Hide Transcript Show Transcript

TO KEEP STAFF, STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC SAFE DURING THIS OUTBREAK. <CLIP:2736 :12;52-:12:58 "TODAY I'M ISSUING ALL NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHOOLS TO TRANSITION TO A REMOTE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY."> GOVERNOR SUNUNU ISSUES AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO CLOSE ALL NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHOOLS UNTIL APRIL 3RD. THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE SUNDAY AFTERNOON DURING AN UPDATE ON THE STATE'S RESPONSE TO COVID-19. <CLIPL2736 :13;15-:13;24 "WE HAVE WORKED MANY YEARS TO BE A LEADER IN REMOTE LEARNING. COMMISSIONER EDELBLUT AND HIS TEAM ARE TO BE COMMENDED FOR THEIR EFFORTS. THEY PUT US IN A VERY STRONG POSITION TO TAKE THESE ACTIONS TODAY."> STARTING MONDAY AND THROUGHOUT THE WEEK TEACHERS WILL PREPARE TO LAUNCH REMOTE LEARNING. CLASSES WILL OFFICIALLY GO ONLINE FOR THE REMAINING TWO WEEKS, STARTING MARCH 23RD. <CLIP:2736 :15;31-:15;53 "THERE ARE SOME DISTRICTS WHO ARE UP AND RUNNING AT A MOMENTS NOTICE. THEY ARE FULLY DIGITIZED AND ARE ABLE TO DEPLOY TECHNOLOGY IN WAYS THAT CAN ENGAGE THEIR STUDENTS. OTHER DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO BE USING HYBRID METHODS OF SOME CHROMEBOOKS, SOME INSTRUCTION MATERIALS THAT WILL BE ANALOG AND SOME DISTRICTS MAY BE FULLY ANALOG."> DISTRICTS ARE WORKING ON PLANS TO PROVIDE MEALS TO STUDENTS. SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS OR THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT COULD BE TAPPED AS A RESOURCE. <CLIP:2736 :24;02-:24;11 "WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE FOOD PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR AT-RISK INDIVIDUALS."> THE ORDER REQUIRING A SHIFT TO REMOTE LEARNING DOES NOT APPLY TO NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS. BUT COMMISSIONER EDELBLUT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM, AND HE SAYS HE EXPECTS THEY WILL FOLLOW SUIT. <CLIP:2736 :19;25-:19;32 "I THINK IT IS VITAL THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER THROUGHOUT THIS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY."> THE GOVERNOR SAYS IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS--HE WILL ISSUE DIRECTIVES TO MAKE SURE PARENTS WHO MISS WORK TO TAKE CARE OF CHILDREN CAN ACCESS STATE UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. HE ALSO PLANS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO CHILD CARE -- BY ALLOWING BUSINESSES AND OTHER FACILITIES

Advertisement Governor directs all public schools to temporarily close, turn to remote learning 6 new COVID-19 cases announced, bringing state's total to 13, officials say Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Gov. Chris Sununu announced Sunday that all public schools will be closed in New Hampshire beginning Monday to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.>> Download the FREE WMUR appSununu made the announcement after Dr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, announced that there were six new cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire, bringing the state's total to 13.>> COVID-19 coronavirus in New Hampshire: What you need to know"Given these very serious developments, our understanding is this is a very rapidly evolving situation. I'm directing schools to a remote learning environment starting immediately," Sununu said. School districts will have one week to prepare remote learning systems. Then, there will be two weeks of remote learning across the state through April 3, Sununu said.By the end of the three weeks, the governor and school officials will reassess the proper path forward, whether students can return to school or whether schools will remain closed.The governor's order applies to all public schools. The order does not apply to private schools, though many are making the move to close their schools and shift to remote instruction, officials clarified after the press conference. "Commissioner (Frank) Edelblut has been in contact with (nonpublic schools), and most are following the same course, but the governor’s order does not apply to them," Grant Bosse, director of communications at the New Hampshire Department of Education, said.The governor also announced that he'll be issuing directives over the next couple of days aimed at ensuring families will be able to properly care for their children without worrying about their take-home pay.“(The directives will ensure) that parents needing to miss work for the care of their children at home will be able to access state unemployment benefits," Sununu said.Sununu said the state will also work to provide flexibility for workers who won't be able to stay at home while schools are closed.>> View full video from Sunday's press conference"Pursuant to the executive order I issued on Friday, Commissioner (Lori) Shibinette will work to take steps to provide flexibility in licensing for day care facilities to allow a business to provide temporary child care for their employees, if they so choose, and to increase the maximum enrollment for current operating child care facilities across the state," Sununu said.The governor also said the state will work to set aside funds to assist districts to ensure all vacant school buildings are deep-cleaned over the next few weeks. SIX NEW CASESAccording to the Department of Health and Human Services, the affected people are four women and two men who had all traveled to domestic or international locations. Two of the cases are women from Rockingham County who traveled to multiple countries in Europe on the same trip as an earlier COVID-19 case, according to health officials. DHHS announced two women from Rockingham County recently traveled to different states experiencing community transmission.One of the men had traveled to multiple European countries, according to DHHS. Another man from Nashua had recently traveled to Central America. Chan also said that the seventh case in the state, which was announced Friday, also involved travel. The woman, who officials said was at the Division of Motor Vehicles location in Manchester several times this month, traveled domestically in days before symptoms presented themselves.All 13 patients have not been hospitalized and are resting at home with mild symptoms, Chan said. According to health officials an investigation into the new cases was conducted and they are in the process of notifying anyone who may have been in close contact with the patients while they were infectious. Chan said the public's help is needed to help reduce the spread. "In this setting of the new coronavirus pandemic, I want to stress that we need everybody's help to prevent the spread of this new virus and to protect our families and communities," Chan said. He said that while about 80% of cases involve minor symptoms that can be treated at home, some require hospitalization. Those most at risk for severe illness include people over 60 years old and people with underlying health conditions. This is a breaking news update. More to come.