How the extended stay-at-home order affects Baton Rouge restaurants and bars

Gov. John Bel Edwards on Monday, April 27, announced he will extend Louisiana’s stay-at-home order until May 15 to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19. Louisiana does not currently meet the White House criteria for entering Phase 1 of reopening.

Under the extended order, which will be issued on Friday, May 1, businesses that previously were directed to be closed will remain closed, including bars, salons, barbershops and casinos. Businesses that are deemed essential under the third phase of federal CISA guidance may still be open. Nonessential retail businesses in Louisiana will continue to be able to open with fewer than 10 people total inside.

Three significant changes in the revised stay-at-home order include:

• Malls will remain closed to the public, but stores may open for curbside delivery.

• Restaurants will be allowed to open outside areas for patrons to eat meals only, without tableside service.

• All employees of a business who have contact with the public must wear a mask—that includes public-facing restaurant workers. Additionally, both the CDC and the Louisiana Department of Health strongly urge everyone to wear masks when in public.

While Louisiana has seen positive, improving trends statewide in terms of new case growth and new hospitalizations in several regions across the state, new cases and hospitalizations continue to increase or to plateau, according to data from the Louisiana Department of Health. The White House criteria calls for declining numbers of new cases and hospitalizations, among other things.

Edwards’ decision is based on regional data that shows that while overall new cases and hospitalizations have decreased, this is not the case in several regions. For example, in the Baton Rouge and Monroe regions, both new cases and new hospitalizations have increased.

Read on for the full story from Daily Report‘s April 27 edition. To keep up with Baton Rouge business and politics, subscribe to the free Daily Report e-newsletter here.