A spokesperson for the city of New Orleans expressed concern over weekend social media posts and news reports of a packed Bourbon Street.
Revelers flocked to the boozy thoroughfare after the city loosened restrictions on bars starting this past Saturday. Those restrictions allowed for outdoor service at limited capacity.
Beau Tidwell, the city’s director of communications, called the crowds “completely unacceptable” in a weekly press briefing on Tuesday, noting that two venues were issued written warnings for serving alcohol past the 11 p.m. cut off time, not maintaining social distancing, and not enforcing mask wearing.
And there’s no news yet on whether football fans will enter the Superdome this weekend to watch the Saints play against the Carolina Panthers.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell met with Saints leadership and officials at Ochsner Health to iron out a safe plan for reopening the stadium.
“She wants to cheer for the Saints just like everybody else,” Tidwell said, maintaining that the mayor does not think filling 20,000 of the arena’s roughly 74,000 available seats is safe.
“Our intention is that we have a phased and gradual reopening that’s in line with how we’ve handled all other sectors,” Tidwell said, adding that fans can expect a decision in coming days.
The city also tweeted this Tuesday afternoon:
From #NOLA Residents • #Repost @passportneworleans Have you seen the news? Louisiana is officially one of the few states that’s safe to visit!!! #CityOfYes #ThankYou @mayorcantrell
Thank you to our amazing leadership @mayorcantrell @LouisianaGov, health care workers, and even more incredible citizens who protect one another! We want you back when you’re ready, just please, mask-up and practice good hygiene (we don’t want to have to kick you out)
You heard me? - with love from New Orleans, 10/20/2020
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