Carnival in time of COVID: Virus tests among parade favors
By KEVIN McGILL, Associated Press
Posted:
Updated:
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Mardi Gras revelers, accustomed to catching beads, small toys or other trinkets tossed by parade float riders during Carnival season, were able to snag a new parade favor Thursday: rapid COVID-19 tests.
As Carnival season nears its raucous pre-Lenten climax on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) next week, the handing out of tests during the Krewe of Muses parade is emblematic of the city’s effort to avoid a surge of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths while reviving cherished, and economically vital, Carnival events. Those events were largely silenced in 2021 after officials realized the 2020 celebration had been a “superspreader” event that made Louisiana an early Southern hot spot for the disease.
The city health department said Wednesday that staff and volunteers would be parading at the head of Thursday night’s Muses procession, some in the back of a pickup truck and some walking alongside, to hand out test kits.
Parade watchers who receive a kit will be encouraged to test themselves and use a special QR code on the package to anonymously report the results to help the health department study the effects of Carnival season on the city’s health. The health department said rapid tests also would be available for several hours for people arriving at the airport on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
“If we want to participate in the activities we love at Carnival, we can’t let our guard down,” Dr. Jennifer Avegno, the city’s health director, said in a news release. “COVID is not over yet, and we need to use every tool at our disposal to prevent a repeat of the tragedies of Mardi Gras 2020.”
Carnival revelry is already being tempered by several restrictions: Entry into bars, restaurants and numerous other indoor venues requires both a mask and proof of vaccination or a recent negative test. Float riders in city parades are required to be vaccinated.
Visitors are returning for this year’s celebration, if not in numbers from years past. Tourism officials say about 89% of the 26,000 hotel rooms in downtown New Orleans and the French Quarter will be filled Saturday, down from nearly 98% for the same Saturday in 2020.
How strictly will the mandates be enforced? While businesses that run afoul of the requirements run the risk of sanctions, “There are no mask police,” city spokesman Beau Tidwell said at a news conference this week, emphasizing the need for cooperation by residents and visitors.
Tidwell found himself having to defend Mayor LaToya Cantrell amid social media criticism over pictures of her and other city leaders, sometimes without masks, at a Carnival ball. Tidwell said Cantrell removed her mask for pictures and to eat and drink, but acknowledged “we need to do a better job of modeling the expected behavior.”
The city says 77% of the total population and 96% of its adult population is partially vaccinated, while 67% of the total population, and 85% of the adult population, is fully vaccinated.
Muses is among a group of “super krewes” with the largest and most elaborate high-tech floats. The all-female group’s signature parade handouts are glittery, hand-decorated high-heeled shoes. The parade is one of nearly two dozen that are set to roll in the city Thursday through Tuesday.
Daniel Cole
Carnaval figures of French presidential candidates, Valerie Pecresse, left, Jean-Luc Melenchon, right, and Emmanuel Macron, sit at a warehouse in Nice, southern France, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. The theme of the Carnival's 149th edition in the French Riviera city of Nice is King of Animals. A loud celebration of nature, human connection and life itself after months of lockdowns, silence, social distancing and banned public gatherings, kicks off on Friday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Juan Karita
A woman performs during inaugural Carnival celebrations in La Paz, Bolivia, Feb. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Matilde Campodonico
Drummers play Candombe, an Afro-Uruguayan music and dance style during "Las llamadas" carnival parade in Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Matilde Campodonico
Candombe dancers perform during "Las llamadas" carnival parade in Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Matilde Campodonico
A drummer is seen during "Las llamadas" carnival parade in Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Matilde Campodonico
Candombe dancers and drummers perform during "Las llamadas" carnival parade in Montevideo, Uruguay, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
Daniel Cole
A performer dances during the opening ceremony of the Nice CarnIval in Nice, southern France, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. The theme of the Carnival's 149th edition in the French Riviera city of Nice is King of Animals. A loud celebration of nature, human connection and life itself after months of lockdowns, silence, social distancing and banned public gatherings, kicks off on Friday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Matias Delacroix
A boy walks down stairs with colored lights during carnival celebrations at Los Proceres Boulevard in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Juan Karita
A Chola and a Chuta, both contestants, show off their happiness vibe during a competition to elect the three main beloved Carnival characters: Chuta, Pepino and Chola, all of whom represent gaiety, in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. The trio of Carnival royalty must be adept at spreading happiness and never tire of dancing. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Daniel Cole
A performer dances during a carnival parade in Nice, southern France, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. The theme of the Carnival's 149th edition in the French Riviera city of Nice is King of Animals. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Daniel Cole
Performers dance during a carnival parade in Nice, southern France, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. The theme of the Carnival's 149th edition in the French Riviera city of Nice is King of Animals. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Daniel Cole
Performers dance during a carnival parade in Nice, southern France, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. The theme of the Carnival's 149th edition in the French Riviera city of Nice is King of Animals. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Daniel Cole
A carnival float with the heads of candidates for the French presidential election moves through Place Massena in Nice, southern France, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. The theme of the Carnival's 149th edition in the French Riviera city of Nice is King of Animals. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Daniel Cole
A carnival float with the heads of candidates for the French presidential election moves through Place Massena in Nice, southern France, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. The theme of the Carnival's 149th edition in the French Riviera city of Nice is King of Animals. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Martin Meissner
A carnival float depicts China's dominant economy at the presentation of this years satirical carnival floats for the Rose Monday Parade in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's parade will take place in Cologne's soccer stadium with just 8000 spectators on the tribunes instead of hundreds of thousands in the streets of the carnival capital Cologne on Shrove Monday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
