Drinking allowed again inside Lafayette Parish bars as COVID-19 rates fall below threshold

Patrons can now drink inside Lafayette bars as the parish's COVID-19 positivity rate fell below the state's threshold for banning on-premises consumption during the past two weeks.

Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory announced Wednesday the parish is embracing Gov. John Bel Edwards' order that allows bars to resume serving alcohol on site in parishes where less than 5% of COVID-19 tests come back positive for two consecutive weeks.

Updated figures from the Louisiana Department of Health on Wednesday showed Lafayette Parish met that qualification for the first time since Edwards issued his order.

Lafayette Parish's official positivity rate from the Department of Health was 4.8% for the two weeks between Sep. 3 and Sep. 16. Figures for the most recent week have not been released.

Louisiana coronavirus:See state's Open Safely guidelines as adjusted for on-premises alcohol consumption

The change does not come without restrictions on bars' operations. Alcohol sales must stop by 11 p.m., and no live music is allowed at bars under the governor's orders.

On-premises consumption must be limited to table-side service only, with no standing or bar service allowed.

Indoor capacity at bars will be limited to either 50 people or 25% of standard occupancy, with the smaller figure being enforced as the limit. Bars with outdoor serving areas will also be limited to tableside service only and a total capacity of 50 people in outdoor areas.

Lafayette joins other parishes, including St. Landry and Acadia, that have opened bars to on-site sales after meeting the governor's order.

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