Portsmouth Restaurant Customers May Have Been Exposed To COVID-19

PORTSMOUTH, NH — Bar patrons of a popular Portsmouth eatery in late September and early October may have been exposed to COVID-19, according to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services.

An employee at Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Café on Congress Street has contracted the coronavirus and now state health officials and contact tracers are attempting to find customers who may have been exposed to the employee. Anyone who was seated at the bar between Sept. 30 and Oct. 4, between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 or 10 p.m., should contact the state for further guidance, an alert Sunday said.

"DHHS has conducted a contact investigation and notified known close contacts directly," the State Joint Information Center 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."

The restaurant, on a popup on its website, said it was temporarily closed and its "entire team" has been tested and quarantined.

"The state has determined that there are some guests who (may have been exposed) despite continuous staff mask usage," the website said. "Please know that we have met or exceeded state and CDC guidelines in our quick and independent decision to close, test and quarantine as the safety of our staff and guests is our top priority. Our facility has been professionally cleaned and we will not reopen until it is safe and prudent to do so."

If you were a patron at the bar during those dates and times, contact the state health department at 603-271-4496.

Flatbread Company of Portsmouth also recently closed after an employee caught COVID-19.

Two police officers in the city have also contracted the virus prompting a number of officers to be quarantined, according to press reports. Two other police officers were previously infected by the virus.

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.