Louisiana Moves Toward Phase 3 Reopening

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced Friday the state will move into Phase 3 reopening, providing new safety measures and protocols that will go into effect at midnight. The statewide mask mandate will remain in place.

New guidelines include increasing the occupancy to 75% for restaurants, gyms, churches, salons and spas, but with continued social distancing. Social gatherings will be limited to half capacity for each business or venue, but with a maximum of 250 people.

Bars with high incidents of COVID-19 will remain closed, KSLA reports, but parishes with "a positivity rate of 5% or lower for two consecutive weeks will be allowed to opt in." Alcohol sales for businesses with onsite consumption, like bars, restaurants, and casinos, will have to end at 10 p.m., according to the new guidelines.

In addition to the guidelines announced Friday, residents should continue following safety measures touted by federal agencies such as hand washing, social distancing, and limited gatherings. By continuing these efforts, Gov. Edwards hopes that the state can move toward normal operations, but that "We don't go from 75% to 100% until the pandemic is over."

As the state prepared to move into Phase 3, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the city will remain in Phase 2, letting COVID-19 data drive their decisions for future reopening.

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