Louisiana Mask Mandate, Bar Closures, and a Visit From VP Mike Pence

Published July 11, 2020
Updated July 14, 2020

During a press conference on Saturday, July 11, 2020, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards added Louisiana to the growing list of states with a mask mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. The mandate will require that people ages 8 and older wear face coverings in public. As of July 10, twenty-one other states already had mask mandates in place including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Governors in several other states including neighboring states Texas and Mississippi also imposed mask mandates in some areas.

In addition to the mask mandate, Edwards took action in closing all bars to the public even if they serve food, though bars may offer curbside to-go service. The order will also limit the size of gatherings to 50.

Currently, it will be up to business owners and management to make sure employees and customers are wearing masks in their businesses, but fire marshalls will be able to issue warnings and citations to businesses not following the mandate. If a customer refuses to leave a business after being asked, management may contact local authorities to have the person removed for trespassing.

Vice President Mike Pence, who has also urged Americans to wear a face mask to help stop the spread of COVID-19 is scheduled to visit LSU in Baton Rouge on July 14 to discuss fall reopening plans and university sports programs during the pandemic.

The mask mandate and bar closures in Louisiana go into effect Monday, July 13, 2020. The new order is set to expire July 24, 2020, but could be extended.

From the July 11, 2020, press release from the Office of the Governor of Louisiana

MASK MANDATE
The statewide mask mandate applies to all 64 parishes in Louisiana. However, parishes with a COVID-19 incidence of fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people for the most recent two-week period for which data is available could choose to opt-out of the mandate. Parish presidents do not have to opt-out and may choose to keep a mask mandate in place. Currently, only three parishes in Louisiana do not exceed this standard, which will be updated every other week by the Louisiana Department of Health: Grant, Red River, and West Feliciana.

The order requires face coverings for everyone ages 8 and older except for the following:

• Anyone who has a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering
• Anyone who is consuming a drink or food
• Anyone who is trying to communicate with a person who is hearing impaired
• Anyone who is giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience
• Anyone temporarily removing his or her face covering for identification purposes
• Anyone who is a resident of a parish without a high COVID incidence that has opted out of the masking mandate

Masks are strongly recommended for children ages 2 to 7.

CLOSURE OF BARS TO ALL ON-PREMISES CONSUMPTION
All bars, including those with food permits from the Louisiana Department of Health, will be closed to on-premises consumption. They can operate for curbside takeout or delivery service only.

Since the start of the crisis, Louisiana has identified at least 36 outbreaks, impacting at least 405 people, involving bars, which were actually closed under the Governor’s original Stay at Home order. Public health officials believe going to bars is a higher public health risk than visiting other types of businesses because people are socializing and cannot wear masks when they drink. In addition, young people under the age of 30 make up the largest percentage of new COVID cases in Louisiana.

GATHERING SIZE
The new order also limits the size of social gatherings to 50 people indoors. Outdoor social gatherings are also limited to 50 people if individuals cannot avoid being within six feet of one another. 

This crowd size limitation shall not apply to those businesses deemed essential as defined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency or any businesses and organizations operating at 50% capacity pursuant to Paragraphs (1) through (6) of Subsection (G) of Section 2 of 83 JBE 2020, including churches and other faith-based organizations.

 The 50-person limit will apply to indoor gatherings, like receptions, weddings, and others. The changes are based on the advice of public health officials. 

Follow this link to read the full proclamation.