November 9, 2020 | From City of New Orleans
City of New Orleans Announces Phase 3.3 and COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy Working Group
NEW ORLEANS — Today, the City of New Orleans announced that it will move to Phase 3.3 in its Safe Reopening Plan on Wednesday, Nov. 11, which will bring local restrictions more closely in line with the State of Louisiana Phase Three policies. The City also provided updated information on ongoing testing options and preparations for an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine.
New changes in Phase 3.3 include increased gathering sizes and indoor seating for bars and breweries:
- Indoor gatherings (like weddings and funerals) will now be allowed to have a maximum of 100 people who are masked and socially distanced.
- Outdoor gatherings (like weddings and funerals) will now be allowed to have a maximum of 150 people who are masked and socially distanced.
- Bars and breweries will now be allowed to have 25% of indoor seating capacity with a maximum of 50 individuals and 100% of outdoor seating capacity with a maximum of 50 individuals, all of whom must be masked and socially distanced.
Some additional changes were made to restrictions on trade shows, conferences, carriage tours, and adult performance venues. Additionally, the Department of Safety and Permits and the New Orleans Health Department have created new guidelines for special events and live entertainment along with an easier process for seeking approval, which will be made available Wednesday.
Phase 3.3 details are available at ready.nola.gov/reopening.
Free Drive-Thru and Walk-Up Testing Continues
Free drive-thru and walk-up testing sites continue to be available in Orleans Parish daily with various partners including the Louisiana National Guard, Louisiana Department of Health, LCMC Health, and CORE Response, among others. Times and locations are listed at ready.nola.gov/mobile-testing. All sites are open to anyone who is concerned about COVID-19 exposure.
Starting today, the drive-thru sites are using a new registration system, which can be accessed at health.questdiagnostics.com/STLOU. Pre-registration is available but not required.
City Prepares for COVID-19 Vaccine
The City of New Orleans has launched a COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy Working Group as a part of the Mayor's COVID-19 Advisory Panel. This group will assist in planning the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine by traditional healthcare providers, local businesses and organizations, and through community based sites.
When COVID-19 vaccines become available, New Orleanians will be prioritized by age, pre-existing medical conditions, and occupation according to CDC guidelines. We will work to make sure that vaccine distribution is equitable across our community and easy to access for all people. The New Orleans Health Department is working closely with the Louisiana Department of Health to ensure that personal information that is collected from individuals will remain private and be used only to ensure that people received the correct subsequent doses.
The City of New Orleans stands firm that we will only support the administration of a safe and effective vaccine that has been approved by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The ACIP is a group of medical and public health experts that review all vaccination data and produce recommendations for administration of vaccines in the United States.
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