COVID-19 Exposure Alerts Issued For 2 Portsmouth Restaurants

PORTSMOUTH, NH — State health officials Friday issued potential community exposure alerts connected to positive test results at two Portsmouth restaurants.

At least four people who have tested positive for COVID-19 visited the Daniel Street Tavern at 111 Daniel St. in Portsmouth while potential infectious, the State Joint Information Center reported. The potential community exposure occurred in the bar area on Oct. 9, Oct. 14, and Oct. 25, during the evening hours that the tavern was opened.

Another positive test result is connected to The Goat Bar and Grill at 142 Congress St. in Portsmouth. That person was also potentially infectious and was in the bar area of the restaurant between 8 and 10 p.m. on Oct. 15.

"DHHS has conducted contact investigations on all cases associated with these potential community exposures and is notifying known close contacts directly," the state said. "However, DHHS is making this public notification because there may be additional individuals at the location during those days and times who were exposed to the coronavirus."

Anyone who visited the restaurants during those dates should be watching for symptoms and seeking testing should symptoms develop, officials said.

Restaurants in Portsmouth have been extraordinarily hit by coronavirus with a number of eateries, including The Flatbread Company and Jumpin' Jay's Fish Café being hit with cases. According to WMUR-TV, The Rosa and Martingale Wharf also closed earlier this month.

State Health Information

COVID-19 can present with a wide range of symptoms including fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell. Any person who develops new symptoms should stay home, limit their contact with others, immediately contact their healthcare provider and get tested for COVID-19. Guidance for self-quarantining is available here.

Whether or not you are experiencing symptoms, multiple testing options throughout the State are available to potentially exposed individuals. For persons without health insurance or a primary care provider, testing is available and can be scheduled by calling 603-271-5980 or through completing the online form located here. Other options for testing can be found here.

COVID-19 continues to circulate in our communities, so all people need to protect themselves and help prevent further community spread, by:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid close contact with others. When outside your home, keep a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others. This is known as social distancing.
• Wear a cloth face covering that covers your mouth and nose to protect others when in public areas.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home if you have a fever or are not feeling well.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For more information on COVID-19 in New Hampshire, visit the state's portal link here.

Got a news tip? Send it to tony.schinella@patch.com. View videos on Tony Schinella's YouTube channel.