Mayor Says Smooth Sailing With Coronavirus In Nashua: Watch

NASHUA, NH — Nashua's mayor is pleased with the way officials and the community are handling the new coronavirus and COVID-19 in New Hampshire's second largest city.

Jim Donchess said this week things appeared to be running smoothly considering the uncertainty of the pandemic.

Nashua has been hit hard by the virus when compared to the rest of the state but not as hard as some Massachusetts communities just to the south with fewer residents, he said. City residents, for the most part, have also been adhering to the more than two-month old face covering mandate, Donchess added.

"There's been general compliance," he said. "And I've noticed over these two months more people are wearing masks."

Donchess said he went to a supermarket after the ordinance was approved in late April and did not see as many people wearing face coverings as he had during a recent return visit. That, he said, was a good sign.

Donchess, who is a Democrat, although the city's municipal election process is nonpartisan, said residents and officials seemed to be on the same page about preventing the spread of the coronavirus and working on contact tracing.

"The numbers could be a lot worse," he said.

The city recently blocked off parking spaces and lanes downtown to allow for expanded outdoor dining for restaurants — which has kept a number of small business operating and preserved jobs. The plan is working so well, he said, the city may consider it after the pandemic ends.

Donchess also said there have been no outbreaks connected to or due to expanded dining in Nashua and only a handful of outbreaks outside of long-term care facilities.

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