COVID-19 Resources

Health Resources:

  • TESTING: For FAQs about testing in New Hampshire, click here. In addition, the Rite-Aid at 1390 Lafayette Road in Portsmouth is providing free by-appointment testing for COVID-19 to anyone age 18 or over. For more information, click here. 
  • Portsmouth Regional Hospital offers a Coronavirus Resource Hub on its website. 
  • ConvenientMD offers a Virtual Care portal and reminds residents they still provide non-COVID-19 emergency care, with strict guidelines for keeping all patients safe. 
  • 2-1-1 for State of New Hampshire guidance and answers COVID-19 related questions.
  • Keep Wearing Cloth Face Masks The City Health Officer also reminds everyone to wear cloth face masks in public. Reserve medical grade PPE for healthcare workers and first-responders. The NH State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan issued a formal statement this week, urging citizens to wear cloth face masks whenever they are out in public, and where there is risk of transmitting the virus, even when there are no symptoms, in homes and offices. to Directions for making your own face mask in 45 seconds, here. A few additional recommendations, where possible, on cloth facemasks. They should:
    • Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face;·     
    • Be secured with ties or ear loops;
    • Include multiple layers of fabric, preferably a tight weave material;
    • Allow for breathing without restriction; and
    • Be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape.
  • Update on Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Centers and Congregate Housing -- From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials, including Portsmouth’s, have kept close track of the health of the elderly and health-compromised who live in nursing homes, assisted living centers and congregate housing. In Portsmouth, all of the local facilities moved quickly to take proactive steps to prevent infection. The City Health Officer and her team, and the Fire and Police Departments have been working with the facilities to monitor their health and to make sure those populations and the staff who serve them have the PPE they need. Several deliveries of supplies, including the facemask strap-extenders made by the Portsmouth Public Library on their 3D printers, have been distributed to city and regional facilities. The weekly Face Mask Drives also generate donations supplied to seniors and others who need them. So far, this intensive effort has paid off. The City Health Officer reminds everyone of the “rules” for the public interacting with friends and family in these facilities, to keep them safe:
    • Physical distancing is still the best solution to avoid the spread of the virus. Practice the basics, especially around anyone who is in contact with vulnerable populations.
      • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
      • Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
      • Avoid close contact with people who are sick
      • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands
      • Clean and disinfect objects and surfaces
      • Do not go out if you have a fever or are not feeling well

Food assistance:

Seacoast Community Lunch at the Middle Street Baptist Church

  • Wednesdays 12:00-1:00pm. Brown bag lunch to-go. Free & open to the public. Bathrooms available.  207-475-6163  

Common Table at St. John’s:

  • Thursdays 12:00-1:00 pm bag lunch pickup in the St. John’s parking lot. Bathrooms available. 603.436.8283

Gather – Food Pantry:

  • Food distribution, online grocery shopping for people who don’t want to enter the shop, Meal delivery for Seniors, Meals 4 Kids, Community Fridays 9am-1pm open at Community Campus (open to anyone).  Call for info 603-436-0641.

Operation Blessing:

  • Drive up Food Pantry Wed-Fri 10am-4pm, Holiday Gift Assistance. Call for more info 603-430-8561.

Portsmouth Meals on Wheels (through Senior Activity Center, 125 Cottage St.):

  • Monday-Friday home delivery. Accepting new customers 603-766-4448. Monthly grab & go lunch specials open to seniors.    

Salvation Army (115 Heritage Ave.):  

  • Dinner: Monday-Friday 5pm-6pm  (since they no longer do a Sunday dinner, they give an extra bagged meal on Saturday night for Sunday dinner). Breakfast: Monday-Friday 7am-8am. 603-436-2606

Seacoast Adopt a Block - Senior Mobile Food Pantry:

  • Ages 62 and older, Portsmouth, Greenland, New Castle, Rye Resident Only. Monday-Saturday from 10:00am -4:00pm. Delivered to you! Call Tammy Joslyn at 603-988-2671.

Seacoast Community Church:       

  • Food Pantry is open Monday-Friday by appointment only.  (603) 436-8623.  Listen to voicemail options and leave a message.

