New Orleans Health Director Jennifer Avegno today announced that children can again play sports in the city.
"Today we are excited to announce the reopening of the city's playgrounds," Dr. Avegno said. "Sport, including high school football, will be allowed to resume in Orleans Parish."
She said that comes with the risk of spread of COVID among players, coaches, families, other students and the community.
"We undertook an extensive health and safety review to ascertain how we could mitigate these risks, understanding the important social and emotional benefits that athletics provide, we really wanted to do our due diligence and make sure we could make this safe for everyone."
She said working with national, state and local experts that developed extensive protocols to reduce risk.
Avegno explained that the regulations include student and coach screening, restrictions on play, strict regulations for on field activity, masking, distancing, limiting personnel, rules on benches, locker rooms, travel and other details.
"Spectators will be limited," the doctor stressed. "Stadiums will be allowed to hold 25%... or 250 individuals, whichever is fewer."
She says indoor gyms will be 25% or 100 people.
"Everyone must wear masks and socially distance."
Avegno reminded everyone that the state bans alcohol as these events.
· Outdoor Recreation Spaces, Sports Complexes, Parks and Playgrounds are allowed to open, but residents must continue social distancing measures including maintain six feet from others.
· Youth and recreational sports must follow the general and sport-specific guidelines put forth by the LHSAA. Collegiate sports must adhere to both City and conference general and sport-specific guidelines.
· No stadium, sports complex or arena hosting any athletic event, whether amateur or professional, shall exceed 25% of the total occupancy or 250 individuals, whichever is fewer, while wearing face coverings and adhering to the maximum social distancing possible between spectators, as determined by the State Fire Marshal.
· Occupancy limits on indoor gymnasiums where games or athletic events are played are limited to 25% of total occupancy, or 100 individuals, whichever is fewer, while wearing face coverings and adhering to the maximum social distancing possible, as determined by the State fire marshal.
· Alcohol sales shall not be permitted inside the stadium, sports complex, arena or indoor gymnasium.
· Any event held inside a stadium, sports complex, arena, or indoor gymnasium shall follow the applicable guidance from the State Fire Marshal. Face coverings are required for all attendees and spectators.
