Louisiana bar owners fighting to keep their businesses open during coronavirus restrictions lost a battle Wednesday when a court denied their appeal.
The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld Gov. John Bel Edwards’ order to keep bars closed in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases. Plaintiffs filed suit in federal court arguing that the order is unfair because it allows bars with food permits to remain open.
Twenty-one bar owners, including several in Houma, argued in court papers there is no evidence that shows a connection between bars and virus outbreaks.
“There is no evidence directly linking plaintiffs’ bars to the COVID-19 public health emergency,” the lawsuit says. “To plaintiffs’ knowledge, not a single COVID-19 transmission has been traced to a bar owned or operated by any of the plaintiffs.”