Guidelines for Visiting Lafayette, LA

COVID Guidelines

Lafayette's hotels, shops, attractions, and restaurants have been allowed to resume or expand operations with restrictions as outlined in the Governor's guidelines.

Monday, August 2, the Louisiana Department of Health issued guidance about large event gatherings during the fourth surge of COVID-19 in Louisiana, including ways to lower risk for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

LDH recommends:

• Limiting the size of indoor gatherings, moving events outdoors, or hosting meetings and events virtually to reduce the likelihood of COVID-19 spread.
• All participants of indoor meetings and events are required to be masked.
• People with underlying health conditions that make them more likely to have severe COVID complications should avoid nonessential trips outside of the home.
• Event hosts and facilities should practice strong sanitation and hygiene practices and provide hand sanitizer for those who need it.
• Spaces should be staged to accommodate at least six feet of distance between guests.

Travelers are encouraged to visit the Louisiana Department of Health website, where you can sign up for updates from Gov. Edwards.

Mask Mandate

Face masks that properly cover the wearer’s mouth and nose should be worn indoors at all times, unless a person is in a home, under the Governor’s statewide mask mandate, which will be in place until at least September 29.

The order requires face coverings for everyone age 5 or older or enrolled in kindergarten, 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

Face coverings are highly encouraged for those ages 2 to 4 as tolerated.

As with the Governor’s previous mandate, children younger than kindergarten age are exempted if they cannot wear a mask. However, the CDC and the Louisiana Department of Health strongly encourage indoor mask wearing in public for all children aged two and older, especially as they are not yet eligible for the COVID vaccine.

CDC Guidelines for Travel

If you travel, protect yourself and others during your trip:

• Clean your hands often.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, after touching surfaces frequently touched by others, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, and before touching your face or eating.
• If soap and water are not available, bring and use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub your hands together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Avoid close contact with others.
• Keep 6 feet of physical distance from others.
• Wear a mask in public.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.

Public Health Information

For additional information on how the state and travel industry are responding please see below for Covid-19 resources.

• Office of the Lafayette Parish Mayor-President
• Office of the Louisiana Governor
• Louisiana Department of Health
• World Health Organization
• Centers for Disease Control
  • President's Coronavirus guidelines for America

Frequently Asked Questions