Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Traffic was not only light, but non-existant at times on Nashua's Main Street early Monday afternoon, the result of closures and other disruptions caused by the COVID-19 virus threat.

NASHUA – As a Hudson woman named Barbara carefully eyed the various pastry offerings in the glass cases at Crosby Bakery early Monday afternoon, she was already pondering what she might encounter at her next stops.

“I’m going to chance it and go to BJ’s, then the grocery store for my St. Patrick’s Day fixin’s,” Barbara, who didn’t want to give her last name, said as the young man behind the counter added up her purchases.

Having already been to the drug store and her credit union, Barbara said she found it somewhat easier than usual to make her way around downtown Nashua, where the effects of the school, business, store and other closings due to the COVID-19 virus threat were quite noticable throughout Monday.

“It’s like 3 a.m.,” one pedestrian quipped as he glanced left, then right, then breezed his way across Main Street with nary a vehicle in sight.

He referred to the traffic volume, or more accurately, the lack thereof, which did in fact look more like the middle of the night, or perhaps a Sunday afternoon in July, rather than a regular business day in mid-March.

The unusual sight is just one of the many changes Greater Nashuans have encountered in their day-to-day lives since cases of COVID-19, or coronavirus, began popping up in bunches throughout the region.

According to officials, there were 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Hampshire. One case has been confirmed in Nashua, reportedly in a person who had recently returned to the city from South America.

Ten cases have been reported in Rockingham County, five in Grafton County and one in Carroll County.

And in a significant development late Monday, Gov. Chris Sununu announced he was issuing an executive order requiring all restaurants and bars to serve patrons by takeout, delivery or drive-through windows.

Sununu in a brief statement said officials took the step after evaluating similar “actions taken by neighboring states.”

The order, which takes effect today, will be in effect through Monday, April 7.

Sununu added that service industry employees affected by the order will be able to qualify for unemployment benefits, beginning today. A hotline and website will be set up to provide information for the affected employees, Sununu added.

The order also prohibits public gatherings of more than 50 people.

The threat COVID-19 presents is also affecting the way the state’s judicial system does business.

Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Gary E. Hicks issued an order Monday that suspends “all in-person proceedings at the state’s circuit (district), superior and supreme courts” through April 7.

There exceptions, such as proceedings deemed necessary “to protect constitutional rights of criminal defendants,” such as arraignments, bail hearings and plea agreements for incarcerated individuals.

Other exceptions and more details are available by going to www.courts.state.nh.us and following the links under the “what’s new” column.

Also, all Superior Court criminal and civil jury trials scheduled for the next 30 days have been cancelled, according to Chief Justice Tina L. Nadeau.

The courthouses themselves will remain open and follow their normal business hours.

In Nashua, that includes Hillsborough County Superior Court South and Nashua district court clerks’ offices.

Superior Court Clerk Marshall Buttrick said the court’s so-called felony first arraignments and bail hearings will take place via video conference whenever possible.

The weekly meetings of Hillsborough South’s Adult Drug Court program are suspended for the time being, Buttrick said.

At the federal level, the U.S. District Court for New Hampshire’s Warren B. Rudman Courthouse in Concord will be closed through March 23 to allow the court to ” … assess the situation and make necessary adjustments,” officials said.

The order cancels jury trials, grand jury proceedings, and naturalization ceremonies scheduled before May 1.

As for the state’s penal institutions, officials have barred visitors and suspended volunteer services, tours and special events at all Department of Correction facilities “until further notice.”

The order also prohibits in-person meetings between inmates and their attorneys. Officials are working on setting up electronic communications for such meetings.

Meanwhile, state legislative leaders announced Monday that all legislative activities are suspended for at least a week, and no votes will be taken.

The State House will be closed to legislators, staff and visitors, but will be open for governmental operations “until further notice,” officials said.

In a joint statement, Senate President Donna Soucy and Speaker of the House Steve Shurtleff said the decisions were made “out of an abundance of caution,” and they will “continue to monitor the situation and respond as needed. …”

Police, firefighters and medical personnel in Greater Nashua have also been making adjustments and taking steps to ensure first-responders’ safety.

Nashua police chief Michael Carignan said residents who call police for help may be asked “additional questions” as part of a screening process.

When officers arrive, the caller “will likely be asked to step outside to speak with officers,” Carignan said, adding that people “might notice the officers maintain a ‘social distance.'”

And if people see officers wearing gloves, gowns, coveralls, masks or eye protection, they “should not assume” it means the COVID-19 virus is present, Carignan added.

In Hudson, Chief William Avery said police “will be limiting our face-to-face interactions with the public.

“Until further notice, (officers) will be handling non-emergency calls for service over the phone,” Avery said in a Monday statement.

But officers will continue in-person investigations of emergency situations, “including all in-progress or serious crimes,” he said.

Hollis police Capt. Brendan LaFlamme said the department is “making additional changes to our daily operations and services,” including asking residents to conduct their business via telephone or through the department’s Website.

LaFlamme said that although officers are “appreciative of the generosity and support” of the community, he asks that residents stop delivering food to the department.

Changes in daily operations are also taking place in Merrimack, where police are handling non-emergency calls by phone. They ask that residents do not go to the station “unless absolutely necessary.”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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