Speaking at a news conference Tuesday, mayoral spokesperson Beau Tidwell says the city has no plans to change or end the city’s COVID restrictions despite Governor John Bel Edwards’ plan to not renew the state’s Public Health Emergency Proclamation when it expires on Wednesday.
Tidwell says The New Orleans Health Department is still reviewing COVID data recorded during Mardi Gras and so far, plans to not change their current restrictions.
“As of right now there are no changes to the guidelines in Orleans Parish. We still anticipate that probably at or before the twenty-first we will have an announcement regarding the vaccination mandate but at this time there are no changes,” said Tidwell.
Governor John Bel Edwards announced that he will not renew the state public health order when it expires. Despite this, Tidwell says the city has more power over COVID restrictions on the local level.
“All due respect to the governor and his decision on the state level, we are empowered to have more strict regulations at the local level than they do at the state,” said Tidwell. “That has been the case throughout this event and we are exercising that authority in the near term.”
He says the city health department continues to monitor data including the rate of infections, the rate of the virus spread, and hospitalizations rate.
“Right now, the numbers give us cause for cautious optimism,” said Tidwell. “So it does seem likely in the next coming weeks we will have an announcement that will lift, potentially, the vaccination mandate, we are not there yet.”