A carnival float depicts the coming controversial FIFA World Cup in Qatar at the presentation of this years satirical carnival floats for the Rose Monday Parade in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's parade will take place in Cologne's soccer stadium with just 8000 spectators on the tribunes instead of hundreds of thousands in the streets of the carnival capital Cologne on Shrove Monday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
A carnival float depicts Russia's president Vladimir Putin playing with building blocks like the Ukraine and Belarus to restore the Soviet Union at the presentation of this years satirical carnival floats for the Rose Monday Parade in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's parade will take place in Cologne's soccer stadium with just 8000 spectators on the tribunes instead of hundreds of thousands in the streets of the carnival capital Cologne on Shrove Monday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
A carnival float depicts US president Joe Biden playing with Iraq and Afghanistan in the sandbox beside Russia's president Vladimir Putin, right, playing with Ukraine to restore the Soviet Union at the presentation of this years satirical carnival floats for the Rose Monday Parade in Cologne, Germany, Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year's parade will take place in Cologne's soccer stadium with just 8000 spectators on the tribunes instead of hundreds of thousands in the streets of the carnival capital Cologne on Shrove Monday. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
Revelers celebrate at the Alter Markt at the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine much less revelers came for the street carnival, when in the past hundreds of thousands celebrated in the streets of Cologne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
Female revelers walk at the Cologne Cathedrat at the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine much less revelers came for the street carnival, when in the past hundreds of thousands celebrated in the streets of Cologne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
Revelers celebrate at the Alter Markt the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine much less revelers came for the street carnival, when in the past hundreds of thousands celebrated in the streets of Cologne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
Carnival guards stand in front of the Cologne triumvirate at the Alter Markt at the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine much less revelers came for the street carnival, when in the past hundreds of thousands celebrated in the streets of Cologne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
A carnival reveler with a face mask and a carnival nose is seen at the Alter Markt at the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine much less revelers came for the street carnival, when in the past hundreds of thousands celebrated in the streets of Cologne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
Carnival guards stand at the Alter Markt at the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine much less revelers came for the street carnival, when in the past hundreds of thousands celebrated in the streets of Cologne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
A carnival reveler is seen at the Alter Markt at the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine much less revelers came for the street carnival, when in the past hundreds of thousands celebrated in the streets of Cologne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
The virgin of the Cologne carnival triumvirate gets prepared at the Alter Markt at the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine much less revelers came for the street carnival, when in the past hundreds of thousands celebrated in the streets of Cologne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
A carnival reveler in a costume is seen at the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine much less revelers came for the street carnival, when in the past hundreds of thousands celebrated in the streets of Cologne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Martin Meissner
A carnival reveler in a costume is seen at the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine much less revelers came for the street carnival, when in the past hundreds of thousands celebrated in the streets of Cologne. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
Matias Delacroix
A woman with a mask dances during carnival celebrations at Los Proceres Boulevard in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Matias Delacroix
A girl with her face painted skates freestyle during carnival celebrations at Los Proceres Boulevard in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Antonio Calanni
A woman wears a mask in St. Mark's Square, during the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. Two years after the pandemic shut down celebrations, the Venice carnival in the historical lagoon city is back, attracting people from around the world. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Antonio Calanni
A woman wears a mask in St. Mark's Square, during the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. Two years after the pandemic shut down celebrations, the Venice carnival in the historical lagoon city is back, attracting people from around the world. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Antonio Calanni
A woman wears a mask in St. Mark's Square, during the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. Two years after the pandemic shut down celebrations, the Venice carnival in the historical lagoon city is back, attracting people from around the world. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Antonio Calanni
People wear mask in St. Mark's Square, during the Venice Carnival, in Venice, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022. Two years after the pandemic shut down celebrations, the Venice carnival in the historical lagoon city is back, attracting people from around the world. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Juan Karita
A contestant dressed as the Carnival character Pepino shows off his dance moves during a competition to elect the three main beloved Carnival characters: Chuta, Pepino and Chola, all of whom represent gaiety, in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. The trio of Carnival royalty must be adept at spreading happiness and never tire of dancing. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Juan Karita
A Chola and a Chuta, both contestants, prepare to compete in the competition to elect the three main beloved Carnival characters: Chuta, Pepino and Chola, all of whom represent gaiety, in La Paz, Bolivia, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022. The trio of Carnival royalty must be adept at spreading happiness and never tire of dancing. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Daniel Cole
The King of Animals carnaval float is paraded during the opening ceremony of the Nice Carnaval in Nice, southern France, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. The theme of the Carnival's 149th edition in the French Riviera city of Nice is King of Animals. A loud celebration of nature, human connection and life itself after months of lockdowns, silence, social distancing and banned public gatherings, kicks off on Friday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Daniel Cole
Performers dance during the opening ceremony of the Nice Carnaval in Nice, southern France, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. The theme of the Carnival's 149th edition in the French Riviera city of Nice is King of Animals. A loud celebration of nature, human connection and life itself after months of lockdowns, silence, social distancing and banned public gatherings, kicks off on Friday. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
