Salem Mayor To Hold Briefing With City Business Owners

SALEM, MA — As businesses across Salem hope that a busy Halloween month will help offset losses from spring coronavirus closures, the city will hold a briefing next week to update business owners on the state of the city in its battle to keep test rates low.

The meeting will take place Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. — the morning after the Board of Health decides whether to adopt the eased restaurant restrictions Gov. Charlie Baker announced this week. The new guidelines would increase the number of people allowed at a table from six to 10, and allow bar seating for those who order food.

Salem is postponing the easing of restrictions, which are set to go into effect for most of the state on Monday, until the Board of Health can take up the matter at a special meeting Tuesday night.

"Restaurant operators should anticipate that the limitation on people per table may not change for the month of October," said a release from Mayor Kim Driscoll's office Friday afternoon.

There will also be a free face mask distribution at High Rock Church in the city parking on Bridge Street from noon to 2 p.m.

Free coronavirus tests will continue to be offered through at last Oct. 31 at Salem High School. Tests are conducted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 to 6 p.m., and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the exception of this Saturday, when tests will be conducted from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Salem's coronavirus numbers held steady this week with 4.0 cases per 100,000 residents and a 1.1 test-positive rate. The numbers are at or below the state average and placed the city on the cusp of being considered a green "safe" community on the state's interactive coronavirus tracking map.

Salem was a red "hot spot" community back on Aug. 16 with 6.6 cases per 100,00 residents and a 3.9 positive rate.

The briefing will be streamed live here. Questions can be sent in advance to mayor@salem.com with "October Briefing" in the subject line.

Related Patch Coverage: Salem Mask Zones, Testing Extended As Coronavirus Rates Improve
Massachusetts Easing Restaurant, Bar Restrictions
Halloween Road Closures Set For Salem Amid Coronavirus Crisis