West Feliciana and LaSalle Parishes are planning to reopen today, defying the Governor’s statewide stay-at-home order extension through May 15th. West Feliciana Parish President Kenny Havard believes the one size fits all stay-at-home extension will not be beneficial to his parish.
“If you look at the state’s website, it’s going to tell you that we have 111 cases, but they are all incarcerated at Angola except for twelve, and some of those twelve are well now. We know them,” said Havard.
While many of the Governor’s other guidelines will be followed, Havard says restaurants in his parish will be allowed to operate with 25% capacity but will monitor the clientele.
“In ten minutes, I can make one phone call and I can have all my restaurant owners sitting on a patio somewhere and we can make a decision to shut down right now and if we start seeing an influx of people from New Orleans and Baton Rouge coming up here and eating, we will shut it down,” said Havard.
Havard is also permitting churches to be reopened with the congregations following strict social distancing guidelines.
“We’re not going wild west where we are opening every church out there. I would ask, ‘Hey, don’t be laying hands on people, don’t take communion, all of those things. Just do your worship, pray if that’s what you feel like you need to do, and use some dang common sense,” said Havard.
Governor Edwards says while local authorities can impose stricter measures, they can’t authorize relaxed restrictions.
"Any such order would not be valid," he explained. "We would look for the state [agency], depending on the type of entity it is, that would enforce the order."
He says West Feliciana and LaSalle businesses that do open today in violation of his order can expect a visit from the fire marshal, health department or other agencies to close their doors.
