Executive Order Permits Bars in Bossier Parish to Operate at 50 Percent Capacity, With Maximum Of 250 Persons

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721, et seq, the Governor declared a public emergency on March 11, 2020, in Proclamation Number 25 JBE 2020 in response to the threat posed by COVID-19; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act, La. R.S. 29:721, et seq., on March 11,2020, in Proclamation Number 25 JBE 2020, the Governor declared that a statewide public health emergency existed in the State of Louisiana because of COVID-19 and expressly empowered the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and the Secretary of the Department of Health and/or the State Health Officer to take all actions authorized under state law; and

WHEREAS, on March 22, 2020, in Proclamation Number 33 JBE 2020, the Governor issued a Stay at Home order that, among other things, ordered the people of Louisiana to stay at their homes unless taking essential trips or to travel to or from a place of employment, ordered some non-essential businesses to be closed, and placed limitations on other businesses that were allowed to remain open; and

WHEREAS, on April 16, 2020, the White House Coronavirus Task Force issued guidelines entitled "Opening Up America Again" that provided guidance to the states on how various parts of the economy could be re-opened;

WHEREAS, this guidance called for the re-opening to occur in three phases, with the gating criteria for movement between phases being a 14-day downward trajectory in influenza-like and COVID-like symptoms, a 14-day downward trajectory in cases or positive tests as a percent of total tests, and the ability for hospitals to treat all patients without crisis care; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Proclamation Number 29 JBE 2021, the State of Louisiana moved into Phase 3 of Resilient Louisiana on Tuesday, March 2, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Proclamation Number 29 JBE 2021, provides that if a bar is located in a parish that has a percent positivity of 5 percent (5%) or less for two consecutive weeks, as determined and published by the Louisiana Department of Health, the bar may operate at 50 percent (50%) capacity, not to exceed 250 people, as determined by the State Fire Marshal; and

WHEREAS, the Parish of Bossier hereby meets the percent positivity of 5 percent (5%) or less for two consecutive weeks requirements as stated in Proclamation No. 29 JBE 2021 for bars to operate at a 50 percent (50%) capacity, not to exceed 250 people, as determined by the State Fire Marshal; and

WHEREAS, the Bossier Parish Police Jury supports the opening of bars located in the Parish of Bossier at 50 percent (50%) capacity, not to exceed 250 people, as determined by the State Fire Marshal due to the Parish of Bossier having a percent positivity of 5 percent (5%) or less for two consecutive weeks, as determined and published by the Louisiana Department of Health, the bar may operate; and

WHEREAS, all bars shall be closed by 11:00 p.m.  Therefore, the hours of permissible operation shall be 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., as provided for in Proclamation No. 29 JBE 2021 issued by the Governor;

WHEREAS, all bars shall abide by the provisions provided in Proclamation No. 29 JBE 2021.

William R. Altimus, Parish Administrator
Bossier Parish Police Jury