Seacoast Community Lunch at Middle Street Baptist Church:

  • Serving brown bag take-out lunches from the parking lot of the church Wednesdays 12:00-1:00pm. 919-632-5450 / lunch@middle.st. Free & open to the public.

School Department

  • The USDA is covering all meals until the end of the school year no matter the household income. No application needed, just come to the cafeterias and get a free breakfast and a free lunch. Curbside ordering for remote families: click here.
  • For those who qualify, food vouchers/gift cards are available by appointment. Contact the Welfare Dept and leave message or e-mail detailing the need. We will respond as soon as possible during regular business hours.  Phone: 603-610-7267 or email:  etully@cityofportsmouth.com

Transportation

COAST Bus: In operation. www.coastbus.org / 603-743-5777

  • Trolley 40 goes to Portsmouth Hospital (Borthwick Ave), Senior Center
  • Trolley 41 goes to Families First Health Center, Market Basket and Walmart.

COAST also offers ADA Service, Community Rides, and accessible rides for Ready Rides. 603-834-6010

Senior Transportation:

  • Portsmouth residents ages 62+. Free rides to medical appointments. $4 roundtrip shopping trips.
  • Must be a registered user. New registrations continue to be taken. Call TripLink 603-834-6010 or visit www.coastbus.org.

Contact Phone Numbers:

School Meal Program - 50 Andrew Jarvis Drive   603-436-0443

Salvation Army - 15 Middle Street   603-436-2606

Seacoast Community Church - 397 Lafayette Road   603-436-8623

Middle Street Baptist - 18 Court Street   919-632-5450

St Johns- 101 Chapel Street   603.436.8283

Gather Pantry - 210 West Road   603-436-0641

Operation Blessing - 600a Lafayette Road   603-430-8561

City of Portsmouth Senior Activity Center – 125 Cottage Street   603-610-4433

City of Portsmouth Welfare   603-610-7267

WIC     603-486-7618

Rockingham Nutrition Meals on Wheels – 125 Cottage St.    603-766-4448

Support networks

  • Seacoast Mental Health has geared up for exactly these challenges call 603-431-6703 or click here.  
  • SOS Recovery Community Organization on the Seacoast is answering the phones Mon-Sat from 9 am to 8 pm and on Sunday, noon to 4 pm. Click here. 
  • The Doorway, NH’s substance-abuse treatment and recovery offers phone assistance during the week and teams with the statewide 2-1-1 system on weekends. 
  • Alcoholics Anonymous in New Hampshire programs are operating by zoom and other work-arounds, including relying on each group’s telephone hotline of other members. 
  • The NH Department of Health and Human Services is alert to greater concerns about domestic and child abuse when families are confined to close quarters and under stress. For more information, click here. 
  • Seacoast Mental Health has geared up for exactly these challenges call 603-431-6703 or click here.  
  • Seacoast Pathway's virtual clubhouse supports adults living with mental illness on their paths to recovery through a focus on health, wellness, employment-preparedness, and community fellowship. Click here .
  • Connections Peer Support in Portsmouth supports anyone over 18 with mental health issues. They offer a “warm line” for support and connection Mon–Fri from 8:30am to 10:00pm and Sat/Sun from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Also video conference groups, including a women’s group, a young adults group, and a creativity group, among others. For information call 603-427-6966 or click here

Veterans:

The VA Medical Center in Manchester urges veterans to use the VA’s online tools for telehealth appointments, prescription needs, questions and automated text messages. As with all doctors’ appointments, call first. Click here for the VA’s online patient portal. There’s also a VideoConnect app. For more information on that, click here   For more general COVID-19-related information, click here. 

Small Business/Workforce:

Employment security: File for unemployment online or by calling the hotline at 603-271-7700. Your application appointment is based on the first letter of your last name. There are still delays in processing, but you should start seeing a check 9 days after filing. You must file weekly to receive weekly benefits.

For a Small Business Guide to the CARES Act relief program, click here. 

The City’s Economic Development Department webpage dedicated to COVID-19 response information and resources covers Federal, State and local government programs, organizations and experts with answers to frequently asked questions about making it through and planning for recovery, and highlights webinars that drill down into very specific concerns. Visit the page frequently for updates. 

