGETHER TO WORK TO COMBAT THIS CHALLENGE.
NUMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES IN WASHINGTON AGREED THE $2.5 BILLION FUNDING REQUEST WILL NOT BE SUFFICIENT.
AND BIPARTISAN EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO WRITE IN A FUNDAMENTAL -- FUNDING BILL.
AS A MEMBER OF THE PENSIONS COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, I HAVE PARTICIPATED IN A NUMBER OF BRIEFINGS ON THE RESPONSES TO
THE OUTBREAK INTO THIS WEEK I WILL BE IN THREE HEARINGS, WHERE I WILL CONTINUE TO QUESTION FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO DETERMINE WHAT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ARE NEEDED AND TO COMMUNICATE WHAT
STATE FOLKS ARE TELLING US WE NEED, AND TO MAKE SURE THE ADMINISTRATION IS COORDINATING WITH OUR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF ALL THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHO ARE PREPARING FOR THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF THIS VIRUS.
AND AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMUNICATION THAT WE CAN DO IN THIS -- AS -- IN ARE SMALL AND MIGHTY STATE.
I AND CONFIDENT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
NOW THE GOVERNOR.
GOV. SUNUNU: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I WANT TO START BY THINKING OUR -- THANKING OUR TEAM AT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
THEY HAVE PUT A LOT OF HOURS IN, REALLY GOING OVER AND ABOVE, SO WE CANNOT THANK THEM ENOUGH.
THE FEDERAL DELEGATION HAS DONE AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB, NOT JUST COMMIT TO GETTING WHAT IS HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON WITH THE CDC, FIGHTING FOR RESOURCES, BUT WORKING WITH US IN TERMS OF
COMMUNICATION AT A VERY REGIONAL AND LOCALIZED LEVEL WITH ANY OF THE INCIDENTS THAT MAY BE COMING UP, AND THE CONCERNS LOCALLY, THEY HAVE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.
THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE IS WE ARE PREPARED.
WE KNOW THE RISK LEVEL DOES REMAIN LOW, BUT WE ARE PREPARED AND WE ARE GOING TO REMAIN PREPARED TO DEAL WITH ANY ISSUE THAT MIGHT ARISE AS THE SITUATION CONTINUES TO DEVELOP.
WE DO NOT KNOW HOW IT WILL DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, BUT IT IS ALL HANDS ON DECK AND WE HAVE VERY MUCH BEEN REPAIRED.
WE LIKE TO OPERATIONALIZE AT A LOCAL LEVEL, SOMETIMES COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY, SCHOOL TO SCHOOL, INDIVIDUAL TO INDIVIDUAL.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND RESOURCES COMING DOWN FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IS WITH CLEAR COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION, AGAIN AT THAT LOCALIZED LEVEL, THERE WILL BE A SERIES OF REGULARLY SCHEDULED CALLS AND
MEETINGS AS WE GO FORWARD.
THEY WILL BE A FEW TIMES A WEEK, SO EVERYBODY HAS THAT INFORMATION.
NOT JUST AT THE STATE LEVEL, IT WILL BE DONE WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, LOCAL COMMUNITY OFFICIALS IN CHARGE OF THERE LOCAL HEALTH NETWORKS, AS WELL AS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
I WILL SPEAK WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT AND OTHER GOVERNORS TODAY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.
COMMUNICATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL WE HAVE IN TERMS OF GETTING THROUGH THIS ISSUE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO THE SENATORS AND MY COLLEAGUES.
PREPARATION IS IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY AS WE WORK ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION.
AND I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM FROM THE STATE FOR WORKING WITH US.
THANK YOU TO DR. CHEN FOR YOUR WISDOM AND GUIDANCE.
AND TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR KEEPING US ON TRACK.
I WANT TO CALL OUT LISA, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH, WHO WAS IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK AND WAS ABLE TO MEET WITH US AND WITH AUTHORITIES TO GIVE US GUIDANCE ON THIS APPROPRIATION.
SO WE ANTICIPATE THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION WILL BE COMING TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE THIS WEEK.
