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New Orleans now requires vaccine or negative test

There have been various conversations on this forum in the recent past re. travel to New Orleans. As a local, I am rejoicing that as of today, Monday, August 16, the city now requires everyone entering a restaurant, bar, or indoor music venue to show proof of a Covid vaccine, or negative results from a very recent Covid test. New Orleans now joins only two other cities in the US, San Francisco and NYC, in having this requirement. With the many tourists walking our streets maskless, I hope that this requirement will help to keep those who live here, work here, and travel here, safer to enjoy the beauty, food, and music of this wonderful city.

Posted by
98 posts

Good for New Orleans. Hopefully, this will allow the city to remain open providing work for its citizens and income for businesses. Wish more cities would have the mandate.

Posted by
7054 posts

Are employees of those venues (restaurants, bars, music joints) who interface with the public required to be vaccinated (or subject to constant testing)?

Posted by
1047 posts

"Masks required (in NOLA)
INDOOR MASK MANDATE IN EFFECT
Everyone, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a mask indoors when with people who are not in their immediate household.
Masks also required at outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people if total attendance is more than 50% of the outdoor venue's capacity." https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/safe-reopening/ August 16, 2021

Sounds promising, although I don't think those outdoor gatherings are all that safe, either.

Posted by
1217 posts

Agnes, I understand that the employees are held to the same mandate as the entering public, that is, that they either have to show proof of vaccination, or a very recent Covid test, which would mean getting retested every 3 days. Thank you for the link, Lindy! Here's the applicable language: "Anyone 12 years of age and older must provide proof of at least one dose of an approved COVID vaccine or negative PCR test within 72 hours, including employees..." With organizers having recently canceled the rescheduled Jazz Fest, and the autumn French Quarter Festival, along with other smaller festivals and celebrations, the mayor is trying hard to keep New Orleans "open for business" as much as possible.

Posted by
7146 posts

While I respect the city’s prerogative to implement that measure, it’s a shame that business owners have been put in the position of having to be vaccination police.

Posted by
32 posts

Hello jmauldinuu:
As a local, would you have recommendations for Christmas in New Orleans? Restaurants/events? I'm there for a week during Christmas: we love lesser-know/ not-so-touristy places. Any advice is appreciated!