For information about business assistance resources, the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth continues to support small businesses as they navigate through the challenges and resources of the COVID-19 disruption to our economy. New information is added daily: 

Non-profits will find useful information from the NH Community Development Finance Authority . The Business Finance Authority started accepting applications for funding this week.

Visitors from all New England states may visit NH without quarantine. Follow these guidelines.

Food options for restaurant takeout & grocery store hours

  • Local grocery stores and pharmacies have special hours for seniors and other immune-challenged people to shop when there are fewer people in the stores. For a list of options, click here. 

City Hall is open, with mask and physical-distancing protocols in place, but residents are encouraged to use the City's online capabilities to pay bills online, click here.

For licenses, birth and death certificates and other vital records, click here.  Call or email the City Clerk at 603-610-7245 or cityclerk@cityofportsmouth.com

For new vehicle registration and the information you need to register your vehicles click here. Contact the Tax Office at 603-610-7244 or taxdept@cityofportsmouth.com To complete registration renewals online: click here.

City Boards, Commissions and Committees continue to conduct business via zoom and teleconference meetings. Check the Municipal Calendar on the City website homepage for specific dates, agendas and participation instructions. 

Take advantage of City services and resources, including  the treasures of the Recreation Department network of parks and off-leash dog parks. 

Portsmouth Public Library --- The library building offers a wide range of online services and curbside checkout. For all the details, click here.

Library Cards: to access to all of the events, programs and resources: download ebooks, audiobooks, movies, TV, and music from Hoopla and Overdrive, take classes on arts, crafts, and computer topics with Creativebug and Lynda Learning, learn a new language with Mango, access free unlimited New York Times articles, and so much more. It’s easy to apply for a library card: Just visit libcat.cityofportsmouth.com/ and click “Log in to your account” and then select “You may register here. Enter your current Portsmouth address and correct contact information. A library staff member will contact you promptly to give you a library card number and verify your information!

Fire Department

  • Burn Permits: Due to the drought and high fire risk, no new burn permits will be issued until further notice. Fire Chief Todd Germain urges residents with Class 1 and Class 2 backyard fire permits to use extreme caution when kindling fires, to not burn if it is windy and to be extra sure the fire is extinguished be
    Click here for the short video with Chief Germain, reporting as the City's Emergency Management Coordinator, on the Fire and Police Department 
  • Tell first responders if anyone in the household is quarantined for COVID-19, either as a positive, or awaiting results from testing.
  • DPW
    • PARKING. Regular rates and time limits are back in force at kiosks on city streets and garages. For a map of downtown lots offering free parking, click here. Please continue to observe the 15-minute free parking zones, as marked, for takeout/pickup. 

    • Healthcare Worker/First Responder Parking Pass Program --  The hang tag pass allows free parking on all city streets (does not apply to the Foundry Place or High/Hanover garages). Apply for a Healthcare Worker/First Responder Parking Pass at the Foundry Place Garage office with proof of employment in healthcare or as a First Responder, and Portsmouth residency.  All Portsmouth parking has a 72-hour limit, which will apply to these pass-holders, as well.

    • Residents should continue to use Click 'n Fix as needed so service requests can be logged and addressed. 

    • The recycling center is open and staffed to allow just a few vehicles at a time for physical-distancing. No cash accepted. Payment for the usual special item disposal fees must be by check.
    • Trash pickup is on the normal schedule and yard waste pickups have also begun but may be limited by the availability of workers and trucks.
    • Trees & Greenery invites you to participate in the City's Adopt-A-Spot Program -- a great family project you can do while staying 6 feet part. 
    • The City’s Regional Water System continues normal procedures for operating, monitoring and maintaining the Portsmouth and Pease Tradeport Water Treatment systems. Our source waters are chlorinated for adequate disinfection, monitored continuously for chlorine residuals and sampled throughout the water system to assure proper treatment continues. Water & Sewer Division services are considered essential businesses and are staffed accordingly so the water supply is adequately meeting demand. For the latest comprehensive water supply update, click here.

What can I do to help?

  • Volunteer: For those who need volunteers and those who want to volunteer, sign up with VolunteerNH.org which is focusing on COVID-19 related relief right now.  Operation Blessings asks those who are interested in volunteering, to please use this online system, click here.