A Fox News report says New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell flouted her own mask mandate during a Mardi Gras event Friday night at Gallier Hall.
The report says the mayor and many other guests appeared maskless in digital photos posted online from a 360-degree photo booth, but the pictures were soon deleted. The mayor was reportedly singing karaoke with two guests, also maskless.
The Cantrell administration says its indoor mask mandate and proof-of-vaccination or negative test mandates remain in effect through Mardi Gras.
At a news conference Monday, New Orleans Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano addressed the issue.
"There was a checkpoint, where you were vaccinated or not vaccinated," Montano said of the event. He also noted that there was a lot of food and drink at the ball, and the mask mandate makes an exception for eating and drinking.
Meanwhile, the Louisiana Supreme Court recently rejected a request for an expedited hearing on an injunction against the mayor's COVID mandates. A hearing in Orleans Civil District Court is set for March 3.
