In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell recommended that no large scale events take place in the city until 2021.
“My recommendation is absolutely no large events such as French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest, even Essence Festival, as it relates to the year 2020… the focus should shift to 2021,” said Cantrell. “That’s not just coming from me,” the Mayor continued, “you’ll see from a collaborative manner, signs of change.” This comes less than a month after Jazz Fest postponed the April event until fall 2020, though no official dates were announced. A ban on large gatherings through 2020 would impact more than just Jazz, French Quarter, and Essence, as the city has over 15 festivals planned throughout the year.
Mayor Cantrell said that she contacted festival organizers, however, she has not spoken with the New Orleans-based sports teams—the Saints and Pelicans—regarding the status of their seasons: “We’re not just impacted in terms of how well we’re doing in our city,” Cantrell explained, noting the surrounding areas can affect New Orleans.
Cantrell’s press conference comes just days after the New York Times Magazine published an article asserting that a bioethicist predicts no concerts until fall 2021.
In the article, Zeke Emanuel, a bioethicist and leader of the Center for American Progress, stated, “Larger gatherings — conferences, concerts, sporting events — when people say they’re going to reschedule this conference or graduation event for October 2020, I have no idea how they think that’s a plausible possibility. I think those things will be the last to return. Realistically we’re talking fall 2021 at the earliest.”
Watch Mayor Cantrell’s entire press briefing below and head to her website for more information.
Mayor LaToya Cantrell Press Conference