Bars in Lafayette have not reached the low positivity rate of COVID-19 required to open under Phase 3 guidelines and will remain closed for now.
According to Phase 3 guidelines, a parish must have a positivity of 5% or less for two consecutive weeks. Lafayette’s current positively is 6.1% according to the Louisiana Department of Health. Once the parish reaches the requirement, the parish government must opt-in to having bars open to sell alcohol on-premises.
From Lafayette Consolidated Government:
GOVERNOR’S PHASE THREE ORDER FORCES LAFAYETTE PARISH BARS TO REMAIN CLOSED
Governor John Bel Edwards signed a proclamation today, placing the state under phase three guidelines, after citing positive progress in Louisiana’s efforts to battle the COVID-19 public health emergency. Edwards’ order outlined conditions for the reopening of bars, which were forced to close for a majority of the last six months. Under the new order, bars are allowed to open if they are located in a parish that has a percent positivity of 5% or less for two consecutive weeks. According to Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Region Four Director Dr. Tina Stefanski, Lafayette Parish’s current percent positivity is at 6.1%.
Bars with a food service permit from the LDH, restaurants that serve alcohol, weddings, and casinos must adhere to the following guidelines:
•Bars 25% capacity up to 50 people
•No more than 50 people outdoors
•All customers must be seated
•No live music
•Drinks must be served at a table and delivered by wait-staff
•Alcohol sales end at 10:00 pm and customers must be out by 11:00 pm
Additional guidance from the State Fire Marshal’s Office can be found at opensafely.la.gov and the Governor’s Phase Three Proclamation can be found at gov.la.gov.