New Orleans Expected To Ease More COVID-19 Restrictions This Week: Report

Mayor LaToya Cantrell is reportedly expected to ease more COVID-19 restrictions in the city of New Orleans later this week.

Communications director Beau Tidwell confirmed bars will be allowed to serve customers sitting outdoors and large crowds will be allowed at outdoor sporting events and religious services as part of "Phase 3.2" of reopening during a weekly media briefing, NOLA.com reports.

Tidwell said Mayor Cantrell is expected to officially announce the transition later this week. Last month, New Orleans transitioned into "Phase 3.1" of its reopening plan.

The upcoming transition is expected to include the following changes:

• Bars would be allowed to serve patrons outside while being limited to 25% of their normal capacity or 50 maximum, whichever is fewer.
• Outdoor sporting events will be allowed to host a total attendance of 500 individuals, or 25%of the capacity of the venue, whichever is fewer. New Orleans is currently allowed to host a maximum of 250 fans in attendance at sporting events.
• Churches and religious ceremonies will be allowed to host 500 attendees or 50% of the total capacity of the venue, whichever is fewer. Religious ceremonies are currently limited to a maximum of 250 attendees.

Mayor Cantrell has taken a cautious approach to loosening restrictions throughout the pandemic to avoid seeing a surge in cases after loosening restrictions. The city has reported 1% of all coronavirus tests over the past two weeks resulted in new cases, which gives it the lowest positivity rate in the state of Louisiana, NOLA reports.

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