New Hampshire candidates urged to file paperwork by mail
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Candidates can start signing up Wednesday for New Hampshire's Sept. 8 state primary, but they're being encouraged to do so by mail because of concerns about the coronavirus.
Details on that and other coronavirus developments in New Hampshire:
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CANDIDATE SIGN-UPS
Election officials encouraged candidates to file their paperwork by mail instead of in person to get on the Sept. 8 state primary ballot because of concerns about spreading the coronavirus.
The filing period opened Wednesday and runs through June 12. Deputy Secretary of State David Scanlan told WMUR-TV that safety procedures are in place for candidates filing in person. There will be a table outside the Statehouse where paperwork can be collected, and those who want to come inside can do so but with restrictions.
Each candidate can be accompanied by no more than five supporters, and they will be screened for fevers and asked to wear face masks.
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COUNTING PEAKS
A group that celebrates hikers who reach the summits of New Hampshire's 48 tallest mountains will resume counting ascents this weekend after pausing because of the pandemic.
The Appalachian Mountain Club Four Thousand Footer Committee awards patches to those who complete the hikes, but it said in April that it would not count any ascents completed while the state was under a stay-at-home order.
The club now says hikes completed after Friday will count, though the stay-at-home order has been extended to June 15.
The group is urging hikers to abide by restrictions in both New Hampshire and their home states.
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DARTMOUTH ENTRY
Dartmouth College has suspended its SAT requirement for a year for students seeking undergraduate admission because of testing disruptions related to the pandemic.
Dartmouth is now test-optional for the class of 2025, a spokesperson said Wednesday.
Virus-related school closures this year forced the cancellation of spring testing for many first-time SAT test-takers, the majority of them high school juniors planning to enter college in 2021, College Board officials said.
In response to the coronavirus, a number of colleges and universities have made the tests optional only for 2021 applicants.
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THE NUMBERS
As of Tuesday, 4,749 people had tested positive for the virus in New Hampshire, an increase of 65 from the previous day. Eleven deaths were announced, for a total of 256.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and the infirm, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death.