Staff reports 8:30 a.m.
Monday, May 18, 2020 8:33 am

CONCORD - Eat, drink and be merry ... at a safe distance.

After an almost two month absence New Hampshire restaurants will be able to once again serve up food, drink and fellowship today.

Patrons may have to dodge a few raindrops but it's not expected to put much of a damper on the celebratory feel the day will likely have.

Under the governor's Stay at Home order 2.0, restaurants can open for outdoor dining with no more than six at a table. Employees must all wear masks.

Any showers are expected to end by noon, with mostly cloudy skies the rest of the day; temps will hover in the mid-60s.

Meanwhile, the state DHHS announced 41 new positive test results for COVID-19, with 12 new hospitalized cases.

Two new cases were identified in Strafford County.

DHHS has also announced one additional death related to COVID-19, Hillsborough County woman 60 years or older.

More NH COVID numbers

NH Persons with COVID-19 3,596

Recovered 1,268 (35%)

Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 172 (5%)

Total Current COVID-19 Cases 2,156

Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 359 (10%)

Current Hospitalizations 114

Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 3,625