Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Monday that the state will move into the Phase Two of the COVID-19 recovery on Friday.
“The people of Louisiana have done an incredible job flattening the curve here, and I’m thankful for their compliance and hard work. Likewise, the state has matched their efforts by ramping up both testing and contact tracing. All of this has allowed us to get to a place where we can move into Phase 2 on Friday,” Gov. Edwards said.
The change will allow many businesses that have been operating at 25% of capacity to increase that to 50% as well as allow other businesses that remained closed to reopen at 25% capacity, like bars and breweries without a food permit from the Louisiana Department of Health, day spas and tattoo shops.
State health officials stress the use of masks and social distancing should continue and those who are at high-risk from COVID-19 symptoms should remain home as much as possible.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced that Orleans Parish would not follow the state into Phase Two on Friday, remaining in Phase One for the time-being.
"As we have said throughout this pandemic: we are watching the data, not the date. We don't yet have sufficient data to authorize opening up further at this point," Cantrell said.