Many folks have been watching with a keen eye what it will look
like when the economy “reopens”. On April 27 we watched as States like Georgia
had some of the stay at home restrictions lifted. What does that mean for New
Hampshire and the rest of New England?
The New York Times had an article in April contemplating what the
restaurant industry would look like upon a re-open. In the article it looked to
China, which is seemingly on the other side of the curve from the United
States. There restaurants must keep tables five feet apart and customers’
temperatures are taken at the door. Business is reported to be some 50% of
what it was pre-COVID.
In Georgia there was reopening. The State has fared better than
some New England states despite having such a large international airport. The
government created guidelines on how to reopen the economy. Each business had a
list of 39 guidelines to ensure compliance. This consisted of everyone wearing
masks to the above mentioned small density inside. Some restaurants, like
the famous Waffle House, did act to reopen. Others did not, citing safety or
not wanting to be the first.
Up in New Hampshire there is a reopening task force created by the
Governor to explore the same issues that restaurant owners are facing in
Georgia. In the same week, as restaurants and other shops were opening up down
south, the New Hampshire task force was drafting a document called “Universal Guidelines for All New
Hampshire Employers and Employees”. The five page document is
an instruction guide for policies that need to be adopted to reopen. As the
name suggests it is internal facing and does not contemplate customers as would
exist in restaurants, retailers, and some service industries. The task force
was writing those policies, and have drafted guidelines for restaurants, state
parks, manufacturing and even golf. You can find links to those guidelines here.
It is not just the government that is wrestling with these issues.
A Change.Org petition from Manchester
has received some high publicity. The concept is to shut down Elm Street to
auto traffic, and make it for pedestrians. In the warm summer months
restaurants can have more sidewalk space for their tables to create more social
distancing. The thought is it will help kick start an otherwise hard hit
portion of the economy and their employees.
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