Today Governor John Bel Edwards announced a stay-at-home quarantine for the state of Louisiana. Here’s what you need to know:
- The quarantine is effective Monday, March 23 at 5 p.m.
- All businesses, with the exception of critical infrastructure, will be closed. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has information on qualifications of crucial infrastructure workers here. Information for businesses from the Governor’s order are detailed below.
- Restaurants will be allowed to continue take-out, delivery and drive-thru activity.
- Allowed out-of-home activity includes essential trips to the grocery store, convenience stores, and medical appointments. Outdoor exercise and walking pets will also be allowed.
- Read the Governor’s full release here.
For businesses, the stay-at-home order has limits on the following:
- All places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, trampoline parks, aquariums, zoos, museums, arcades, fairs, pool halls, children’s play centers, playgrounds, theme parks, any theaters, concert and music halls, adult entertainment venues, racetracks, and other similar businesses.
- All personal care and grooming businesses, including but not limited to, barber shops, beauty salons, nail salons, spas, massage parlors, tattoo parlors, and other similar businesses.
- All malls, except for stores in a mall that have a direct outdoor entrance and exit that provide essential services and products as provided by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency guidelines.
- Businesses closed to the public as listed in the order can conduct necessary activities such as payroll, cleaning services, maintenance or upkeep as necessary.
- Any business not covered by the guidance from the CISA discussed in Section 3 of the order and not ordered to temporarily close must reduce operations to continue with minimum contact with members of the public and essential employees, while requiring proper social distancing, adhering to the 10-person limitation on gathering size.
- Early learning centers and child care facilities adhering to the guidance issued by the Louisiana Department of Education and Office of Public Health may continue to operate.
Examples of Essential Worker Functions under the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) guidelines include:
- Healthcare workers and caregivers
- Mental health and social service workers
- Pharmacy employees
- Workers supporting groceries, pharmacies and other retail sales of food and beverage products
- Restaurant carryout and quick-serve food operations and food delivery employees
- Farm workers
- Electricity and utility industry employees
- Critical manufacturing employees (medical supply chains, energy, transportation, food, chemicals)
- Petroleum, natural and propane gas workers
- Transportation and logistics workers
- Communications and information technology employees
- Financial services and banking industry employees
The Governor’s office has also confirmed the following industries may continue to operate at this time:
- Residential, commercial, industrial and transportation construction
- Auto maintenance facilities
- Auto dealers sales , subject to section 5 guidelines for gathering quantities and safety
- Hotels
- Office security
- Realtors and brokers, subject to section 5 guidelines on gathering quantities and safety
- Non-food or pharmacy retail, subject to section 5 guidelines on gathering quantities and safety
- Larger retailers providing essential services as defined by CISA
BRAC is monitoring this situation and will continue to share information as it is available. We are regularly updating brac.org/recovery with resources and guidance related to COVID-19. BRAC is committed to helping our local business community. Reach out to our team with questions.