The summer of 2020 will surely be different than summers past. The pace is likely to be slower and we will be practicing safety measures for the protection of everyone. There are still many unanswered questions as we are only in Phase I of the four phase re-opening plan. It looks like our beaches will be open, with social distancing. Retail shops will be open, with new guidelines. Many restaurants are now open but are offering only take-out curbside delivery. Some restaurants are exploring the possibility of additional dining outdoors. Summer camps may be able to start to open in Phase 2 with new rules. We are still waiting to hear about museums, theaters and cultural sites. There will not be any large gatherings and most of the non-profit fund raisers will not be held in the traditional way that they have been in the past. There are lots of moving parts here and the hospital and local government are doing their best to balance economic recovery while protecting public safety. The Select Board and Board of Health, in conjunction with the hospital, have spent countless hours meeting about how best to safely re-open the island.
Please think in terms of spending time with friends and family in smaller groups. Try to spend time outside, whether on Nantucket’s beautiful beaches or the many open spaces. Please remember to support local restaurants, either through take-out or the purchase of gift cards. This is going to be one of the hardest hit sectors on Nantucket and we can all help.