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THE CURVE. BUT HURDLES REMAIN... LIKE WITH TESTING. 5 MORE POSITIVE TESTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TONIGHT. 44 GRANITE STATERS ARE NOW INFECTED WITH COVID-19. MOST OF THE CASES... INVOLVING PEOPLE WHO TRAVELED DOMESTICALLY OR INTERNATIONALLY. <CLIP 672, 15:55:49-55:55 DR. CHAN IT IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO STRESS THIS AGAIN FOR PEOPLE TO STAY HOME IF THEY ARE SICK.> STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST, DR. BENJAMIN CHAN SAYS THE AVAILABILITY OF TEST KITS IS INCREASING AND 14- HUNDRED GRANITE STATERS HAVE BEEN TESTED. BUT AS IS THE CASE NATIONALLY... BARRIERS REMAIN AS SOME STILL STRUGGLE TO FIGURE OUT IF THEY HAVE THE VIRUS. CHAN SAYS THERE'S A LACK OF THE EQUIPMENT USED TO TAKE SAMPLES FROM PATIENTS. <CLIP 672, 15:58:28-58:41 DR. CHAN THERE'S A NEED TO POTENTIALLY PRIORITIZE TESTING FOR THOSE WHO ARE MORE SERIOUSLY ILL, FOR EXAMPLE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOSPITALIZED AND THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF SPREADING IT FURTHER WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES, SO I'M THINKING HEALTH CARE WORKERS.> GOVERNOR CHRIS SUNUNU SPOKE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A LONG ROAD AHEAD. TO MEET THAT CHALLENGE... THE STATE IS SETTING UP A 50 MILLION DOLLAR FUND TO BOOST HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. THROUGH SHORT- TERM, NO INTEREST LOANS... HOSPITALS WILL BE ABLE TO MEET A POSSIBLE SURGE IN PATIENTS BY HAVING ACCESS TO FUNDS. <CLIP 672, 16:09:08-16:09:18 SUNUNU WE HAVE TO SUPPORT THE ENTIRE SYSTEM TOP DOWN SO THAT INDIVIDUALS CAN RECEIVE THE BEST CARE POSSIBLE FROM THE GROUND UP. WE MUST ENSURE OUR SYSTEM HAS SOLVENCY AND CASH FLOW AND WILL NOT LET THE DOORS OF HELP BE SHUT TO ANYONE.> THERE ARE STILL 800 TESTS PENDING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. MANY OF THEM... FROM PEOPLE ON THE FRONTL

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Five more people in New Hampshire have been diagnosed with COVID-19, bringing the total to 44, health officials said Thursday.>> Download the FREE WMUR appDr. Benjamin Chan, the state epidemiologist, said there are at least 600 tests that are pending and more than 1,400 people have been tested in New Hampshire since the outbreak began. Chan said the majority of cases have been in people who traveled domestically or internationally. He urged anyone who's sick to stay home and take precautions against infecting anyone else.>> COVID-19 in New Hampshire: What you need to know"This is especially important to protect our more vulnerable populations," Chan said.He said people over 60 and people with chronic health problems are particularly susceptible to developing serious symptoms, though health officials have noted that severe symptoms have been seen in people across all age groups.Chan acknowledged that testing is still limited in New Hampshire, reflecting nationwide constraints. "The limitations that you've heard about nationally in the testing process are also present here in New Hampshire, which has strained our testing capacity, given the increase in demand," Chan said.He said there's a need to prioritize testing to those at most risk of developing serious illness or spreading it to others, such as health care workers and other essential workers.>> Latest coronavirus coverage from WMURThe state has expanded the availability of unemployment benefits to help people who have lost income because of restrictions that have been put in place, such as a ban on dine-in eating at restaurants.Gov. Chris Sununu acknowledged that the website used to file for claims has performed poorly under the crush of applications, and he recommended that anyone who has a problem call 603-271-7700.Officials said the state's request for a disaster declaration has been granted, allowing businesses to apply for loans from the U.S. Small Business Association. The loans can help provide capital to cover fixed debts, payroll and accounts payable expenses.Loans will offer up to $2 million in assistance at a rate of 3.75 percent.Business owners can apply from now until Dec. 18 at SBA.gov/disaster. More information can also be found at https://www.nheconomy.com/covid19.Sununu also announced that a $50 million fund would be established for hospitals and health care providers in the state. "Today the state is establishing a a $50M fund to ensure our health system remains nimble and responsive. These funds will be available to hospitals and others who need resources through short-term, no-interest loans," Sununu said.No-interest, short-term loans will be available along with longer-term loan guarantee opportunities to help health care facilities, the governor said. 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>> See raw video from the press conference