St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper announced yesterday that bars may reopen for on-premises consumption immediately under Phase 3 guidelines as the parish’s percent positivity rate fell below 5% for the second consecutive week. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, from 9/17 – 9/23, St. Tammany Parish had a Percent Positivity Rate of 3.5 %; and for the week of 9/24 – 9/30, it was 4.30 %.
Cooper said his goal since this pandemic began has been to balance the health of the community with the health of the economy.
Bars may reopen and offer tableside service only with indoor capacity limited to a 25% occupancy rate or fifty (50) people, whichever is less. Outdoor capacity shall be limited to fifty (50) people and only for tableside service. Tables shall be spaced according to social distancing guidelines. And live music is prohibited. If, at any time, St. Tammany’s percent positivity rate exceeds 10% positivity for two consecutive weeks, bars will then be closed for on-premises consumption.
