NH DHHS: About 150 kits currently left to test for COVID-19 Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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50 MORE PEOPLE FOR COVID-19, USING ABOUT 50 OF THE 200 THEY HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR ALREADY. AS MORE PEOPLE ARE TESTED FOR COVID-19, QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER WHEN THE CDC MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE STATE WITH MORE KITS TO TEST PEOPLE WHO SHOW SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS. STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. BENJAMIN CHAN SAYS THE CDC AND FEDERAL HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS WORKING TO INCREASE CAPACITY IN LOCAL AND STATE LABS. >> IS EXPANDING, AS OUR HOSPITALS AROUND THE COUNTRY WORKING. SO WE EXPECT CAPACITY TO ONLY INCREASE IN THE COMING DAYS. CHERISE: OFFICIALS TODAY EMPHASIZE THAT TESTING IS A PART OF THEIR DAILY ROLE EVEN BEFORE COVID-19. >> WE DO THIS FOR ALL TYPES OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN THE STATE THAT ARE REPORTABLE TO US, SO THIS IS THE BREAD AND BUTTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH. CHERISE: WHEN SOMEONE IS INTENTIONALLY IDENTIFIED -- >> FIRST, WE COLLECT CLINICAL INFORMATION FROM THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER, THE SYMPTOMS, THE ONSET, AND THEN WE GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND ASK THEM WHAT THEIR POTENTIAL EXPOSURE WAS TO THIS VIRUS. WE WANT TO KNOW IF THEY ARE A TRAVELER, IF THEY CAME INTO CONTACT WITH A POTENTIAL CASE. CHERISE: THEY THEN NOTIFY ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE HAD CLOSE CONTACT WITH THAT PERS

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