DERRY, New Hampshire — New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu’s office provided data to Boston 25 News saying that being a restaurant with a lot of people doesn’t necessarily transmit the COVID-19 virus.
“I found myself coming to New Hampshire more. It’s more free,” said Jessica Goulet, from Lawrence, Massachusetts.
For Jessica Goulet, she drove from Lawrence to Derry, New Hampshire to have dinner at On the Corner Grill. She says it’s worth it because she gets the feeling of freedom from the pandemic.
“It’s been crazy. I’m shorthanded, I’m doing the phone, and seat people, it’s been a little crazy tonight,” said Tara Kennedy, the owner of On the Corner Grill.
Kennedy says she hasn’t stopped working throughout the day. Sununu eased restrictions at bars and restaurants across the state where owners can now operate at 100 percent capacity, with plexiglass, and no social distancing.
“We can do 100 percent of our bar, as long as we have plexiglass in between the patrons. This is really good. We are losing 11 tables outside. So we gained another five inside,” said Kennedy.
Sitting at a bar in NH? This is what it looks like. @GovChrisSununu eased restrictions today. You can sit next to each other, with this sneeze guard surrounding you. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/CEfUPDTQ7Q
— Malini Basu (@MaliniBasu_) October 2, 2020
Restaurant owners can also operate with 6 feet between the bar and dining tables, without plexiglass. For restaurant owner Jocelyn Maroun at Jocelyn’s in Salem, New Hampshire, she chose not to have any plexiglass at all.
“It’s almost a foreign feeling, it’s almost like you’re in a cubical,” said Jocelyn Maroun, owner of Jocelyn’s restaurant.
According to New Hampshire state officials, the highest rate of COVID-19 came from long-term care facilities, and not necessarily dining in.
“So we’re not seeing any outbreaks associated with public settings as you can see from the slide, such as retail stores and services and restaurants,” said Dr. Elizabeth Daly of the NH Department of Health and Human Services.
For those people who are struggling in the Boston area, Kennedy is sending a message to them.
“I pray that it ends soon, and there is a vaccine. I know how hard it is,” said Kennedy.
The business owners here are expecting a busy weekend, as it will be the first 100 percent capacity weekend. They are in the process of trying to find more sneeze guards, but for now, they will have to maintain this 6 foot distance at the bars.
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