TOPLINE
While the number of Covid-19 cases in Louisiana surged in July, so too did the state’s crackdown on businesses that failed to comply with mitigation measures, with authorities issuing warnings to nearly 700 businesses.
Closed bars in the famous French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sean Gardner/Getty Images
KEY FACTS
The 698 Louisiana businesses that failed inspections include restaurants and bars that violated seating limits, table spacing and mask mandates (bars were ordered to close indoor seating on July 13), according to the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.
Louisiana state officials have investigated over 5,000 businesses since Gov. John Bel Edwards moved the state into phase two of reopening on June 4, according to the Daily Advertiser.
Similarly, in Florida’s Broward County (the state’s second-most populous), officials issued 690 warnings and 89 citations in July, according to county data, a significant increase from the 381 warnings and 41 citations issued in June.
In Texas, many have filed complaints against businesses that have allegedly failed to comply with social distance precautions, yet the state has issued just a handful of citations: Dallas has received over 5,700 Covid-19 compliance complaints since April, and issued just 32 citations, according to CBSN Dallas-Fort Worth, while San Antonio has issued just 105 citations since March as a result of nearly 10,000 complaints, per My San Antonio.
New York, whose Covid-19 case count has been surpassed by Florida, Texas and California, has issued 591 citations since March to businesses that have failed to comply with Covid-19 guidelines, according to the state.
Officials in California, which has the highest total number of Covid-19 cases of any state, contacted 483,000 businesses in early July about Covid-19 safety mandates, but only issued citations to 52 of them, according to the Desert Sun.
Big Number
516,314. That’s the number of Covid-19 cases reported in California, beating the 491,876 cases in Florida, 454,809 cases in Texas and 120,960 cases in Louisiana, per New York Times data.
What To Watch For
Louisiana bars were scheduled to reopen on July 24, but Edwards extended their mandatory closure until August 7, though it remains unclear if they will reopen then, according to Eater.
Critical Quote
“It’s been determined by health care professionals that there are some environments so conducive to the spread of COVID-19 that they cannot be opened safety—and bars are one of these venues, unfortunately,” tweeted Edwards on July 31.
Key Background
Florida, Texas and Louisiana have some of the highest numbers of Covid-19 cases per capita in the United States. The governors of the three states vehemently oppose instituting new state- and citywide closures. Instead, they have mandated public mask wearing and reiterated the importance of following health guidelines in attempts to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Further Reading
See Louisiana businesses that violated Gov. John Bel Edwards’ Open Safely mandates (Lafayette Daily Advertiser)
Broward County COVID-19 Business Complaints (Broward County)
Bars in Louisiana to Remain Closed Until at Least August 7 (Eater)
Dallas Code Compliance Issues 5,782 Notices Of Coronavirus Violations, Writes Only 32 Citations (CBSN Dallas-Fort Worth)
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