Louisiana’ premier
personal injury lawyer
COVID-19, the strain of the coronavirus that has been causing a pandemic, is affecting the economy in a number of different ways. Understanding the economic impacts will allow you to take the necessary precautions. Additionally, knowing how you may have negligently been exposed to the virus will identify what you can do and how you can receive assistance.
At the Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC, we are here to support you throughout the pandemic.
There are a number of restrictions affecting the economy right now as a way of reducing the spread of the coronavirus. With over 200 cases in Louisiana and more than 170 of them in New Orleans, there is the need for the government to get involved and limit exposure.
Some of the restrictions include:
These restrictions are causing a number of people to lose income. Although there are stimulus packages currently under review in Capitol Hill, it could take months in order for people to see financial relief.
New Orleans is one of the top tourist cities as people want to visit Bourbon Street, the French Quarter and so much more that the Big Easy has to offer. While the pandemic hit following Fat Tuesday, many of the businesses depend on the booming tourism industry to keep them alive throughout the year. With no mass gatherings allowed, parades and various events have been cancelled just at the beginning of festival season. With international travel on hiatus, the number of people entering the city has been dramatically reduced.
With little to no tourism coming into the city, many small businesses are closing for the foreseeable future. Restaurants and bars have been forced to shut down, too. While to-go and delivery options are available, many facilities aren’t equipped for this. Further, police are constantly patrolling the areas to ensure that establishments are complying with the mandatory regulations.
The economic impact for many businesses is still being explored. Many businesses have had to shut down due to the lack of tourists entering. Other businesses have had to close due to the crowd restrictions. Additionally, other businesses have had to lay off employees and make adjustments to ensure that they are being vigilant about social distancing and other recommendations from the CDC.
The city of New Orleans has been working to provide financial relief for small and large business owners alike. This includes waiving fees and fines for the payment of sales tax as well as working with the New Orleans Business Alliance.
Plenty of individuals throughout Louisiana are being impacted by COVID-19 as well. Some people are experiencing layoffs while others are dealing with financial uncertainty as they watch the businesses they work for slow down as each day passes.
There are also other aspects that people are dealing with, including food and product shortages and having to deal with children at home instead of sending them to daycare or school. Students from Tulane, Loyola, UNO and the other universities around the area have been moving out of the dorms as well.
Various companies have been offering relief to those who are in quarantine as well as those who have been essentially quarantined due to the city-imposed restrictions. Knowing that many people are out of work, companies are waiving late fees and fines.
The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Louisiana is growing each day rather than dwindling. As such, the total impact that individuals are feeling will become more significant over the coming weeks.
There are plenty of ways that you can protect yourself from the coronavirus. According to the CDC, you should:
While you may already know these things, you depend on others to know and practice these things as well. Businesses have been sending out emails to everyone to identify what they are doing in order to protect you and other consumers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
If employees are showing up to work sick, social distancing is not in place, or surfaces aren’t being disinfected as promised, a business could be negligent when it comes to providing a safe environment. You could be exposed to the coronavirus as a result of a business’ negligence – and that can lead to you getting sick or being a carrier and infecting a loved one with the virus.
Perhaps the scariest part about the coronavirus is that many people don’t exhibit serious symptoms. Fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath are the main symptoms. However, not everyone exhibits these. Some people don’t have any symptoms while others are more severe.
The restrictions are in place for a reason. The CDC is offering ways to avoid transmitting the virus. However, it is up to everyone to follow them – and if someone is negligent, you could be at risk. This is when we advise you to contact us at the Law Office of John W. Redmann to determine what your next step can be.
There are already countless economic impacts in place for COVID-19 with many more anticipated to come. Individuals and businesses alike are being affected by the travel bans, the store and restaurant closures, and even the curfews that are being placed across many cities in the United States. With the growing number of outbreaks in Louisiana and New Orleans in particular, it’s critical that you do your due diligence and know the risks.
Find out more about the economic impacts of COVID-19 and what you can do if you were exposed to the virus as a result of negligence. Contact us at the Law Office of John W. Redmann by calling 504-500-5000 today to schedule a consultation.