CITY OF BAKER PUBLIC HEALTH COVID 19 CONTINUING EMERGENCY DECLARATION UPDATED, APRIL 27 2021
WHEREAS, pursuant to the authority vested in the Office of Mayor of the City of Baker, by City of Baker Charter, Article III, Sections 3-01 and 3-07; Article II, Sections 9-31 and 9-32; Article VI, Section 14-55 and other respective Louisiana laws, Parish Ordinances and Baker Ordinances, and due to the Continuing imminent threats and dangers posed to the health and safety of the citizens of Baker by the COVID-19 virus which has created emergency conditions within the city of Baker, and consistent with and as an update to the City of Baker Emergency Declaration issued on March 16, 2020 as well as subsequent published Updates, and consistent with CDC and State of Louisiana Guidelines and/or Orders, and in observance of the COVID-19 related Orders issued by Governor John Bel Edwards, namely, the COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY PHASE 3 OF RESILIENT LOUISIANA PROCLAMATION NUMBER 79 JBE 2021, declared on April 27, 2021:
I, DARNELL WAITES, Mayor of the City of Baker, do hereby CONTINUE, Amend and Supplement all recent City of Baker Covid-19 Orders, which shall also constitute the City of Baker’s response in light of the Louisiana Governor’s Modified Phase III Mask/Face Covering and Social Distancing Mandates, as follows:
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, Public access to all City of Baker public meeting places shall remain suspended and it is ordered that all Public Meetings normally held at City Hall shall remain suspended from being held at City Hall and that all required and scheduled Baker City Council Meetings shall continue to be held via phone or video conference call with public access available for participation, until further Notice.
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, It continues to be urgently insisted, but not mandatory, that all Baker citizens and/or visitors to this City whenever out in public, wear appropriate facial coverings/masks and maintain social distancing in compliance with CDC and State of Louisiana Guidelines and/or Orders until further notice, in order to continue to avoid and reduce the chance of contracting and/or spreading the COVID-19 infection.
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, In order to continue to avoid or reduce COVID-19 infections, the spread of infections and/or death and for the continued safety of all citizens, I as Mayor of the City of Baker continue to strongly urge and highly recommend that all businesses functioning in the City of Baker, including but not limited to Restaurants, Cafes, and Coffee Shops, Beauty Shops, Salons, and Barber Shops, Shopping Malls, Casinos, Racetracks, and Video Poker Establishments, Gyms and fitness centers, may continue, with inside waiting areas open, observing social distancing, which conform to the Louisiana State Fire Marshall guidelines.
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, In order to continue to avoid or reduce COVID-19 infections, the spread of infections and/or death and for the continued safety of all citizens, I as Mayor of the City of Baker continue to strongly urge and highly recommend that all businesses functioning in the City of Baker, including but not limited to Athletic events may continue, but only to a maximum of 75% of the total occupancy, while adhering to the maximum social distancing possible between spectators, as determined by the State Fire Marshal. If an establishment requires patrons to wear face coverings throughout the event, the establishment may increase its occupancy to 100% of the total occupancy, as determined by the State Fire Marshal. If the athletic event is outdoors, there shall be no capacity restrictions.
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, In order to continue to avoid or reduce COVID-19 infections, the spread of infections and/or death and for the continued safety of all citizens, I as Mayor of the City of Baker continue to strongly urge and highly recommend that all businesses functioning in the City of Baker, including but not limited to Conventions and conferences, Event centers, reception halls, and theaters may continue, but only to a maximum of 75% of the total occupancy, while adhering to the maximum social distancing possible between spectators, as determined by the State Fire Marshal. If an establishment requires patrons to wear face coverings throughout the event, the establishment may increase its occupancy to 100% of the total occupancy, as determined by the State Fire Marshal. Waiting rooms, lobbies, or other areas where members of the public may congregate may be open to the public, while maintaining social distancing.