AND EVERYONE IS WORKING TOGETHER, REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, TRYING TO GET TO THE RIGHT NUMBER TO RIGHT SIZE THE RESPONSES TO THIS.
WHAT WE WANT TO CONVEY TO PEOPLE IS TO REMAIN CALM AND WASH YOUR HANDS.
THAT IS THE MAIN MESSAGE OF THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL NOT BE DRAMATICALLY IMPACTED, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CAN TAKE STEPS YOURSELF TO KEEP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY SAFE.
SOME PEOPLE WILL HAVE A MORE SERIOUS RESPONSE.
AND I THICK AS THE GOVERNOR SAID, WE ARE PREPARED FOR THAT.
WE ARE FORTUNATE WHERE WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER IN A SMALL STATE.
THERE WILL BE SOME INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE WILL STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL OR BE ISOLATED FROM THE COMMUNITY, SO AS NOT TO SPREAD THE ILLNESS.
I THINK WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO THAT, SO AS WE HAVE REPEATED, TAKE STEPS FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL HYGIENE, FOR THOSE AROUND YOU.
IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL, DO NOT GO TO WORK, SO THAT WE REDUCE THE EXPOSURE.
BUT IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING A FEVER, COUGHING, SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS, REACH OUT TO YOUR PHYSICIAN OR MEDICAL PERSONNEL.
CALL AND THEY WILL INSTRUCT YO TO THE NEXT STEPS.
WE WILL BE ON TOP OF THIS TO GET THE APPROPRIATION OVER TO THE SENATE, THE SENATE WILL RESPOND QUICKLY.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE OUR SENATORS IN IMPORTANT POSITIONS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
I SERVE ON THE HOUSE, ENERGY AND COMMERCE SUBCOMMITTEE AND WE WERE BRIEFED LAST WEEK BY THIS FIGURE TERRY.WE HAVE BEEN DASHED BY THE SECRETARY.
WE HAVE BEEN HOUSED SEVERAL TIMES ON THE CORONAVIRUS.
AND OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATE TO OUR CONSTITUENTS CLEARLY, SO WE WILL BE DOING THAT THROUGH VIDEOS AND NEWSLETTERS.
AND HOPEFULLY PLANNING A TELEPHONE TOWNHALL.
BUT TO KEEP EVERYBODY IN THE LOOP WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION POSSIBLE.
NOW I WILL TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE.
REP. CHRIS PAPPAS: THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUE, THE OFFICIALS AND OF THE GOVERNOR FOR BEING HERE.
THE BRIEFING WAS THOROUGH, AS WE HAD ABOUT THE STATE’S EFFORTS TO RESPOND.
WE WANT TO REALLY JUST SAY THAT THE FOLKS AT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAVE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB MAKING SURE THAT INFORMATION GETS OUT TO THE PUBLIC IN AN APPROPRIATE FASHION.
AS WE LOOK AT CONTAINMENT, IF THIS DOES CONTINUE TO APPEAR, WE WANT TO PROVIDE ALL THE FEDERAL RESOURCES NECESSARY.
THAT COULD BE A COMPLETE RESPONSE.
SO AS THE PUBLIC CONTINUES TO HEAR ABOUT THIS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE LISTEN TO THE VOICES IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH COMMUNITY TO ENSURE WE ARE TAKING ALL THE STEPS TO PROTECT OURSELVES.
ONE PLACE I HAVE LOOKED AS NATURE CHAIR OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE FOR VETERANS AFFAIRS, IN THE HOUSE, HAS BEEN COMMUNICATING WITH VA, OUR LARGEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY
ARE WELL-EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THIS.
I WAS ON THE PHONE THIS MORNING WITH THE MANCHESTER DIRECTOR OF THE VA, AND THEY ARE WELL STOCKED, THEY ARE COMMUNICATING WELL WITH REGIONAL PARTNERS IN BOSTON, AND THEY FEEL LIKE THEY
ARE WELL PREPARED TO FOLLOW THE ACTION.
SO FOR VA AND ALL OF OUR HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, FOR THE HOSPITALS, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PULL IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THIS PRESENTS
ITSELF IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
THERE IS CONCERN ACROSS OUR STATE.
