Riverland’s Covid-Safe Welcome
The pandemic has taught us many things:
- that gathering with friends and family is as essential as breathing,
- that we are all in this together and have our part to play, and
- that keeping everyone as safe as we can is the heart of hospitality.
A small, family-run bed and breakfast has some natural advantages. We have lower turnover, with fewer people passing through. Our one host stays on the premises. We have outdoor dining
Our governor is very concerned that out-of-state visitors will bring more Covid infections to New Hampshire. He is likely to mandate that we only welcome guests from New Hampshire and guests from outside New Hampshire that attest that they have self-quarantined in their homes for fourteen days before arriving in New Hampshire. The date of our re-opening under these conditions has not been announced, but is likely to be on or about June 1st. Please check again for updates.
We are already following guidelines that have been negotiated with the Governor’s Covid taskforce for the lodging industry, although they may change some in final form:
Disinfecting and Sanitizing
We will leave rooms empty for three days between visits to ensure our all hard surfaces are naturally disinfected and all soft services are naturally sanitized, in addition to our regular, rigorous cleaning.
Research has shown that the Covid-19 virus lives on hard surfaces (metal, plastic) for up to three days and on cardboard for two days. Leaving rooms empty for three days will ensure that the virus dies of its own accord.
Riverland on the Merrimack is a gold-level member of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Green Hospitality Program. We take pride in offering a healthy, nontoxic environment. Cleaning products exist that kill Covid, but they would challenge our own health and that of our chemically sensitive guests. We will let time do most of the disinfecting.
We will continue our rigorous cleaning, but add dilute bleach to the routine for handles, doorknobs, faucets, and other often-touched items.
Bookings
We will also require a two-day minimum stay, to further reduce turnover and mitigate exposure.
Breakfast
We will bring breakfast to your room on a tray or serve you on our lovely south-facing porch in fine weather.
Social distancing
Your host will prepare breakfast with mask and gloves.
Complementary masks will be provided so guests can protect themselves while interacting with others.
The governor’s working group mandates that we ask our guests to attest that they have self-quarantined in their homes out of state for 14 days before arriving in NH and to answer the following questions when making a booking and again, at check in:
a. Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
b. Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath or sore throat?
c. Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?
d. Have you had changes in your sense of taste or smell ?
e. If you answered yes to any of these questions, please do not put our employees and other guests at risk and come back another day when you feel better. Any deposit will be returned.
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