New Orleans will move into a modified Phase 3 on Friday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced Wednesday.
Beginning at 6 a.m. Friday, restaurants, salons and other retail businesses can operate at 75 percent indoor capacity.
Based on Louisiana’s Phase 3 guidelines, New Orleans’ bars and breweries can serve patrons indoors at 50 percent capacity, since the city has a COVID-19 test positivity rate less than 5 percent.
New Orleans’ test positivity rate is currently one of the lowest in Louisiana at 1.5 percent. Cantrell said the city is also leading the state when it comes to vaccination efforts.
More than 21 percent of residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and nearly 12 percent of residents are fully vaccinated.
“The numbers are what they are … because people have been doing the right thing and we have collectively been putting in the work,” Cantrell said Wednesday.
“We are on such a good track and really in a good spot to continue to ease restrictions.”
Indoor and outdoor gathering size limits will remain at 75 and 150 people respectively. Capacity limits at sporting events will also stay the same.
“Based on current reports of COVID-19 variants in New Orleans and recommendations from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], the current gathering size limits will remain smaller than those allowed by the State of Louisiana,” current guidelines say.
The state recently increased indoor and outdoor event capacity to 50 percent with a limit of 250 people indoors and no limit outdoors.
Live entertainment is permitted at New Orleans bars, concert halls, music halls and other venues as long as capacity limits are not exceeded and proper permitting is secured. Singing, karaoke and wind-blown instruments are not allowed indoors.
Alcohol sales are still subject to restrictions. Restaurants and bars can serve on-site and to-go drinks from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Packaged liquor sales in the French Quarter and Central Business District is also limited to the hours of 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Amusement parks, second lines, parades and dance clubs are still not allowed.
“We know that we’ve been here before and we don’t want to regress. We want to keep making progress,” Cantrell said.
