New Orleans has just reached peak COVID1984.
The mayor of New Orleans on Thursday announced that vaccines or proof of a negative COVID-19 test will be required to enter indoor venues, including bars, restaurants, gyms and music halls, as the city battles a rise in COVID-19 cases, WWL-TV reported.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said that the order, which will go into effect on Monday, said the measure would help the city ward off a second shutdown.
"We have to make sure that we keep our businesses open. That is a priority. We have to keep our children in school. This is a priority," Cantrell said, according to the CBS affiliate. "(The vaccine) is our only way out of this virus.
"All options will always be on the table," the New Orleans mayor explained. "One of the things that I definitely am not in favor of at this particular time is a shut down. We can’t take it."
According to city data, New Orleans reported 329 new cases on Thursday and 295 the day before. In comparison, the city saw 133 new cases on July 12. The city started to see a gradual uptick of new COVID-19 cases toward late July.
Overall, the city has seen 39,400 cases and 839 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Wait.. 839 deaths since March 2020? Wouldn't you have expected the number to be higher?
Photo: Getty Images North America
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JULY 14: Pedestrians are seen walking along Bourbon Street in the French Quarter on July 14, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards issued three new restrictions for Phase II of reopening that will be in place until at least until July 24 across Louisiana to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Restrictions include mandatory mask or face covering outside of the home for those eight years old and older, bars will be closed unless providing curbside pickup, and indoor social gatherings are to be limited to 50 people. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)