Louisiana will move to Phase 2 on Friday, June 5. Governor John Bel Edwards made the expected announcement today, further easing restrictions on churches and businesses as the state fights the spread of coronavirus. Phase 2 will be in place for 21 days, expiring on June 26.

Bars, spas, and tattoo parlors will now be allowed to reopen, with restrictions and at 25% capacity. Arcades and trampoline parks, and Summer camps (not Sleep-away camps) are allowed to open as well.

Businesses that have been operating at 25% capacity will be able to do so at 50% capacity. That includes the following:

  • Restaurants, cafes and coffee shops
  • Shopping malls (including food courts, following restaurant guidance)
  • Gyms and fitness centers
  • Barber and beauty shops and nail salons
  • Movie theaters
  • Racetracks (not open to spectators)
  • Museums (including children’s museums), zoos, aquariums (no tactile exhibits)
  • Bars and breweries with LDH food permits
  • Massage establishments, spas, and tattoo establishments (under strict guidance from LDH), esthetician services (under strict guidance from the Cosmetology Board)
  • Pool halls, bowling alleys and skating rinks (children must be accompanied by an adult)
  • Event Centers and wedding venues
  • Outdoor playgrounds and play centers (children must be accompanied by an adult)
  • Churches
  • Indoor Funerals and Weddings, who may also continue outdoor services with no crowd size limitation as long as social distancing is practiced.
  • Casinos and Video Poker Establishments (but limited to 75 percent of their gaming positions, with spacing to allow for social distancing and with enhanced sanitation).

Children's Museums will be allowed to reopen, but with restrictions.

Live music venues, though, will remain closed, as well as the following businesses:

  • Carnivals
  • Amusement Parks
  • Water Parks
  • Fairs
  • Contact Sports
  • Children’s Indoor Play Centers
  • Theme Parks
  • Concert and Music Halls
  • Other similar businesses

“The people of Louisiana have done an incredible job flattening the curve here, and I’m thankful for their compliance and hard work. Likewise, the state has matched their efforts by ramping up both testing and contact tracing. All of this has allowed us to get to a place where we can move into Phase 2 on Friday,” Gov. Edwards said. “However, as more people are out and about and occupancy increases and even more businesses operate, members of the public should be cautious as they enter businesses and leave any place that is not taking precautions against the spread of COVID-19, especially if employees interacting with the public are not wearing masks and customers are not being encouraged to do so as well. We know most business owners want to go above and beyond to make their patrons feel safe. I hope the people of Louisiana will support these businesses that are doing the right thing to protect their customers and employees.”

“In addition, people who are at high risk for becoming seriously ill from COVID-19, including those over 65 and those with underlying health conditions, should still Stay at Home unless they are completing essential tasks, such as doctor visits or going to purchase medications, food or other necessary items. Everyone should consider their own risk and the risk of those in their households as they plan their public outings. There are still thousands of active COVID-19 cases in Louisiana and public health experts have increased warnings about asymptomatic people being able to spread the illness unknowingly.”

Another 3,028 more patients have recovered from COVID-19 since last week. That's according to the Louisiana Department of Health, who lists the overall number at 31,728 presumed recovered patients. There are also 17 fewer Coronavirus patients hospitalized, bringing the total to 661. Louisiana did surpass 40,000 (40,331) COVID-19 cases today, with four new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 2690.

WATCH Governor John Bel Edwards makes the announcement:

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