Bars, businesses can open Friday in most of Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday that he’s allowing bars and spas that have been shuttered because of the coronavirus outbreak to reopen this weekend, as he further eases restrictions on businesses in a state once one of the nation’s hot spots in the pandemic.
“We are seeing signs of progress. Louisiana is headed in the right direction,” Edwards said. But he cautioned his state’s residents to remember: “There still is a lot of COVID out there.”
The latest loosening of the rules will start Friday, under the plans announced by the Democratic governor, and they will be in effect until June 26. They won’t take effect in New Orleans, however, where city officials say they want more time to gather data.
In the rest of Louisiana, bars, massage facilities, bowling alleys, recreational pools and tattoo shops will be able to restart operations, with heavy restrictions on how they interact with customers. Churches, restaurants, gyms, hair salons and other businesses that have reopened at 25% capacity since mid-May can move to 50% of their occupancy rate. Bars without a food permit will be restricted to 25% capacity, with patrons required to be seated. The requirements outlined Monday are based on what are known as “Phase 2” reopening guidance issued by the White House.
Employees interacting with the public still will be required to wear masks, and the governor encouraged businesses to consider using temperature checks to determine who can enter their premises.
Live music and theater venues will remain closed.
Edwards cited continued declines in new deaths and new hospitalizations attributed to the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus as allowing for the easing of restrictions.
But he also cautioned that people who are most at risk of severe symptoms and death from COVID-19 — the elderly and people with certain underlying health conditions — should continue to stay home as much as possible. He also urged people to wear masks when encountering others outside their households and to practice physical distancing.