COVID-19 at Speare Memorial Hospital flattens

It is predicted that New Hampshire will soon be reaching its estimated peak for the Coronavirus. We won’t know this for sure until the data collected by the state shows a decline in new positive COVID-19 tests and a decrease in hospitalizations, although it does appear that we may have reached a plateau.

A plateau doesn’t mean that we are safe and can stop social distancing and other protective measures. In fact, if we were to abandon these practices, it may result in a future increase in cases or a second spike. If this is truly the plateau before the descent, it means that we have the resources to care for you. You will have a bed, our staff will have proper personal protection equipment, and we will have the equipment and space needed to treat you.

We have been preparing for the surge – when we will see the highest number of patients testing positive for COVID-19 and needing hospitalization– since the pandemic was in its infancy. We’ve had teams of staff and medical experts planning for this influx of patients to ensure that we are ready to take care of the community.

We hope that knowing Speare has dedicated much time and effort to being prepared will offer you some level of comfort. We have a good plan in place to address an influx of patients, with surge capacity planned for both within our hospital and also at our Plymouth Alternate Care Site at Plymouth State University’s ice arena.

We will all breathe a sigh of relief once it is confirmed that we have reached peak and can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Up to this point, we have been fortunate in Central and Northern New Hampshire. We have been spared the soaring number of people infected with COVID-19 and the devastating losses that we have watched unfold in Washington State and New York City. In our own community, Speare has had the good fortune of not having an employee exposure that has resulted in them becoming ill with the Coronavirus.

We can credit our rural environment and our diligence in protecting ourselves and our families for this outcome. Staying at home, wearing protective masks and gloves, and frequently washing hands and surfaces has truly made a positive difference.  

We are immensely appreciative of our community, who has resoundingly expressed their thankfulness for the dedication of our staff to them and their wellbeing. There has been an outpouring of donations of supplies, food, cash, and expressions of gratitude.  We thank you for each of these; they truly brighten our day and remind us how important this work is.