CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire communities are resuming outdoor sidewalk and street dining during the coronavirus pandemic.
Cities such as Portsmouth and Concord began serving outdoors on Thursday. They are allowing restaurants to put tables and chairs on public areas such as sidewalks and parking lots.
One place that hopes to set up outside soon is Revival Kitchen & Bar in Concord. Corey Fletcher, owner and chef, said he built an outdoor deck last year to help with business.
“It’s pretty important, with decreased capacity inside,” Fletcher told the Concord Monitor.
In Portsmouth, crews have installed concrete barriers for outdoor restaurant spaces. More than 40 restaurants applied for new or renewal outdoor dining permits for sidewalk and street space dining.
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THE NUMBERS
More than 84,000 people have tested positive for the virus, including 486 cases announced Wednesday. One new death was announced, bringing the total to 1,238.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in New Hampshire has risen over the past two weeks from 272 new cases per day on March 16 to 379 new cases per day on Tuesday.
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