Article archive / October 2020
Originally published: . Volume 11, No. 10. Source pages: 1, 5.
On September 11, Gov. Edwards announced details of his move to COVID-19 to Phase 3. He said that some businesses will be able to increase their occupancy, and bars may reopen subject to certain restrictions, but only in parishes that do not have high incidence of illness and only if local governments choose to opt in.
The State Fire Marshal’s office and the Louisiana Department of Health shares information with business owners via the Open Safely portal, located at opensafely.la.gov. In place until October 9, the newest order notes that restaurants, churches, salons, spas, gyms and other businesses will be able to open at a maximum of 75 percent of their occupancy, with social distancing in place. Bars will remain closed to on-premises consumption in parishes with high incidence of COVID as evidenced by their test positivity rate. Parishes with a positivity rate of 5 percent or lower for two consecutive weeks may opt- in to open bars for on premises consumption, under the restrictions in the Governor’s order.
"When re-opened, bars will be able to open at 25 percent capacity, up to 50 people, indoors for customers seated for tableside service. They may have no more than 50 customers outdoors, socially distanced, seated for tableside service. No live music will be allowed. All drinks must be ordered at the table and delivered by bar staff to the table. Sale and service of alcohol at bars, when they reopen, must end at 10 p.m., with all patrons cleared from the building by 11 p.m. When re-opened, no one under the age of 21 is permitted in any bar. […]
"The statewide mask mandate will stay in place under the new order. Masks have proven to be a key mitigation measure in the fight against the spread of COVID-19. The more Louisianans who wear masks, the more Louisiana businesses can stay open."
The order continues the recommendation that those at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 stay at home unless they must leave for an essential activity, such as getting food or medical care.
“We have seen some improvement in decreased COVID-like illness, new COVID cases and hospitalizations in recent weeks," said the Governor, "as our strong mitigation measures are working. That said, I want the people of Louisiana to know that moving into Phase 3 does not mean that COVID is no longer a problem for us because in fact it is. That’s why it is incumbent upon all Louisianans to follow the guidance, wear their masks and avoid going out when they are showing symptoms,” Gov. Edwards said.
“We all want to see a return to normalcy, but it is going to take all of us working together to get us there. There are still some looming factors that could come to bear on the fragile gains that we have made including students returning to schools at all levels, the outcome of the Labor Day weekend and the displacement of thousands of residents by Hurricane Laura from an area that had among the highest case counts in the state. If we see a spike in cases, we may be forced to go back to a more restrictive Phase 2.”
On September 17, Gov. Edwards implemented new federal guidance to expand nursing home visitation, allowing nursing homes to conduct outdoor visitation with social distancing. Nursing homes located in parishes with no more than 10 percent test positivity and without any new COVID cases among residents and staff in the last 14 days can allow indoor visitation.
Also on September 17, the Governor adjusted the order slightly regarding alcohol sales.
"Following discussions with restaurant and hospitality industry leaders, Gov. John Bel Edwards today altered his Phase 3 order to allow the on premises sale and consumption of alcohol until 11 p.m. at restaurants, casinos and bars in parishes that are eligible to opt in to reopen bars. However, all bars must still close by 11 p.m."
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