PHOTOS: New Orleans begins Phase 1 of reopening during COVID-19 pandemic

Fleurty Girl on Chartres Street welcomes back shoppers on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

PHOTOS: New Orleans begins Phase 1 of reopening during COVID-19 pandemic

Some businesses throughout the city were able to reopen Saturday with some restrictions. Masks are now a requirement to enter a business, and many can only operate at 25 percent capacity.

by Michael DeMocker | May 17, 2020

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Some businesses throughout the city were able to reopen Saturday with some restrictions. Masks are now a requirement to enter a business, and many can only operate at 25 percent capacity. Customers who chose to dine in must leave their name and number for contact tracing.

Customers line up to be seated at the Court of Two Sisters in the French Quarter on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

People dine-in at Anatolia Mediterranean Cuisine on Magazine Street on the first evening of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Dawn Grosheider stocks the shelves at Fleurty Girl on Chartres Street while wearing a “6 Feet Y’all” shirt on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Caitlin Matherne (L) and Dawn Grosheider (R) have a socially distanced work day at Fleurty Girl on Chartres Street while wearing a “6 Feet Y’all” shirt on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

As his grandmother Debbie Theriot looks on, Guiseppe Scala, 3, rides a slide at City Park’s Storyland which allowed visitors on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Theriot said visiting Storyland was the family’s last outing before the stay-at-home order took effect and was their first outing when it was lifted. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Finnegan Gaetjens, 3, slides down the dragon slide at City Park’s Storyland which allowed visitors on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Patrick Gaetjens and his wife Katherine Wang watch as their son Finnegan, 3, slides down the dragon slide at City Park’s Storyland which allowed visitors on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Today’s Cajun Seafood on McShane Place trumpets its opening on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Riverview Park aka “The Fly” re-opened to pedestrians and cyclists who returned to watch the sun set over the Mississippi River on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Diners sit outside near the French Market on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Haircuts are once again given at Head Quarters in the French Quarter on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

People enjoy a picnic in City Park while the playground equipment remains closed on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Diners dine-in outside at El Gato Negro by the French Market on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Diners are served by a masked waitress on the balcony at Cornet on Bourbon Street on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Distanced diners await their food at the Frostop on South Claiborne Avenue on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Despite a few restaurants opening to dine-in customers, Bourbon Street in the French Quarter was uncharacteristically quiet on the first evening of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Customers walk down Bourbon Street in the French Quarter with take-out pizza, passing a restaurant with a crowded bar on the first evening of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

French Quarter shop reminds customers to wear a mask on the first day of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Pier 424 Seafood Market on Bourbon Street uses a socially distanced table set-up on the first evening of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

While a few restaurants opening to dine-in customers, Bourbon Street in the French Quarter was uncharacteristically quiet as clubs remained closed on the first evening of Phase One of the re-opening of New Orleans during the pandemic. Photographed on Saturday, May 16, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Archbishop Gregory Aymond blesses passers-by outside St. Louis Cathedral Sunday morning after his first live congregation since he contracted coronavirus in March and since churches were shuttered by the state. As New Orleans initiated Phase One of the plan to gradually re-open the city, churches opened their doors to parishioners for the first time in weeks under strict guidelines. St. Louis Cathedral limited today’s mass to 100 people and required masks of anyone entering on Sunday, May 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

At St. Louis Cathedral Sunday morning, Archbishop Gregory Aymond processes to the altar amongst socially distanced church-goers to say mass to his first live congregation since he contracted coronavirus in March and since churches were shuttered by the state. As New Orleans initiated Phase One of the plan to gradually re-open the city, churches opened their doors to parishioners for the first time in weeks under strict guidelines. St. Louis Cathedral limited today’s mass to 100 people and required masks of anyone entering. Afterwards, the archbishop blessed passers-by in front of the cathedral on Sunday, May 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Ushers help parishioners find a socially distanced place to sit during the first mass at St. Louis Cathedral since churches were shuttered by the state due to the coronavirus. As New Orleans initiated Phase One of the plan to gradually re-open the city, churches opened their doors to parishioners for the first time in weeks under strict guidelines. St. Louis Cathedral limited today’s mass to 100 people and required masks of anyone entering on Sunday, May 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

At St. Louis Cathedral Sunday morning, Archbishop Gregory Aymond hands out communion wafers during his first live congregation since he contracted coronavirus in March and since churches were shuttered by the state. As New Orleans initiated Phase One of the plan to gradually re-open the city, churches opened their doors to parishioners for the first time in weeks under strict guidelines. St. Louis Cathedral limited today’s mass to 100 people and required masks of anyone entering. Afterwards, the archbishop blessed passers-by in front of the cathedral on Sunday, May 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Ushers collect tithes with extended collection baskets during the first mass at St. Louis Cathedral since churches were shuttered by the state due to the coronavirus. As New Orleans initiated Phase One of the plan to gradually re-open the city, churches opened their doors to parishioners for the first time in weeks under strict guidelines. St. Louis Cathedral limited today’s mass to 100 people and required masks of anyone entering on Sunday, May 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Masked and socially distant parishioners wave to one another in lieu of hugs and handshakes during the first mass at St. Louis Cathedral since churches were shuttered by the state due to the coronavirus. As New Orleans initiated Phase One of the plan to gradually re-open the city, churches opened their doors to parishioners for the first time in weeks under strict guidelines. St. Louis Cathedral limited today’s mass to 100 people and required masks of anyone entering on Sunday, May 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

The procession makes its way to the altar, passing masked and socially distanced parishioners during the first mass at St. Louis Cathedral since churches were shuttered by the state due to the coronavirus. As New Orleans initiated Phase One of the plan to gradually re-open the city, churches opened their doors to parishioners for the first time in weeks under strict guidelines. St. Louis Cathedral limited today’s mass to 100 people and required masks of anyone entering on Sunday, May 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Archbishop Gregory Aymond gives an interview outside St. Louis Cathedral Sunday morning after his first live congregation since he contracted coronavirus in March and since churches were shuttered by the state. As New Orleans initiated Phase One of the plan to gradually re-open the city, churches opened their doors to parishioners for the first time in weeks under strict guidelines. St. Louis Cathedral limited today’s mass to 100 people and required masks of anyone entering. Afterwards, the archbishop blessed passers-by in front of the cathedral on Sunday, May 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Parishioners enter Holy Name of Jesus on St. Charles Avenue as New Orleans initiated Phase One of the plan to gradually re-open the city, churches opened their doors to parishioners for the first time in weeks under strict guidelines. Holy Name of Jesus limited the 10 a.m. mass to 90 pre-registered people and required masks of anyone entering on Sunday, May 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

This weekend, New Orleans initiated Phase One of the plan to gradually re-open the city, which included farm markets that kept traffic to 25% of capacity. The Crescent City Farmers Market had already streamlined a contactless service as producers placed pre-ordered farm goods directly into vehicles in the parking lot of Parkway Bakery and Tavern on Bayou St. John on Sunday morning, May 17, 2020. (Photo by Michael DeMocker)

Michael DeMocker

Michael DeMocker has been a photojournalist in New Orleans for over twenty years. He’s been the National Press Photographer Association’s Regional Photographer of the Year three times and loves photographing all things New Orleans. He lives Uptown with his wife, son, and two dogs of varying intelligence.