Beginning on Friday, New Orleans will allow live music performances indoors for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the city's phase three reopening plan, "live entertainment may be performed at bars, concert halls, music halls, live [performance] venues, and event venues following the capacity limits based on the business type."
Bars hosting performances will be limited to a capacity of 75 people and concert halls will be permitted to reopen at 75% capacity (up to 250 people). Masks requirements for the public will still be enforced, and those who attend live performances must remain seated during the shows. "Patrons must refrain from cheering or singing along, especially while not wearing masks," the new rules state. "Patrons are prohibited from dancing."
Test positivity rates in New Orleans have dropped to 1.5%, much lower than the high rate of 10.4% detected at the end of December. Right now, 21.4% of New Orleans residents have received the first dose of the vaccine, and 11.9% have received the booster shot.
At a press conference, Mayor LaToya Cantrell shared that "it is important for us to embrace the positive news, for us to be proud of that, for us to continue to showcase that on a national scale."
What do you think about the new live music rules in New Orleans? Let us know.