Rising cases of COVID-19 mean some businesses have to close once again. Under the state's COVID-19 emergency declaration, bars will have to close if their parish's percent positivity reaches ten percent two weeks in a row.
Some business owners will be watching next week's numbers closely, but for others it's already last call - at least for now.
Gators in Ville Platte served their last drinks inside Wednesday when the percent positives were released. The bar will stay open for drive-thru service, but regulars say it's just not the same.
News of the latest shutdown set in like a bad hangover at Gators.
"It's just a place for us to feel better and decompress after work. It's just like a simple routine. We're all close, almost like a close knit family. We're all very good friends with the owners.”
For regulars like Paul Dupre, he worries about how the closure will impact small businesses.
"Local bars around town, they don't have all of that going on and it's worse for them. This place has always been able to make it because of those reasons,” Dupre added.
Dupre still plans to frequent the drive thru and hopes he'll be back inside real soon.
"It's hard on a lot of places but this place, as small as it may be, the owner knows how to make it survive,” Dupre continued.
Under the governor's orders, bars in Evangeline Parish won't be allowed to re-open until the percent positivity gets below five percent for at least two weeks.
READ MORE: Positivity rates increasing all over Acadiana
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