Starting Saturday, bars and restaurants are prohibited from selling takeout alcoholic beverages in New Orleans. Mayor LaToya Cantrell says this means bars are closed throughout Orleans Parish.
“We have seen the uptick in positive cases that are directly in line with bars and directly in line with large gatherings,” said Cantrell.
Bars have been banned from allowing on-site consumption of drinks, but Cantrell says large lines were forming at establishments for take out orders and the crowds kept getting larger and larger.
New Orleans Health Director Doctor Jennifer Avegno says the city has seen an unfavorable trend when it comes to its COVID-19 data.
“Every model that we look at shows that are transmission rate or how quickly the virus spreads in a community is above the number one which indicates widespread community transmission,” said Avegno.
Avengo says shutting down bars completely and limiting social gatherings is a necessary step to slow the spread of COVID-19 community transmission.
“Our primary goal at this point in the pandemic is to suppress the virus to a necessary level so that we can safely send our kids back to school,” said Avengo.
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