WE ALL NEED TO BE COOL AND COLLECTED AS WE RESPOND TO THIS, LISTEN TO PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, AND MAKE SURE THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE GET THE RESOURCES WE NEED IN WASHINGTON
TO CONTINUE THESE EFFORTS TO GO FORWARD.
ANOTHER DELEGATION IS EAGER TO GET THE JOB DONE.
NOW OVER TO THE DOCTOR FOR REMARKS.
DR. CHEN: GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU TO OUR DELEGATION FOR HELPING TO ORGANIZE THE MEETING.
AND TO THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AND OTHER STATE AGENCIES WHO HAVE BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUPPORT TO PUBLIC HEALTH IN OUR RESPONSE TO THIS NEWLY EMERGING CORONAVIRUS.
I WANT TO THANK THE FRONTLINE STAFF AND PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER AGENCIES THAT HAVE BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY 24-7, NIGHT AND WEEKENDS TO RESPOND, ANSWER PHONE CALLS AND ARE TRYING TO
GET THE INFORMATION OUT THERE ON HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM THIS NEWLY EMERGING CORONAVIRUS WE ARE CALLING COVID-19.
WE RELEASED A NOTICE YESTERDAY THAT WE WERE TESTING A FOURTH PERSON FOR COVID-19, THE DISEASE CAUSED BY THE CORONAVIRUS THAT WAS FIRST IDENTIFIED ORIGINATING OUT OF
WUHAN ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.
THIS IS THE FOURTH INDIVIDUAL WE HAVE TESTED.
THE PRIOR THREE HAVE BEEN NEGATIVE.
AND I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT THAT FOURTH TEST IS POSITIVE.
SO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY HAS BROUGHT ON THE CAPACITY TO DO TESTING, AS OF THIS MORNING.
THIS INDIVIDUAL IS AN ADULT FROM GRANTING COUNTY.
THEY ARE NOT HOSPITALIZED.
THEY ARE ON HOME ISOLATION.
THEY WERE NOT SICK ENOUGH TO BE HOSPITALIZED.
WE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND THE COMMUNITY AND HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THIS CASE OF COV ID-19, AND TRY TO PREVENT FURTHER TRANSMISSION IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
I WILL ALSO MENTION THAT THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD RECENTLY TRAVELED TO ITALY, THIS IS NOT AN INSTANCE, WE BELIEVE, THAT REPRESENTS THE WIDER COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION.
SO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY, WITH THE SUPPORT OF OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, WILL BE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO INVESTIGATE THIS MOST RECENT IDENTIFICATION.
AND TO IDENTIFY ANY POTENTIAL SUSCEPTIBLE CONTACTS WHO MAY NEED TO BE PLACED UNDER SELF QUARANTINE.
WE HAVE BEEN ASKED MULTIPLE TIMES, ARE WE PAIRED -- PREPARED FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS NOVEL CORONAVIRUS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE?
YES, THIS IS PART OF THE WORK THAT WE DO.
WE HAVE RESPONDED TO MULTIPLE SIMILAR INFECTIOUS DISEASE THREATS OVER THE YEARS, TO EVEN DECADES.
I AM THINKING OF SARS.
THE H1N1 PANDEMIC.
MERS IN 2012.
THE EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE THAT EMERGED BACK IN 2014 AND 2015.
SO WE HAVE EXPERIENCE IN RESPONDING TO THESE INFECTIOUS DISEASE THREATS.
ANY NEW VIRUS OR PATHOGEN OBVIOUSLY PRESENTS ITS OWN CHALLENGES.
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL PARTNERS, AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, TO RESPOND TO THIS NEWEST CHALLENGE.
BUT I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE IN OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO APPROPRIATE INVESTIGATE, TO TRY TO PREVENT FURTHER SPREAD IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I WILL SAY THAT IF AND WHEN THIS VIRUS BECOMES MORE WIDESPREAD IN THE UNITED STATES, OR EVEN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO TAKE THE PROPER STEPS TO
PREVENT TRANSMISSION, NOT ONLY OF THE NEW VIRUS, BUT OF ANY VIRUS, INCLUDING VIRUSES LIKE INFLUENZA.
