Three weeks after moving back into a Modified Phase 1, New Orleans will be transitioning into a Modified Phase 2 on Friday (January 29). The ease on restrictions, thanks to the city's 5% positivity rate, will remain in effect at least through the end of Mardi Gras, according to WWL-TV.
New Orleans Health Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno outlined the new guidelines during a press conference on Wednesday. Indoor capacity for restaurants, businesses, retail stores, and more will increase to 50% while bars will remain closed indoors.
Limits on social gatherings have also increased to 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors. This could include weddings, parties, and events, among others. The city has differentiated between seated events and social gatherings, allowing half capacity for the former and a limited number for the latter.
"These situations are considered high risk, even potential super spreaders because of the number of people coming into close contact with each other," said Dr. Avegno. "The setting of an office space, classroom or church service is not the same as a social gathering because people are seated, they're not mingling and they're masked the whole time."
Regardless of social gatherings and seated events, social distancing is still enforced and masks are still required in public and when around anyone outside of your household. Certain activities are still not allowed under the new restrictions, including: concert halls, amusement parks, fairs and festivals, arcades, indoor playground and play centers, second lines and parades, dance clubs, and adult live entertainment venues.
"We're nowhere near out of the woods," said Avegno. "But the small strides we've made will allow us to inch back toward normalcy."
Check below for the businesses that will be open to 50% capacity beginning Friday.
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