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Debate in New Hampshire over responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

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Ballotpedia is providing comprehensive coverage of how the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is affecting America's political and civic life. In addition to monitoring federal, state, and local responses to the coronavirus, we are also capturing the nationwide and local debates on whether to extend or lift coronavirus-related restrictions affecting the economy, schools, government operations, public health, religious services, and travel.

These arguments come from a variety of sources, including public officials, journalists, think tanks, economists, scientists, and other stakeholders. We encourage you to share the debates happening in your local community to editor@ballotpedia.org.


This article covers the debate over continuing restrictions and closures in New Hampshire in response to the coronavirus pandemic. You will find the following:


Debate over stay-at-home orders in New Hampshire

See also: Debate over stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on the stay-at-home order in New Hampshire.

  • Governor Chris Sununu (R) (Concord Monitor): Governor Chris Sununu (R) announced that certain business could begin re-opening on May 11. He said that he was open to the idea of shielding businesses from coronavirus-related liability.

    "There’s a lot of businesses that simply will not open; they’re afraid to open … because of the potential liability to themselves or their workers or even their customers. So looking to provide some of those protections to get businesses to open up to allow things to move forward would be very important." - "As employers reopen, New Hampshire business group pushes governor to relax legal liability," May 6, 2020.

  • State Senators Kevin Cavanaugh (D) and Martha Hennesey (D) (Concord Monitor): State Senators Kevin Cavanaugh (D) and Martha Hennesey (D) urged Governor Chris Sununu (R) against shielding businesses from coronavirus-related liability.

    "Granting blanket immunity to businesses from liability as it relates to spreading the coronavirus would be a grave mistake. … It would be a mistake, not only because of the physical danger that it presents to New Hampshire public health, but also the danger it poses to the intricate and complicated legal relationship between employee and employer." - "As employers reopen, New Hampshire business group pushes governor to relax legal liability," May 6, 2020.

  • Jim Roche, president of the Business and Industry Association (Concord Monitor): Jim Roche, president of the Business and Industry Association, argued that businesses should be shielded from coronavirus-related liability.

    "Without safe harbor liability protection, some businesses will be deterred from opening and others from returning to pre-pandemic operations. … This is exactly the opposite of what policymakers hope to achieve." - "As employers reopen, New Hampshire business group pushes governor to relax legal liability," May 6, 2020.

  • Governor Chris Sununu (R) (Boston.com): Governor Chris Sununu (R) said that re-opening the state immediately would lead to a spike of infections as people from Massachusetts travelled to New Hampshire in greater numbers.

    "One of the challenges with restaurants right now is really our friends, just to the south, in Massachusetts. … It’s not about blaming Massachusetts, but the reality is the two most northeastern counties of that state have the highest impact of COVID." - "As New Hampshire begins to reopen, another challenge emerges: Massachusetts," May 4, 2020.

  • Governor Chris Sununu (R) (WMUR9): Governor Chris Sununu announced the formation of a task force to develop a plan for re-opening New Hampshire. He said that he supported a gradual, phased re-opening that would depend on a sustained decline in the number of coronavirus cases in the state.

    "This is something we’re not coming out of tomorrow or even next week. … The numbers have stabilized, and that’s a great sign, but we still have a ways to go." - "Sununu announces reopening task force as COVID-19 numbers continue to plateau in NH," April 21, 2020.

  • Protesters in Concord, New Hampshire (NECN): Several hundred people protested Governor Chris Sununu’s stay-at-home order in Concord, New Hampshire on April 18, 2020, arguing that the order constituted a violation of civil liberties. - "‘Kiss My Constitution’: Crowd Protests Social-Distancing Measures in NH," April 19, 2020.

    • Additional reading

  • "Seacoast salon owners blast NH reopening plan" - Seacoast Online, May 4, 2020

  • "Gov. Sununu Talks Plans For Re-Opening New Hampshire In May" - New Hampshire Public Radio, May 4, 2020


Debate over school closures in New Hampshire

See also: Debate over school closures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on school closures in New Hampshire.

  • Governor Chris Sununu (R) (Office of the Governor of New Hampshire): Governor Chris Sununu explained why he ordered New Hampshire schools to remain closed for the remainder of the school year.

    "My office, in conjunction with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, reviewed several different models and scenarios in the hope that we might have been able to reinstate learning in classroom settings. In the end, we determined that there is no model available at the present time to responsibly ensure the safety of our students, educators, faculty, and staff." - "Governor Chris Sununu Letter to Education Leaders," April 16, 2020.

  • Moira O'Neill, director of New Hampshire's Office of the Child Advocate (Fox 5): Moira O'Neill, director of New Hampshire's Office of the Child Advocate, said that school closures, economic insecurity, and lack of access to medical and mental health care were contributing to increased child abuse. - "Without teachers to report abuse cases, many children likely suffering at home," April 19, 2020.


Debate over religious service restrictions in New Hampshire

See also: Debate over religious service restrictions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on religious service restrictions in New Hampshire.

We have not yet identified any statements related to this topic or state. To suggest a statement, email us.


Debate over election policy in New Hampshire

See also: Debate over election policies and procedures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on election policies in New Hampshire.

