March 2, 2022 | From City of New Orleans
CITY OF NEW ORLEANS TO LIFT MASK MANDATE CITYWIDE, EFFECTIVE THURSDAY, MARCH 3
NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans announced today that it would suspend the indoor mask mandate for most public spaces, effective this Thursday, March 3, at 6 a.m.
The mask mandate will remain in place for all healthcare facilities throughout Orleans Parish and on public transportation, as detailed in the federal guidelines for all residents ages 2 and older. COVID-19 mitigation measures implemented for certain businesses requiring proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry announced in August will remain in place.
“Thanks to the hard work and the sacrifices of our residents, visitors and business owners, New Orleans has once again demonstrated its ability to safely host large-scale events, such as Mardi Gras. We should be proud of the progress we've made together, with mitigation measures in place that have helped us become national leaders in getting our people vaccinated and boosted. New Orleans is a safe destination to celebrate — and our people made that possible," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell.
For several weeks, COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths drastically decreased due to the city’s more stringent mitigation measures, strong vaccine rates and proof of vaccination or negative test requirements for most indoor spaces and other facilities previously implemented. The New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) encourages residents to continue to wear masks in public indoor spaces – especially when social distancing is not possible, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The mask mandate was reinstated to slow the spread of the virus on Jan. 12, 2022, following the devastating surge of new COVID-19 Omicron variant cases and hospitalizations statewide. The City of New Orleans reports that 84.7 percent of the adult population (ages 18 and over) is fully vaccinated, and 45.4 percent of youth (ages 5-17) is fully vaccinated.
For more information regarding COVID-19 updates, guidelines, and testing and vaccination sites, text COVID to 77295 or visit ready.nola.gov/COVID.