Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Bogalusa Mayor Wendy Perrette said Wednesday that the city is preparing to institute the first steps of its re-opening plan.

In a press release, Perrette stated:

“The City of Bogalusa continues to weather the storm of coronavirus/COVID-19. However, as Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious diseases expert, told reporters in March, ‘You don’t make the timeline, the virus makes the timeline.’

Therefore the City of Bogalusa — in much the same way that we closed businesses, set curfew and urged our citizens to mitigate and reduce the virus spread — today announces the City of Bogalusa’s plan to slowly and safely reopen specific areas of our economy.

“First, all city employees are to return to work at start of shift, Monday, May 4. Second, the citywide curfew presently in place will expire at midnight Friday, May 1.

“Please remember that until further direction by Gov. Edwards, all barber shops, nail/hair salons and bars shall remain closed. Restaurants and other food establishments will maintain their status as only takeout/drive-thru.

“We are hopefully at the very beginning of the end of this crisis, yet most experts believe that to actually end this threat we must remain ever vigilant and continue to wash our hands often, disinfect where possible and maintain social distancing.

“Social distancing equals social responsibility.”