  • Governor Chris Sununu (R) (WMUR-9): Governor Chris Sununu said that, according to New Hampshire’s existing absentee voting laws, New Hampshirites who have a physical disability are eligible to vote absentee. Sununu added that anyone who did not want to vote in person in November because of the coronavirus would count as having a physical disability and would thereby be eligible to vote absentee.

    "Basically, if you feel more comfortable voting absentee because of the outbreak, or your inability, or nervousness just about appearing in person to vote, you can vote absentee and obtain an absentee ballot. So, we have a very flexible system." - "Sununu says ‘if you feel more comfortable voting absentee’ during COVID-19 outbreak, ‘you can’," April 9, 2020.


Debate over prisons and inmates in New Hampshire

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on prisons and inmates in New Hampshire.

  • Strafford County Attorney Thomas Velardi, President of the New Hampshire Association of County Attorneys (Concord Monitor): Strafford County Attorney Thomas Velardi argued that the question of whether to release prisoners at greater risk for coronavirus should be approached on a case-by-case basis.

    "It’s all very case specific – and it has to be if we are going to do this right. … The idea that you can open up the jails across the state because we’re facing this unique set of circumstances is irresponsible. We have to go through each and every case and assess whether there is a way to safely supervise (offenders) in the community." - "N.H. considers early release of inmates on a case-by-cases basis," April 18, 2020.

  • Josie Pinto, Political Director for New Hampshire Youth Movement (New Hampshire Public Radio): Josie Pinto, Political Director for New Hampshire Youth Movement, argued that immigrant detainees at the Strafford County Detention Center in Dover, New Hampshire should be sent home.

    "They’re essentially sitting ducks inside. … We believe that folks that have been detained by ICE should be released and allowed to be with their families in this time of crisis." - "'Car Rally' At County Jail Urges Release Of Detained Immigrants," April 12, 2020.

  • Chris Brackett, Superintendent of Strafford County Detention Center (New Hampshire Public Radio): Chris Brackett, Superintendent of Strafford County Detention Center, suggested that detainees needn’t be released because they had access to cleaning supplies and were being monitored for coronavirus symptoms. - "'Car Rally' At County Jail Urges Release Of Detained Immigrants," April 12, 2020.

  • Randy Hawkes, executive director of the New Hampshire Public Defender program (Concord Monitor): "No one should ascribe to a nefarious intent on the part of any stakeholder as to why so few inmates have been released thus far. … And, frankly, the release of those currently in jail is fraught with negative implications. … No one wants to be responsible for a decision to release someone who later commits a transgression serious enough that those involved in the release decision are publicly pilloried." - "N.H. considers early release of inmates on a case-by-cases basis," April 18, 2020.

  • Devon Chaffee, executive director of the ACLU of New Hampshire (ACLU New Hampshire): "This is an unprecedented health crisis and requires urgent and creative steps to protect those most vulnerable to infection. … Every aspect of the criminal legal system, from policing, prosecution and pretrial hearings, to sentencing, confinement, and release, must come under intense scrutiny for how it responds to this national public health crisis. We make these asks not on a permanent basis, but exclusively in response to this crisis we are all in together." - "ACLU of NH and NHACDL Urges Those Most Vulnerable to COVID-19 Be Released from Prisons and Jails Where Possible," March 18, 2020.

  • Robin Melone, president of the NH Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (ACLU New Hampshire): "People who are older than 65, who are immunocompromised, or who have underlying conditions must be moved out of New Hampshire’s incarceration system before COVID-19 affects these facilities. … Similarly, police and prosecutors must take steps to reduce the number of people entering the criminal legal system during this crisis. Such measures are being recommended exclusively on an interim basis in recognition that correctional facilities put people at heightened risk of exposure. We believe these steps can and should be taken while protecting public safety." - "ACLU of NH and NHACDL Urges Those Most Vulnerable to COVID-19 Be Released from Prisons and Jails Where Possible," March 18, 2020.


Debate over parks and outdoors in New Hampshire

This section includes a sampling of statements made by public officials, influencers, and stakeholders on parks and outdoors in New Hampshire.

  • Tom Bedford, owner of Ayers Lake Farm Campground and Cottages in Barrington, New Hampshire (Edge Radio): Tom Bedford, owner of Ayers Lake Farm Campground and Cottages in Barrington, New Hampshire, explained why he thought campgrounds should be counted as essential services.

    "Campgrounds are an essential service in New Hampshire. We need the ability to get together. Our land is essential. People come here and set up a campsite; they need to be able to get out of their trailer. People camping tend to stick to themselves anyway, in my opinion. I understand right now it comes down to what is needed for social distancing. That means no groups larger than 10. All of our sites are at least 10 feet apart." - "Campground owners uncertain but hopeful," April 19, 2020.

  • Conway Fire Chief Steve Solomon (New Hampshire Union Leader): Conway Fire Chief Steve Solomon argued that New Hampshire’s campgrounds, which Governor Chris Sununu’s stay-at-home order allowed to remain open, should close.

    "We’re a small, fairly rural area and right now we’re seeing a lot of people from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York that are coming up here on the weekend. They’re coming from hot spots and they have the potential to bring sick people here and potentially overwhelm our small community hospital." - "Keep campgrounds closed, some towns tell governor," April 16, 2020.

Responses to the coronavirus in New Hampshire

See also: Government responses to and political effects of the coronavirus pandemic, 2020 (New Hampshire)


Click the links below for more on responses to the coronavirus pandemic in New Hampshire.

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

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