After a Saturday that saw large groups gather against the orders of the Louisiana governor, Mayor Cantrell has ordered bars and restaurants must limit hours and capacities.
This new information comes following a 3 pm press conference earlier today.
The following guidelines will be implemented immediately, according to the city:
- All full-service restaurants with seating cease operations at 9 p.m. daily. Further, they will work to limit their seating capacity for social distancing whether it is removing tables/chairs or using a checkerboard type seating pattern to provide more guest spacing. The goal is to reduce seating by up to 50 percent. Employers will continue to monitor employees and ask employees to regularly take their own temperature. As supplies allow, employers will also assist. This goes for beverage/bar servers. Employers will continue to post signs for enhanced cleaning processes and how to maintain good health.
- Once the dining room closes, a restaurant can still offer delivery until its usual closing time.
- The quick-service or fast-casual establishments can only offer “drive-thru” service but can be extended to 24 hours if they so choose.
- Bars and nightclubs will cease service at 12 a.m. daily. They will limit their capacity to up to 50 percent of posted patron limit. Last call will be at 11:15 pm. Everyone must be out and headed home by 12 am.
- Hotel operations will adhere to above operating times for their restaurants and bar operations as well as limiting capacity.
- Operators will post a notice to patrons that when they depart to please consider returning home.
- Operators will not allow gathering for waiting for seating, or access purposes. They will implement use of text messaging to advise if the table is ready.
- Operators will encourage no public gatherings in any area.
- Once patrons exit the premises of restaurants or bars, they may not loiter in the street or congregate in groups outside. This will be enforced city-wide.
- Tour groups will be limited to groups of no more than seven (7) at a time.
The rate of infection is increasing much faster in New Orleans than other parts of the country, and the city expects to see testing start ramping up as the week goes on.
The coronavirus has continued to spread throughout the entire state of Louisiana. As of Sunday, Louisiana had officially surpassed over 100 cases, with two confirmed fatalities. The number is expected to rise each day, almost doubling per day.
This story is developing and we will update this post as we learn more information.