SO WE HAVE ASKED PEOPLE IF THEY ARE SICK, STAY HOME, DO NOT GO TO SCHOOL OR WORK, ESPECIALLY IF THEY HAVE A FEVER OR RESPIRATORY ILLNESS.
PEOPLE SHOULD PRACTICE HAND HYGIENE.
PEOPLE WHO ARE COUGHING AND SNEEZING SHOULD BE COVERING THOSE.
AND THEN WASHING THEIR HANDS AFTERWARDS.
AND IF ANYBODY IS SICK, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO CALL AHEAD TO THEIR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, TALK ABOUT THEIR SYMPTOMS ND ANY POTENTIAL TRAVEL AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH
OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, TO ADDRESS CONCERNS AND ISSUES ARISING AROUND THIS NEW VIRUS.
SO LET ME SAY THANK YOU AND TURN THINGS BACK OVER.
SEN. JEANNE SHAHEEN: I THINK WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
AND WE HAVE STATE OFFICIALS FROM PUBLIC HEALTH WHO WILL ALSO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
>> CAN YOU TELL US THE FOURTH PERSON WHO WAS AN EMPLOYEE AT THE MEDICAL CENTER, CAN YOU TELL US IF THAT PERSON WAS IN CONTACT WITH PATIENTS?
ANYBODY ELSE IN QUARANTINE?
DR. CHAN: OUR ABILITY TO TEST IS CONSIDERED POSITIVE.
THIS INDIVIDUAL STILL NEEDS TO BE CONFIRMED AT THE CDC.
BUT WE WILL NOT WAIT FOR THAT CONFIRMATION, WE WILL BE BEGINNING THE INVESTIGATION, IN FACT, WE ALREADY BEGAN WHEN WE INITIATED TESTING OVER THE WEEKEND.
SO WE WILL BE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE HEALTH CARE AGENCY INVOLVED.B BUT WE ARE NOT RELEASING ANY MORE INFORMATION.
THIS IS AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION AND WE NEED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR HEALTH CARE PARTNERS TO GET THE CORRECT INFORMATION AND IDENTIFY WHETHER OTHER PATIENTS OR THEIR HEALTH CARE WORKERS, OR
PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY, MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED SO WE CAN REACH OUT TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE SELF QUARANTINING AND OUT OF THE PUBLIC SETTING SO THAT THIS
VIRUS DOES NOT SPREAD FURTHER.
>> TELL US ABOUT DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK AND WHETHER THIS SUSPECTED PATIENT WAS IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE HOSPITAL.
DR. CHAN: I WOULD DIFFER -- DEFER THOSE TO THAT MEDICAL CENTER.
>> JOANNE CONROY, DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK HEALTH.
THERE WAS A LOT OF ORGANIZATION THIS WEEKEND TO JUST IDENTIFY ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE INDIVIDUAL, WHO IS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR POTENTIALLY BEING POSITIVE AFTER
THE CDC CONFIRMS THE PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE TEST.
SO WE SET UP INCIDENT COMMAND THIS MORNING AT 9:00 A.M. AND WE ARE GOING THROUGH THE PROCESSES OF NOT ONLY FIGURING OUT HOW TO REACH OUT TO THE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH THIS
INDIVIDUAL, BUT MUCH MORE BROADLY HOW DO WE ADDRESS CONCERNS OF THE PUBLIC?
WE KNOW THERE WILL BE A RESPONSE TO THIS FROM THE PUBLIC AND HOW DO WE ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM AN INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT SETTING.
THAT WILL BE FORTHCOMING.
>> CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PROCESS THAT COMES WHEN YOU SET UP A STATE COMMAND?
IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN HOSPITALS HAVE A SITUATION LIKE THIS, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO DESIGNATE AN ENTIRE WING OF THE BUILDING FOR THIS, OR DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO.
>> WE HAVE A LARGE CONFERENCE ROOM THAT IS OUR INCIDENT COMMAND.
MAYBE SOME OF YOU THAT COVERED OUR SHOOTING THAT WE HAD IN 2017 UNDERSTAND THAT WE SET UP INCIDENT COMMAND AT THAT TIME AS WELL, TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS FOR EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC,
AND COORDINATE THE EFFORTS OF ALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INVOLVED.
