COVID-19 restrictions & road closures in place for 6 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12 – 6 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021

Due to recent developments related to COVID-19, Mayor Latoya Cantrell issued the following Mardi Gras Restrictions. These developments include but are not limited to: recent crowd events in the French Quarter that included hundreds of people more than the guidelines permit, current hotel occupancy rates predicted for Mardi Gras week (which, at the time of the issuance of these guidelines, is 25-41%), and the history of Mardi Gras bringing large crowds to New Orleans and being an event that typically includes large gatherings and large crowds in certain areas of the City; as well as the emergence of new, more contagious variants in the New Orleans area that have been shown to be up to 50% more contagious, and the fact that community spread of COVID-19 after last year’s Mardi Gras celebrations caused the City’s hospitals to reach capacity.

These Mardi Gras Restrictions shall be in place from Friday, February 12, 2021 at 6:00 a.m. through Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 6:00 a.m.

Bars

• All Bars must cease all operations including outdoor table service, drive thru, curbside, and take out sales.
• All establishments with AR-Conditional Permits must cease all operations including indoor and outdoor table service, drive thru, curbside and take out sales.

Effected industry workers can file for aid at https://www.laworks.net/.

To-Go Drinks

• All establishments are prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages through drive thru, curbside, and take out sales.

Packaged Liquor Sales

• Sale of packaged alcohol, whether for consumption on- or off-premises, is prohibited in the French Quarter and Central Business District, which shall be defined to include all areas bounded by the Mississippi River, the center line of Esplanade Ave., the center line of Rampart St., and the center line of Common St.

Street Vendors and Performers

• All activities on public rights of way that may tend to encourage people to congregate or result in a crowd size in excess of the gathering limits herein, including street vending, street performing, and busking, are prohibited.

Street Closures

Between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3 a.m., the New Orleans Police Department will limit vehicle traffic entering the French Quarter to residents, employees, hotel guests, restaurant/retail goers, and taxis/TNCs between the boundaries of Canal St., N. Rampart St., Dumaine St., and Decatur St.

Between the hours of 7 p.m. and 3 a.m., individuals are prohibited from loitering on the streets listed below. Individuals that are residing in a residence or hotel on that street, employees that work in businesses on that street, or individuals that are patrons of restaurants or business establishments on the street may be allowed to enter these areas only to permit access to residences and businesses. No passes are required. Travel in these areas for any other reason will be prohibited.

• Bourbon St. between Canal St. and Orleans Ave.

• NOPD can close Bourbon St. earlier then 7 p.m. if necessary. Please inform and coordinate with delivery services.

• Frenchman St. between Esplanade Ave. and Royal St.
• Decatur St. between Dumaine and Toulouse.

Expect heavy mixed force (NOPD, LSP, mounted, special operations personnel, etc.) coverage throughout the French Quarter starting this weekend. Light towers, temporary security cameras, law enforcement sky towers, etc. will be placed along the streets.

No Parking Zones

Between the hours of 12 p.m. to 3 a.m. each day, parking will not be allowed on the following streets:

• Iberville St. between Dauphine St. and Royal St.
• Bienville St. between Dauphine St. and Royal St.
• Conti St. between Dauphine St. and Royal St.
• St. Louis St. between Dauphine St. and Royal St.
• Toulouse St. between Dauphine St. and Royal St.
• St. Peter St. between Dauphine St. and Royal St.
• Orleans St. between Dauphine St. and Royal St.
• St. Ann St. between Dauphine St. and Royal St.
• Bourbon St. between St. Ann St. and Dumaine St.
• Canal St. between Convention Center Blvd. and Burgundy St.
• Frenchmen St. between Decatur St. and Royal St.
• Decatur St. between Dumaine St. and St. Louis St.

For more information visit https://ready.nola.gov/incident/coronavirus/holidays-and-gatherings/. As always, you can stay current with real-time traffic updates at www.nola.gov/ready, where you can also sign up for text alerts.