Your COVID-19 Questions Answered
Last week, I answered questions from Granite Staters about COVID-19 and ongoing response efforts in a Facebook Live town hall. Unfortunately, I was not able to answer everyone’s questions during the event, but I wanted to take some time to answer a few more of the questions I received below.
This first question came from Matt: Thanks for all you are doing for the Granite State, Senator. Any thoughts on how municipalities are going to make up for revenue shortfalls without placing a huge burden on the local taxpayers?
Matt’s question is incredibly important to local taxpayers, but also to the fate of the economic recovery. I am pushing my colleagues to provide significant additional funding for state and local governments in the next COVID-19 response legislation, and to allow this funding to be used to make up for revenue shortfalls.
If we don’t provide this support, states and local governments will be forced to lay off workers — including in public health and safety positions — and cancel projects and contracts, causing our economy to take another huge hit. I am working with my Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle, particularly those who are also former governors, on this issue, and I will keep doing everything that I can to get this relief passed into law.
I also received questions from a number of people, including Amanda and Ellen, about who qualifies to receive a COVID-19 test in New Hampshire.
As many of you know, expanding our nation’s testing capacity is crucial to safely reopen more parts of the economy. In recent weeks, New Hampshire has ramped up its testing capacity and the Governor recently announced that anyone with any symptoms — or who meets other criteria — such as health care workers and people 60 or older — can schedule a test online, and they will no longer need a doctor’s order to get a test.
If you or someone you know qualifies to receive a test under these new guidelines, click here to schedule your appointment at one of six designated testing sites.
And the last question is from Ellen, who asked: I’m confused about masks. At first we were told they didn’t really help. But now it’s a point of contention with some folks … as if masks are a political statement. What are the facts about masks please?
I know it’s confusing that some of the public health guidance has changed over time as health experts have learned more about this new virus and how it spreads. New Hampshire’s public health officials are asking Granite Staters to follow the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommend that Americans wear cloth masks whenever they are in a public space. However, it is also important to remember to continue to practice social distancing, even if you are wearing a mask.
Cloth masks may not prevent you from contracting COVID-19, but they can help stop you from inadvertently spreading the virus to others, and others from spreading the virus to you and your family. I am wearing a cloth mask (we want to save medical grade masks for health care workers) when I anticipate that I will be around other people, including when I vote on the Senate floor.
Thanks again to everyone who submitted questions — you can watch the full Facebook Live here.
If you have additional questions, you can always contact my office online or by phone at 603–622–2204. I’ll also hold more of these Facebook Live town hall events via my Facebook page. For more information on common COVID-19 challenges, please visit my website for resources.
