The city of New Orleans today announced that help is available for businesses that say they don't have the staff or the budget to check vaccination cards as customers enter businesses.
"We have a solution for that," Mayoral Spokesman Beau Tidwell explained. "Right now through our Job One program we have staffing and we have funding to put people at the door that can help you check vaccinations at the door."
Tidwell says starting Monday restaurants, bars, gyms, venues and other mandated businesses can be shut down on the spot if they fail to comply with the mandate requiring they verify all patrons are vaccinated or have a negative COVID test in the previous 72 hours.
"We have people that want to work, and we have funding to pay them... for up to six months."
He says starting Monday they will begin enforcement actions at local businesses.
"That could include... immidiate cease and desist orders. We shut you down on the spot until you can come into compliance."
Tidwell says they have done it before when businesses do not follow COVID rules.
"We don't want to do it. We want people to be open."
Mandated businesses were required to start checking yesterday for proof of vaccination or negative COVID test.
