Governor Edwards announced today that on Friday, June 5, 2020 we will move into Phase II of the recovery.

This means that the number of people gathered in Church can be 50% of the occupancy (200 for St Joseph and 400 for St. Anthony), but must take into account the 6 feet social distancing. If social distancing cannot be maintained, then less than 50% of occupancy can gather. Please be careful to observe this guideline.

This formula applies to Mass, Baptisms, Funerals, Weddings, First Communion, Confirmation and any other religious service. Social distancing of 6 feet must be observed. This does not apply to New Orleans. Mayor Cantrell will announce this week that we remain in Phase I.

We want to do our part in preventing the virus from spreading. We encourage people to wear masks. Ushers should do their best to enforce the 50% occupancy.

Please follow the guidelines listed below:

1.The people of the Archdiocese are dispensed from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.

2.For those who feel obliged to fulfill the Sunday obligation, a weekday Mass could accomplish this.

3.Family members may sit in the same pew.

4.Holy water fonts will remain empty until further notice.  Holy Water is available in reservoir for home use.  Please bring your bottle and fill up.

5. All ministers (clergy and lay) will observe proper hygiene of their hands and cleanse their hands immediately before and after communion.

6. We strongly encourage people to wear a mask for Mass.

7. Regarding the celebration of Mass:
a. The priest, deacons and EMHC will wear a mask at communion.
b. They will give communion with no bodily contact by gently letting the host touch the person’s hand and dropping it in their hand without touching them.
c. Communion on the tongue is not encouraged but permitted.
d. The chalice with the precious blood is not to be offered.
e. The sign of peace can be given by bowing to the other person.
f. As people depart from Mass, social distancing must be observed.

Once again, thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Gov. John Bel Edwards formally declared that Louisiana will enter into Phase One of its Roadmap to a Resilient Louisiana on Friday, May 15, when the Stay at Home order will be lifted and more businesses will be allowed to open with strict social distancing, enhanced sanitation and required masks for employees helping the public.
The order specifies that Louisianans should still stay at home as much as possible to avoid unnecessary exposure to COVID-19. People who are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should still stay at home unless they are traveling outside of the home for an essential activity, like obtaining food, medicine or medical care.
“Thanks to the hard work of the people of Louisiana under the Stay at Home order, we have seen declining new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. This, coupled with increased testing and contact tracing capacity, is what is allowing us to move to Phase One on Friday. This is not mission accomplished or a victory against COVID-19, but it is a positive and hopeful move for Louisiana,” Gov. Edwards said. “While this a step forward for our state, I want to encourage the public and business owners to proceed cautiously and to take the necessary steps to protect themselves, including wearing a protective face covering like a cloth mask when they are in public, keeping social distance from people outside of their households and practicing good hygiene.”
Major changes in the new order include expanding the types of businesses that can now operate and the specific types of businesses that are limited to 25 percent of occupancy and require strict social distancing.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Louisiana Department of Health have issued guidance for churches and different types of businesses to help them enter Phase One in a way that ensures they operate safely and at the maximum level allowed. Business owners and faith leaders can find information at OpenSafely.la.gov.
With the exception of gaming establishments and shopping malls, no church leader or business owner is required to register or to get approval of their opening plans in advance. Registering for the Open Safely site is not required to reopen, but it is encouraged as it will allow businesses and churches to get the latest information quickly.
Phase One guidance will allow essential businesses as defined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), to remain open. Non-essential businesses (sometimes called “gray area” businesses) and churches may remain open at 25 percent of their occupancy. Further, churches and restaurants, cafes and coffee shops may continue to conduct outdoor service not limited by 25 percent of indoor capacity so long as strict social distancing is practiced. All business owners should read the order to understand which category their business falls into.
New types of businesses that may open beginning on May 15, with 25 percent occupancy limits, sanitation guidelines and spacing for physical distancing include:
Restaurants, cafes and coffee shops / Shopping malls / Gyms and fitness centers / Barber and beauty shops, and nail salons / Movie theaters / Racetracks (not open to spectators) / Museums, zoos, aquariums (no tactile exhibits) / Bars and breweries with LDH food permits.                 
                                              
Casinos and video poker establishments may open on May 18, at 25 percent occupancy and with 50 percent of their gaming positions, spaced out to allow for social distancing and with enhanced sanitation. Gaming facilities must have a plan approved by the Gaming Control Board prior to reopening.
The following businesses remain closed: massage establishments and spas, tattoo parlors, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, trampoline parks, arcades, fairs, bars and breweries without LDH food permits, pool halls, bowling alleys, contact sports, children’s play centers, playgrounds, theme parks, adult entertainment venues, and other similar businesses.
In a separate order, the Governor extended legal deadlines that had previously been delayed in March. The order also suspended other provisions necessary to respond to this disaster. These deadlines, including the moratorium on evictions, will continue until June 5.
You are encouraged to be vigilant to your own needs and keep informed as to the State of Louisiana’s guidelines for reaching Phase 2 and then Phase 3.
Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to release new data between June 1 - June 5, 2020 that might make moving into Phase 2 a possibility. Keep informed of this ongoing data.
For States and Regions with no evidence of a rebound and that satisfy the gating criteria a second time will move to Phase 2.
ALL VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS should continue to shelter in place. Members of households with vulnerable residents should be aware that by returning to work or other environments where distancing is not practical, they could carry the virus back home. Precautions should be taken to isolate from vulnerable residents.
All individuals, WHEN IN PUBLIC (e.g., parks, outdoor recreation areas, shopping areas), should maximize physical distance from others. Social settings of more than 50 people, where appropriate distancing may not be practical, should be avoided unless precautionary measures are observed.
NON-ESSENTIAL TRAVEL can resume.
SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZED YOUTH ACTIVITIES (e.g., daycare, camp) can reopen.
VISITS TO SENIOR CARE FACILITIES AND HOSPITALS should be prohibited. Those who do interact with residents and patients must adhere to strict protocols regarding hygiene.
LARGE VENUES (e.g., sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship) can operate under moderate physical distancing protocols.
      LARGE VENUES (e.g., sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship) can operate under moderate physical distancing protocols.
ELECTIVE SURGERIES can resume, as clinically appropriate, on an outpatient and in-patient basis at facilities that adhere to CMS guidelines.
GYMS can remain open if they adhere to strict physical distancing and sanitation protocols.
BARS may operate with diminished standing-room occupancy, where applicable and appropriate.
        
PHASE 3 Guidelines:

For States and Regions with no evidence of a rebound and that satisfy the gating criteria a third time:
VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS can resume public interactions, but should practice physical distancing, minimizing exposure to social settings where distancing may not be practical, unless precautionary measures are observed.
LOW-RISK POPULATIONS should consider minimizing time spent in crowded environments.
Resume UNRESTRICTED STAFFING of worksites.
VISITS TO SENIOR CARE FACILITIES AND HOSPITALS can resume. Those who interact with residents and patients must be diligent regarding hygiene.
LARGE VENUES (e.g., sit-down dining, movie theaters, sporting venues, places of worship) can operate under limited physical distancing protocols.
GYMS can remain open if they adhere to standard sanitation protocols.
BARS may operate with increased standing room occupancy, where applicable.

**Vulnerable Individuals: 
1. Elderly individuals.
2. Individuals with serious underlying health conditions, including high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, and those whose immune system is compromised such as by chemotherapy for cancer and other conditions requiring such therapy.