WE SET UP INCIDENT COMMAND FOR ANYTHING THAT IS GOING TO PRESENT A RISK TO THE PATIENTS, THE EMPLOYEES AND/OR THE PUBLIC.
IT INVOLVES PROBABLY 20 INDIVIDUALS WITH THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE SPECIFIC TO THE ISSUE WE ARE ADDRESSING.
AND THERE IS A VERY, VERY STRUCTURED WAY THAT THEY DEVELOP WHAT ARE THE NEAR-TERM ISSUES, THE LONG-TERM ISSUES, I ORDER TO PROTECT THE PUBLICN.
>> CAN YOU CONFIRM THAT THE PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE IS AN EMPLOYEE RATHER THAN IMPATIENT?
>> IT IS AN EMPLOYEE OF DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK.
WE INFORMED OUR STAFF OF THAT LAST NIGHT.
AND OUR BOARD MEMBERS THIS MORNING.
>> DR. CHAN, TALK ABOUT HOW THE TEST WAS INITIATED.
LIKE, THE SYMPTOMS OF THIS INDIVIDUAL.
DR. CHAN: IT IS A GOOD QUESTION.
THE CRUSHER WAS ABOUT SYMPTOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
I’M LIMITED IN WHAT I CAN RELEASE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THEY HAD MORE MILD SYMPTOMS.
THEY WERE NOT SICK ENOUGH TO REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION.
THEY ARE CURRENTLY UNDER SELF OBSERVATION, SELF ISOLATION AT HOME.
THE SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE, A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE TYPICALLY PRESENT WITH EITHER A FEVER OR SOME TYPE OF RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, THAT COULD BE A COUGH OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH.
AND I’M SORRY, YOU HAD ANOTHER QUESTION?
>> HOW IS THE TEST INITIATED?
DR. CHAN: THE SYSTEM WORKED APPROPRIATELY AND AS WE HAVE REQUESTED OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, THIS WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WENT INTO THEIR PROVIDER WITH SYMPTOMS OF FEVER
OR RESPIRATORY ILLNESS, AFTER TRAVEL TO ITALY.
WE WERE APPROPRIATELY NOTIFIED.
AND WE INITIATED TESTING ON SATURDAY.
AND WE WORKED WITH DARTMOUTH HITCHCOCK TO COLLECT SAMPLES UNDER APPROPRIATE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT ON THE INDIVIDUAL.
THE SAMPLES WERE THEN SHIPPED TO THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY.
WE INITIATED PRELIMINARY TESTING ON SUNDAY.
INITIAL TESTS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RUN AT THAT TIME INCLUDED INFLUENZA AND A TEST THAT LOOKS FOR A VARIETY OF OTHER VIRAL, COMMONLY CIRCULATED PATHOGENS.
THOSE TESTS WERE NEGATIVE.
SO WHEN WE BROUGHT THE COVID 19 TEST THIS MORNING, WE RAN THE SPECIMENS FOR COVID 19 AND THEY RETURNED ABOUT ONE HOUR AGO, SHOWING A POSITIVE TEST RESULT .
THAT TEST WILL BE CONFIRMED OR SENT TO THE CDC FOR CONFIRMATION, BUT WE WILL NOT WAIT ON THAT CONFIRMATION IN ORDER TO BEGIN OUR INVESTIGATION.
>> CAN I ASK ABOUT WHERE THEY WENT TO THE MARKET, WHEN THEY CAME BACK FROM THE AIRPORT, THESE THINGS THAT PEOPLE MAY WANT TO KNOW IF THEY WERE AT LOGAN OR AT THE AIRPORT THE SAME
TIME -- WHAT TIME I CAN YOU GIVE US?
CDR. CHAN: THAT IS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION.
WHEN WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION, WE WILL SHARE THAT.
IN TERMS OF GETTING CONFIRMATION FROM THE CDC, THAT IS UNCLEAR.
YOU COULD TAKE SEVERAL DAYS TO GET RESULTS BACK FROM THE CDC FROM WHEN THEY RECEIVED AT THE SPECIMEN.
