Health

New Hampshire governor eases restrictions for restaurant and bar owners

DERRY, N.H. — Restaurant owners in New Hampshire are getting ready to open at 100 percent capacity. Boston 25 News spoke with the owners of On the Corner Grill in Derry, New Hampshire, where business is bustling.

Restrictions are easing, but across the border in Massachusetts, it looks a lot different.

Shane Bernard is the restaurant owner of Pica’s Pub and Grill in Methuen.

The family-owned business just spent more than $1,500 dollars to buy plexiglass for an extra layer of protection in the bar area.

Starting next week, in Massachusetts you will be allowed to sit in the bar area, and up to 10 people can be seated together.

“We are hanging plexiglass in front of the bartenders, assembling plexiglass dividers in between the patrons who want to sit at the bar,” said Bernard.

While that adds an extra layer of protection, there’s also an extra layer of frustration.

“It’s been difficult, people are able to sit at the bar right down the street,” said Bernard.

Right down the street happens to be Derry, New Hampshire, where it’s a totally different scene at the Corner Grill.

And it’ll look even different on Oct. 1, when restaurants in New Hampshire will be allowed to open at 100 percent capacity, with barely any plexiglass, and no social distancing.

“We don’t have to have it between the bartenders, don’t have to keep the 6 feet,” said Tara Kennedy, owner of the Corner Grill.

“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 officials from the New Hampshire Governor’s office.

While New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu is easing the guidelines, he says evidence on contact tracing shows.

“We do see positive data in restaurants, and they are currently not a widespread transmission,” said Sununu.

But Kennedy said she will continue to contact trace, keeping everyone safe.

“We do all of our reservations online, so they have to put their name and phone number,” said Kennedy.

Boston 25 News spoke to spoke to customers at restaurants in both New Hampshire, and bordering Massachusetts. They say, even though the restrictions are more relaxing here, they will continue to support their local restaurants in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, because all around everyone is struggling during the pandemic.

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