New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and New Orleans Health Department Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno held a news conference on Thursday to provide an update on the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic ahead of the holiday weekend. The mayor and Avegno issued stern warnings to residents regarding large gatherings. Cantrell said actions taken this weekend will directly influence whether or not students go back to school the first week of August. According to Cantrell, after a large pop up secondline was reported to her on Sunday, she wanted to make it clear that if the numbers continue to rise next week that she will impose more restrictions. Avegno reiterated this statement, saying that New Orleans numbers are not looking good and she knows that residents do not want to go back to sheltering at home like back in March. According to Avegno, there is a nationwide shortage for materials for mobile COVID-19 testing. Paired with the increase in people getting tested, she said this has made sites around New Orleans reach capacity quicker. Avegno said she is more concerned now than she has been in recent months. Director of Code Enforcement Winston Reid said their office has received numerous complaints of large gatherings, and parties in vacation rentals.Reid said last weekend his office issued warnings as a courtesy, but that they would be cracking down with citations over the 4th of July weekend. The NOPD also said it would be out monitoring activities over the weekend.This comes as cases surge statewide. Louisiana saw its biggest spike in cases since April on Wednesday. Gov. John Bel Edwards urged residents to be “very careful” over the holiday weekend as to not spread the virus further. Both Edwards and Cantrell said they will impose more restrictions if people do not follow the phase two guidelines.
NEW ORLEANS —
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and New Orleans Health Department Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno held a news conference on Thursday to provide an update on the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic ahead of the holiday weekend.
The mayor and Avegno issued stern warnings to residents regarding large gatherings.
Cantrell said actions taken this weekend will directly influence whether or not students go back to school the first week of August.
According to Cantrell, after a large pop up secondline was reported to her on Sunday, she wanted to make it clear that if the numbers continue to rise next week that she will impose more restrictions.
Avegno reiterated this statement, saying that New Orleans numbers are not looking good and she knows that residents do not want to go back to sheltering at home like back in March.
According to Avegno, there is a nationwide shortage for materials for mobile COVID-19 testing. Paired with the increase in people getting tested, she said this has made sites around New Orleans reach capacity quicker.
Avegno said she is more concerned now than she has been in recent months.
Director of Code Enforcement Winston Reid said their office has received numerous complaints of large gatherings, and parties in vacation rentals.
Reid said last weekend his office issued warnings as a courtesy, but that they would be cracking down with citations over the 4th of July weekend.
The NOPD also said it would be out monitoring activities over the weekend.
This comes as cases surge statewide. Louisiana saw its biggest spike in cases since April on Wednesday.
Gov. John Bel Edwards urged residents to be “very careful” over the holiday weekend as to not spread the virus further.
Both Edwards and Cantrell said they will impose more restrictions if people do not follow the phase two guidelines.