WE WILL BE SHIPPING THAT OUT TODAY.
>> THIS IS FOR THE GOVERNOR.
IN YOUR CALL TO THE VICE PRESIDENT, IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFIC YOU WANT HIM TO KNOW?
GOV. SUNUNU: I THINK IT IS A MATTER OF UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE PROCEDURE OF OPERATIONS ARE FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO OTHER GOVERNORS, SHARE BEST PRACTICES.
I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH THE GOVERNOR OF VERMONT LAST NIGHT, WE TALKED ABOUT ISSUES, NOT JUST WITHIN OUR BORDERS, BUT ACROSS THE BORDER.
THEY IDEA FOLKS ARE FLYING INTO MONTREAL AND COMING IN THROUGH THE NORTHERN BORDER.
SO WORKING WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT TO UNDERSTAND PROTOCOLS AND COMMUNICATION WITH OUR PARTNERS TO THE NORTH AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF THOSE PROCEDURES I THINK OF BEEN
IMPLEMENTED HERE WITHIN THE U.S., THAT THEY ARE BEING DONE WELL, THAT THOSE PROCEDURES ARE ALSO MIMICKED ACROSS THE BORDER AND THERE IS COMMUNICATION TO OUR FRIENDS THERE.
JUST AS MORE CASES OF POTENTIAL -- OR REAL CASES COME ONLINE, WORKING AND HAVING THAT COMMUNICATION WITH THE OTHER GOVERNORS, SHARING BEST PRACTICES, AND BEING ABLE TO
RELAY THAT DOWN TO THE FOLKS WHO HELP AT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ON TOP OF IT.
AND ALL OF THAT WILL GET RE-COMMUNICATED.
WE WILL BE DOING PHONE CALLS UP AND DOWN THE CHAIN WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGERS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE FEDERAL DELEGATION, AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ALL HAVE THAT SAME
INFORMATION BECAUSE COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION, THAT WILL BE THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL WE HAVE.
>> WHAT ABOUT GUIDANCE?
GOV. SUNUNU: THERE ARE RIGHT NOW -- AS OF REPORTED NOW, THERE WERE THREE SCHOOLS THAT TRAVELED OVERSEAS THAT HAD STUDENTS WHO WERE GOING TO ITALY.
I BELIEVE IN ALL THREE OF THOSE CASES, THOSE SCHOOLS HAVE ASKED THE STUDENTS TO BASICALLY SELF QUARANTINE AND A STAY-AT-HOME FOR A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF TIME THAT HAS BEEN DETERMINED
DEPENDENT ON THEIR POTENTIAL EXPOSURE, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY WERE AND AT THE TIME THEY MAY HAVE BEEN IN ITALY.
IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE, THAT STILL COMES OUT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, IN TERMS OF WHAT CAN AND SHOULD BE DONE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.
MAKING SURE THE COMMUNICATION IS SEAMLESS, WHETHER IT IS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR PUBLIC HEALTH.
THE GUIDANCE WILL BE MAINTAINED OUT OF DR. CHAN AT HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
>> I WANTED TO ADD, I THINK THE DIRECTOR ALSO TOLD US ABOUT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SO THERE ARE ONGOING EFFORTS TO REACH OUT.
>> HOW LONG WILL THE STATE BE ABLE TO DO -- ?
>> WE CAN DO THAT NOW.
>> WITH CONFIRMING HAVING THE PROTOCOL AT THE STATE LEVEL, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WOULD MAKE FOR A QUICKER RESPONSE -- >> JUST TO BE CLEAR.
OFTEN TIMES IN THESE SITUATIONS COME IN A POSITIVE WEEK IT WILL NEED CONFIRMATION AT THE CDC.
SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE TESTING CAPACITY.
THE CONFIRMATION IS NOT GOING TO DELAY OUR RESPONSE IN RESPONDING TO THIS POSITIVE TEST, WE ARE TREATING IT LIKE A POSITIVE EVEN WHILE IT IS CONFIRMED AT THE CDC, BUT THAT WILL LIKELY ALWAYS
BE THE PATHWAY THAT ANY PO