Editor’s Note: This article was written by a radio personality from Townsquare Media Northern New England and may include that person’s views, opinions, or personal experiences. Kimberley Haas is the senior news editor at seacoastcurrent.com.
Portsmouth restaurant owners rejoice!
On Tuesday morning, the official word came through the distribution of a memo from Kim McNamara, the city’s health officer: The food facilities may return to normal capacity.
McNamara’s memo said in part:
“I am pleased to announce that Rockingham County has reached 0.9% positivity yesterday after a sustained decline in Covid 19 percent positivity and transmission rates since May 24th must continue to adhere to all applicable codes. “
This is the perfect time of year to fully reopen the restaurants.
Once schools close, Portsmouth is expected to be full of people wanting to escape their surroundings and explore the historic city.
As if the city’s restaurateurs needed more good news, the current stifling heat wave will lose its hold as the weekend approaches.
At the moment it is predicted that the highs will soon be in the low 70s.
This is a big deal for Portsmouth to come here.
I applaud all the restaurants in Portsmouth for persistently following the protocols for the past 15 months.
First the doors were closed.
Then take away only with floor markings for social distancing and plexiglass partitions.
Then reduced capacity with table and chair requirements and measurements enough to be a minor headache for a geometry major.
As someone who often enjoys a frosty drink while running errands, did it make me take two seats at a bar just sitting there? It was frustrating for couples waiting to be seated and downright inconvenient for you.
Those times are over! May they never return.
What’s next?
Masks: McNamara said officials from the NH Department of Health and Human Services as well as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to recommend masks and social distancing as measures that should be maintained to maintain safer practices.
In Portsmouth, mask requirements will no longer be required following a measure approved by the city council on Monday evening. The motion to repeal the Mask Ordinance was unanimously accepted.
Vaccinations:
McNamara said vaccination deadlines for the city’s youngest employees won’t be fully completed before July 1.
“So if you employ one of these younger workers, please either postpone starting work for two weeks after receiving the second dose of vaccine, or reduce the seat pitch and use of masks until then, or find other ways to improve protection bid until they achieve their full immunity, “wrote McNamara.
There have been 594,802 deaths from COVID-19 in the United States, according to CDC officials.
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