Crowds gather in French Quarter for busy Easter weekend
Visitors and locals alike take advantage of good weather, but health officials warn about large gatherings amid pandemic.
Crowds gather in French Quarter for busy Easter weekend By Olivia Vidal | April 3, 2021 at 10:25 PM CDT - Updated April 3 at 10:26 PM
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Popular areas of New Orleans were filled with visitors on Saturday, like parks and the French Quarter. Health officials say while the restrictions may be lessened, now is not the time to let your guard down.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health, COVID-19 positivity rates for Orleans Parish are under one percent as of April 3, 2021. With restrictions loosening up in the city on bars and restaurants, health expert Dr. Eric Griggs said hanging out in large crowds and without a face mask is irresponsible.
Businesses and tourism officials are hoping stimulus money,vaccines and the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in New Orleans due to low positivity rates will bring more visitors back to the city.
New Orleans businesses brace for Mardi Gras shutdown Chloe Atkins
Some bars in New Orleans have replaced the festive Mardi Gras flags that hang from their businesses at this time of year with white ones.
Beaux Church, director of Café Lafitte in Exile, Good Friends Bar and Rawhide 2010, said the white flags indicate the businesses have surrendered to the citywide crackdown during New Orleans most famous celebration. We had already purchased all of our food and drink supplies . and we had the rug pulled out from under us at the last minute, Church said. All of the bar owners would have been much better off with at least two weeks notice.
A dire warning from the front lines
Health leaders predict post-Carnival surge in La. COVID-19 cases Share Updated: 6:58 PM CST Feb 12, 2021
Health leaders predict post-Carnival surge in La. COVID-19 cases Share Updated: 6:58 PM CST Feb 12, 2021
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Show Transcript JENNIFER. HEALTH LEADERS WARN PEOPLE NOT TO GATHER WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THEIR IMMEDIATE HOUSEHOLD EVEN AT MARDI GRAS ALTERNATIVES LIKE THE STREET FLOAT BEHIND ME. THEY ARE PREDICTING A SPIKE IN CORONAVIRUS CASES EVEN AFTER SMALL. GATHERINGS THEY SAY PREVIOUS POST HOLIDAY SURGES PROVE IT TAKE A LOOK AT THIS GRAPHIC BY THE SAINT TAMMANY HEALTH SYSTEM SHOWING SPIKES AND INFECTIONS AFTER THE FOURTH OF JULY THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS WITH NEW STRAINS OF THE VIRUS CIRCULATING IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WANTS YOU TO KNOW THE RISKS THIS HOLIDAY ARE EVEN HIGHER WE DO HAVE VARIANT CASES IN THE STATE IN THE REGION AND IN JEFFERSON PARISH, SO THEREFORE IT IS IMPORTAN
New Orleans hotel occupancy staggeringly below normal through Mardi Gras
New Orleans hotels staggeringly below normal through Mardi Gras By Rob Masson | February 9, 2021 at 4:03 PM CST - Updated February 9 at 6:23 PM
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Visible signs of the carnival shut down are now being spotted across the city. Bars will close Friday as the hospitality industry deals with occupancy some 70% below normal.
It seems most tourists will be staying home.
“Why bother, there’s no point, it’s not going to be the same,” said Irene Dennis, from Canada.
The city has now fenced off most of N. Claiborne Avenue, where hundreds of locals would gather for carnival, and hotel rooms won’t be at their normal occupancy for the festivities.