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LAPLACE — Businesses and restaurants will be allowed to operate under strict occupancy, protection and social distancing guidelines as St. John the Baptist Parish and the rest of Louisiana moves to a Phase One re-opening this Friday.

Governor John Bel Edwards announced Monday afternoon that his Stay at Home Order would end on May 15 under the White House COVID-19 guidance. He noted that high-risk individuals should continue to stay at home, except for essential activities, like getting food or medical care.

Businesses allowed to open beginning on May 15, with 25 percent occupancy limits, sanitation guidelines and physical distance spacing, include:

• Gyms and fitness centers
• Barber shops and hair and nail salons
• Casinos and Video Poker
• Theaters
• Racetracks (not open to spectators)
• Museums, zoos, aquariums (no tactile exhibits)
• Bars and breweries with Louisiana Department of Health food permits

Churches must also be limited to 25 percent occupancy, according to Edwards. The 25 percent occupancy rate is based on the advice of public health officials who recommend that people generally have 110 square feet around them, according to a press release from the governor’s office. This occupancy capacity includes customers and employees.

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, contact sports, children’s play centers, playgrounds, theme parks, adult entertainment venues and other similar businesses.

“Because of the Stay at Home order, Louisianans were able to dramatically improve our trajectory, reduce the number of new cases, keep our health care system from being overrun and save lives,” Edwards said. “It is because of this hard work that I, in consultation with public health experts and business and industry leaders, feel confident that all across the state we can move forward with entering into Phase One.”

Edwards added that Louisiana is not out of the woods, and restrictions may have to be increased if there is a dramatic spike in cases in the coming weeks.

“Our lives will not go back to normal for some time,” he said.

St. John the Baptist Parish President Jaclyn Hotard said that public-facing employees are still required to wear protective facemasks in the workplace. However, she recommends all residents continue wearing facemasks.

“It’s not 100 percent (protection). Nothing is. But if you combine wearing a mask, social distancing and very vigorous washing of your hands, all of those things in tandem are what is going to protect you,” Hotard said.

As of press time Tuesday, there have been 76 deaths and more than 800 cases of COVID-19 in St. John Parish.

Hotard said business leaders can visit OpenSafely.la.gov for more guidance on the phased reopening.

Additionally, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre announced the community curfew would be lifted Friday with the expiration of the Stay at Home order.