Number of hospital patients with COVID-19 in New Hampshire continues to rise

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising in New Hampshire, and experts say the latest omicron subvariant is to blame.The number of people with COVID-19 in New Hampshire hospitals rose to 120 Wednesday before dropping slightly to 118 on Thursday, according to the New Hampshire Hospital Association. That’s the highest number since May.That number includes everyone admitted to a hospital who has tested positive for COVID-19. It doesn’t necessarily mean they were admitted because of COVID-19. But since late March, hospitals have been releasing the number of patients who are being specifically treated for COVID-19, and that number rose to 34 both Wednesday and Thursday, the highest since late May.Steve Ahnen, president of the New Hampshire Hospital Association, said the recent increase has been caused by the BA.5 subvariant, which is spreading more easily than previous variants.”Certainly, the increase in the BA.5 variant, which is the dominant variant here in New England, as well as across the country, tends to be more transmissible,” Ahnen said. “It’s certainly causing an increase in cases.”Ahnen said the virus has likely been able to spread during gatherings for summer holidays.He urged everyone to be sure they’re fully up to date on vaccinations, including boosters, to avoid serious symptoms.