Traveler Information for the Alexandria/Pineville Area – Alexandria Pineville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Louisiana is currently in Phase 2 of reopening.
Mask mandate is currently in affect
Closure of bars to all on premises consumption
Gathering Size Limited to 50 people.

MASK MANDATE
The statewide mask mandate applies to all 64 parishes in Louisiana. However, parishes with a COVID-19 incidence of fewer than 100 cases per 100,000 people for the most recent two-week period for which data is available could choose to opt out of the mandate. Parish presidents do not have to opt out and may choose to keep a mask mandate in place. Currently, only three parishes in Louisiana do not exceed this standard, which will be updated every other week by the Louisiana Department of Health: Grant, Red River and West Feliciana.

The order requires face coverings for everyone ages 8 and older except for the following:

Anyone who has a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering
Anyone who is consuming a drink or food
Anyone who is trying to communicate with a person who is hearing impaired
Anyone who is giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience
Anyone temporarily removing his or her face covering for identification purposes
Anyone who is a resident of a parish without a high COVID incidence that has opted out of the masking mandate

Masks are strongly recommended for children ages 2 to 7.

CLOSURE OF BARS TO ALL ON PREMISES CONSUMPTION
All bars, including those with food permits from the Louisiana Department of Health, will be closed to on-premises consumption. They can operate for curbside takeout or delivery service only.

Since the start of the crisis, Louisiana has identified at least 36 outbreaks, impacting at least 405 people, involving bars, which were actually closed under the Governor’s original Stay at Home order. Public health officials believe going to bars is a higher public health risk than visiting other types of businesses because people are socializing and cannot wear masks when they drink. In addition, young people under the age of 30 make up the largest percentage of new COVID cases in Louisiana.

GATHERING SIZE
The new order also limits the size of social gatherings to 50 people indoors. Outdoor social gatherings are also limited to 50 people if individuals cannot avoid being within six feet of one another.

This crowd size limitation shall not apply to those businesses deemed essential as defined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency or any businesses and organizations operating at 50% capacity pursuant to Paragraphs (1) through (6) of Subsection (G) of Section 2 of 83 JBE 2020, including churches and other faith-based organizations.

The 50-person limit will apply to indoor gatherings, like receptions, weddings and others. The changes are based on the advice of public health officials.

For more information:

For a guide listing businesses that can be open at any given time, visit gov.louisiana.gov/page/can-this-business-open.

Businesses looking for direction for reopening should visit: https://opensafely.la.gov

Rapides Parish Specific Updates:

Event cancellations: Visit our Events Page Here.

Parish Information:

Louisiana State University Alexandria moved all classes online Link.
Central Louisiana Technical Community College classes are all online. Keep up to date here.
Louisiana College is hosting all classes remotely. Keep up to date here.
Rapides Parish Schools are closed for the remainder of the school year. Follow posted updates regarding classes with detailed information on their Facebook page; website link.
We will continue to work with the Rapides Parish Health Unit, Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and others to continue to keep you updated on developments.
We have not activated any visitor-facing messaging at this point. Our APACVB Crisis Management Plan, which contains public health crises, will guide our Crisis Management Team as needed when needed.
As this situation evolves, check with event organizers directly on events that may be impacted or postponed. Due to the proclamation, many events are canceled through May 15.

Our team is in regular contact with the State Tourism Office (Louisiana Travel) and on calls with Destinations International and the U.S. Travel Association to stay informed on the latest updates as it relates to travel.

Links with factual updates:

The most up-to-date information for Louisiana is located at the LDH website here.
The most up-to-date information on a federal level is available on the CDC’s website here.

On Social Media:

LA Department of Health and Human Services
- LDH Facebook, LDH Twitter
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- CDC Facebook, CDC Twitter
LA Emergency Management
LA Emergency Management Facebook, LA Emergency Twitter

Best practices:

Many of our large Accommodations receive guidance from corporate as to the proper sanitization and disinfecting protocol during times like this. For others, follow CDC guidance located here. Ensure you clean items including (but not limited to): door handles, telephones, toilets, light switches, remote controls, blowdryers, HVAC controls, faucet handles, and other surfaces frequently. Link to ECOLab’s full guidance for Hospitality [download PDF].

Airbnb and VRBO

-Airbnb and VRBO Guidance for hosts and guests.

Out of Work due to COVID-19?
Louisiana Workforce Commission has information about unemployment

Posters:
There are a number of informational posters for Coronavirus on the CDC’s website here.

General guidance:

The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. As a reminder, the Department of Health always recommends everyday preventive actions to help impede the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
Staying home when you are sick and avoiding contact with persons in poor health
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
Covering your cough or sneezing with a tissue, then disposing of the issue
Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty
Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
Maintain at least 6 ft of distance between others.

LDH and Gov. John Bel Edwards issued new guidance related to the Coronavirus.

About Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with recent outbreaks of MERS and SARS.

Questions about Coronavirus?
If you have questions about Coronavirus, please contact the Coronavirus general information line at 1-855-523-2652 from 8 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Reported cases have ranged from mild illness (similar to a common cold) to severe pneumonia that requires hospitalization. So far, deaths have been reported mainly in older adults who had other health conditions.

To minimize the risk of spread, Louisiana health officials are working with health care providers to promptly identify and evaluate any suspected cases.

Symptoms
For confirmed infections, reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms (similar to the common cold) to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 infection. People infected with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.

How does novel coronavirus spread?
Health experts are still learning the details about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through:

Through respiratory droplets produced when coughing and sneezing
Close personal contact
Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes

What you can do
Take steps to avoid spreading germs from any respiratory diseases by:

Getting a flu vaccine and taking flu antivirals if prescribed.
Covering your cough.
Staying home if you are sick.
Washing your hands.

What is the Louisiana Department of Health doing?
We are in contact with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as other local and national partners to share information.

We have sent information to health care providers around the state with current recommendations for screening and testing for COVID-19, as well as to EMS providers regarding proper protection procedures.
We are holding frequent calls with staff to remain apprised of the latest updates and we are sharing messaging with partners and the public as it becomes available.
Sharing messaging with partners and the public as it becomes available.
Information for the Public