How New Hampshire Is Slowly Reopening After Coronavirus Shutdown
SEABROOK, NH (CBS) - Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH is slowly getting back to normal. "Right now this is our first day and we're being very, very cautious," said Catholic Medical Center CEO Dr. Joseph Pepe.
On Monday, the hospital welcomed patients needing sensitive elective procedures that have been put off during the pandemic. The procedures can range from cardiac surgery to joint replacements.
"Even those patients that have a maybe a hip or a knee that needed to be replaced, but now they are really in a position where the pain has increased," said Dr. Pepe.
The hospital's phased-in services are part of Governor Chris Sununu's Stay at Home 2.0, which includes slowly reopening parts of the economy.
State Representative Timothy Lang sits on the governor's reopening task force. "We're slowly seeing a nice staged process move-in that takes in concerns of public health at the same time as allowing businesses to get back to making some revenue," Lang said.
The second week of May will include the reopening of hair salons, barber shops, golf courses and retailers.
WBZ-TV's Kristina Rex reports
While a small fraction of the New Hampshire workforce is back open, major summer hot spots like beaches remain closed.
"Now is not the time to be inviting or enticing people out of Massachusetts to come up, and either recreate or vacate or vacation up here in New Hampshire, it's just not the time for it right now," said Gov. Sununu.
Signs along Seabrook and Rye beaches discourage people from taking walks along the ocean and so far, Rye, NH Police Chief Kevin Walsh said people are failing the test.
"What we're seeing is a lot of people walking, pedestrian wise and a tremendous amount of motor vehicle traffic and a lot from out of state," Walsh said.
"When I ask them if they know Governor Baker, they say they do. What does he ask you to do? They say stay at home. I say why are you in Rye, New Hampshire?"
