Phase 3.3 begins Wednesday, November 11, loosening up some of the restrictions put in place for indoor and outdoor service at bars.
Since March, New Orleans has had restrictions prohibiting indoor service at bars. This week, that all changes as the city finally enters Phase 3.3. Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced in a press conference yesterday that the city would enter the new phase, bringing Covid measures a bit closer to the less restrictive state guidelines.
Under the new guidelines, bars and breweries without food permits will be allowed to serve customers indoors at a capacity of 25% with a maximum of 50 people. It also increases the permitted capacity of outdoor customers to 100% for a maximum of 50 people.
What’s new! 👀👋🏽😷
☑️Bars & breweries allowed 25% indoor capacity with 50 people max & 100% outdoor capacity with 50 people max
☑️Indoor gathering sizes (weddings, funerals) increased to 100 & outdoor gathering sizes increased to 150https://t.co/e5BwZY9r1o pic.twitter.com/3D5fY2nNz4— Mayor LaToya Cantrell (@mayorcantrell) November 9, 2020
Social distancing must still be respected and all customers must be seated for table service and wear masks unless actively eating or drinking. Indoor live entertainment and bar games are still not permitted, but it looks like New Orleanians will finally be able to sit down inside some of their favorite spots for a nice evening cocktail or craft beer.
Restrictions on events like weddings and funerals are also set to be lessened, allowing an attendance of up to 100 people for indoor events, and 150 people for outdoor events. The city’s constraints remain more strict than those of the state. Regardless, this is still great news for businesses and local residents alike.
Important to note that #NOLA & #Louisiana are unique compared to the rest of the country, where cases are surging right now. Could see a winter surge here, so we need everyone to help so we don’t have to reinstitute restrictions. 😷 https://t.co/493SAq2m7F#MaskUpNOLA pic.twitter.com/eXefG8g5n2
— The City Of New Orleans (@CityOfNOLA) November 10, 2020
Because of the city’s sacrifice over past months, New Orleans has not seen a spike in new Covid cases during the course of the recent loosening of regulations. Many businesses have been put at risk during this trying year, and the city hopes that this reopening will allow for such local establishments to get back on their feet as residents gradually come out to play safely and responsibly.
[Featured image: David Straight via Unsplash]