Mayor Latoya Cantrell has stated that the city of New Orleans will still have restrictions that the governor has approved for the rest of the state beginning Friday, May 1, 2020. While Governor Edwards announced that the stay home mandate will be extended until May 15, the same day as Mayor Cantrell’s city-wide mandate, he proclaimed that restaurants can allow outdoor seating beginning Friday with the stipulation that restaurant staff provides no services such as taking orders or bringing drinks to customers.
However, in a tweet on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, despite Edwards’ changes, the mayor’s office reiterated their stance on the current mandate, but further noted the slightly loosened restrictions do not apply to Orleans stay-at-home order. “The Governor’s announcement will not result in any changes to the existing (stay home) mandate in Orleans Parish. Restaurants will not be allowed to host curbside seating and stores will not be allowed to open curbside delivery, the mayor tweeted.”
The Governor’s announcement will not result in any changes to the existing #StayHome mandate in Orleans Parish. Restaurants will not be allowed to host curbside seating and stores will not be allowed to open curbside delivery. Yesterday, I issued the following statement ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/IABw2BdvlO
— Mayor LaToya Cantrell (@mayorcantrell) April 28, 2020
After some speculation that the governor would enter phase I of reopening the economy, yesterday, he announced in a press conference that unfortunately, we do not meet the current federal criteria to reopen our economy. The current statewide stay-at-home order includes bans on non-essential businesses such as salons, barber shops, casinos, bars, retail shops among other things.
Although the governor was disappointed to announce the extension, he also expressed optimism that with the current downward trajectory regarding a decline in a hospitalizations, people on ventilators, and growth in new deaths, Louisiana should be able to meet the criteria for phase I of reopening the economy by May 15.
In order to meet the criteria for phase I of reopening the state’s economy, the state must see a downward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported within a 14-day period and a downward trajectory of COVID-like syndromic cases reported within a 14-day period. There must also be a downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period or a downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period (flat or increasing volume of tests). Lastly, hospitals must be able to treat all patients without crisis care and have a robust testing program in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing.
For more information about guidelines for opening the economy, visit here.