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, In order to continue to avoid or reduce COVID-19 infections, the spread of infections and/or death and for the continued safety of all citizens, I as Mayor of the City of Baker continue to strongly urge and highly recommend that all businesses functioning in the City of Baker, including but not limited to Bars may continue, but all patrons shall be seated at tables. Walk-up service at the bar may resume, however patrons shall return to their table for consumption. All seating of patrons shall be socially distanced.
No patron shall be allowed on premises unless of the legal age to consume alcoholic beverages. Any businesses operating pursuant to this Paragraph shall follow the
applicable guidance from the State Fire Marshal
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, In order to continue to avoid or reduce COVID-19 infections, the spread of infections and/or death and for the continued safety of all citizens, I as Mayor of the City of Baker continue to strongly urge and highly recommend that all businesses functioning in the City of Baker, including but not limited to All other businesses or organizations shall continue, subject to the following conditions:
a) Waiting rooms, lobbies, or other areas where members of the public
may congregate may be open to the public, while maintaining social distancing.
b) Any business operating pursuant to this Paragraph is encouraged to follow the applicable guidance from the State Fire Marshal
To further prevent the spread of COVID-19, crowd sizes shall be limited to no more than 75% capacity as set by the State Fire Marshal people in any single indoor space at the same time. Notwithstanding this limitation, if an establishment requires patrons to wear face coverings throughout the event, the establishment may increase its occupancy to 100% of the total occupancy, as determined by the State Fire Marshal.
This crowd size limitation shall not apply to those businesses deemed essential as defined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or religious services held by churches and other faith-based organizations.
All fairs and festivals shall submit a plan for approval to the State Fire Marshal.
UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, Regarding all Businesses of whatever type or kind, currently operating within the City of Baker, to include but not limited to, Auto Repair and Auto Related Businesses, Gas Stations, Convenience Stores, Pharmacies, Retailers, Grocery Stores, Supply and Hardware Stores, Beauty Salons and Barbershops, Clothing and Furniture Stores, Fast Food Stores and Restaurants, etc. and regarding all places of Worship and Religious Gatherings, Medical Facilities and Doctor Offices, etc., in order to avoid or reduce COVID-19 infections and/or the spread of the same and for the safety of all employees, staff, customers and citizens, I as Mayor of the City of Baker with the strongest urgency highly recommend that all business owners and managers continue to require employees and staff to wear CDC recommended facial coverings/masks while at work and that they continue to insist and require customers and visitors who physically enter these respective places and establishments to wear a facial mask/covering.
All individuals, especially those most vulnerable, are still strongly encouraged to wear face coverings while interacting with members of the public. In accordance with the order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 29, 2021, all individuals shall wear a face covering over the nose and mouth while passengers and operators of public conveyances, including airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, buses, taxis, ride-shares, and the
corresponding transportation hubs.
All offices of the City of Baker shall continue to require all employees and visitors to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth.
All early childhood, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions shall continue to require all students, employees, and visitors to wear a face covering over the nose and mouth.
These requirements do not apply to the following:
1) Any individual who will not come in contact with any other individual (outside of their immediate household members) or who will be able to maintain strict social distancing of six feet apart from any other individual (outside of their immediate household members);
2) any child under the age of eight, however all children between the ages of two and seven years old are strongly encouraged to wear a face
3) any individual with a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering;
4) any individual who is consuming food or drinks;
5) any individual seeking to communicate with someone who has or is suspected of having a communication disorder;
6) any individual giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience;
7) any individual temporarily removing his or her face covering for identification purposes;
8) any athlete participating in organized athletic activities; or
9) in groups or 10 or less, if all of the individuals have been fully vaccinated
Finally, as Mayor of the City of Baker I continue to be in full agreement with the CDC and the Louisiana Department of Health’s guidelines and recommendations and I therefore strongly re-urge, insist and encourage every citizen and visitor to wear a facial covering/mask and maintain social distancing at all times when in public in the City of Baker.
Meanwhile, Remain Informed, Vigilant, Disciplined and Calm.
For more updates and information visit our website: www.cityofbakerla.com and subscribe for text messaging by texting LABAKER UPDATES to 468311
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