Just a few weeks ago, we were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for the revival of our festivals and live music in general. But, just like that: Bang! Not only have the two largest festivals in New Orleans canceled—French Quarter Festival and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, Gretna Heritage Fest, and on and on—we are potentially going back to livestreaming and pop-up porch concerts. Our health and economic survival depend on whether the COVID Delta variant can be beaten back again, like the first three surges of the coronavirus infections.

Listen, I’ve seen the crowds in the French Quarter, on Bourbon Street, as well as on Frenchmen Street. Of course, I don’t have an exact count, but I can tell you that most of the folks who are partying out there are not wearing masks. And probably 50 percent or more have not taken the CDC-recommended vaccine, according to government statistics.

City government is now requiring masks and proof of either vaccination or a negative COVID test to be able to enter businesses. Canceling our big festivals is bad news for the hospitality industry, of course, as many of the rooms that were confirmed for the events have canceled. And that means that all the businesses (including music venues, clubs and restaurants, bars and retail establishments, even sports) are going to have to screen all of their patrons.

The new rules don’t go into effect until August 23, and frankly, there’s still not enough participation from many businesses, especially the small businesses, who depend on visitors to patronize and support them. The festivals, particularly Jazz Fest, are literally the bread and butter for these venues and for the city’s musicians. Both festivals typically pack the city’s hotel rooms, support hundreds of local restaurants, retailers and music venues, bars, and of course, all the musicians who depend on the revenue generated by the Jazz Fest to keep them afloat for months. OffBeat is in the same position: the French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest produce roughly 40 percent of our total income for the entire year, and it’s the same for many of the musicians and music venues.

It appears we may be heading back to a “lockdown” situation if the Delta variant continues to proliferate, spread and kill. It’s an extremely contagious and potentially deadly situation, especially for those who have not been vaccinated, refuse to wear masks, and who will not socially distance.

We live and work in the New Orleans blue “bubble,” where people are much more receptive to being vaccinated and to wear masks, but as anyone who keeps track of the news knows, the rest of Louisiana is in danger.

We have a lot of parents—not only in Louisiana, but around the country—who vehemently protest their children having to wear masks or to be vaccinated.

Frankly, I do not understand these protests. Who would not want to protect their kid from getting sick with a potentially deadly virus by the simple requirement of wearing a mask? I’ve heard all the arguments (“My freedoms are being taken away”) and a lot of the conspiracy theories, e.g., the COVID crisis has been created by the government to erode our personal freedoms; to make big money for pharmaceutical companies; the vaccine causes horrible reactions and deaths in many recipients (untrue); kids can’t learn with masks on; and on and on. These protestors show extreme selfishness, a lack common sense and a blatant disregard for safety of themselves, other individuals and for their entire communities. And these are their kids we’re talking about!

How did we get this way? How did the US citizenry lose its mind to believe the anti-vax insanity that has a hold on almost half of this country?

It’s appalling enough that the anti-vaxxers have been very instrumental in creating a  terrible, more virulent wave of COVID (the unvaccinated have exacerbated the incubation and spread of the Delta variant). Even the folks who have done the responsible thing by getting a vaccination and wearing masks are catching the COVID Delta variant (although their experiences with the disease are relatively mild, and deaths are very, very rare; not so with the unvaccinated).

The vaccine worked and was working to help to quell COVID. The people who refused to get it created this situation.

I’m sticking my neck out here and telling all musicians, music venues, bars, etc. to get the vaccine NOW. Businesses must make sure employees are vaccinated and are COVID-free, and they have to do this constantly. If someone becomes sick, close your business temporarily (I recently heard of a club manager who was sick with COVID and did not inform anyone of this, thus exposing a lot of people to the virus). If you haven’t been vaccinated, you’re putting not only yourself, your business, your staff and also the rest of your community—and our economy—in peril.

I’d also recommend that, as a fan and patron of music, that you avoid businesses that do not require that you mask or show proof of vaccinations or a negative COVID test. This isn’t rocket science; these methods work and can absolutely help to stop the spread of COVID.

One more thing, and this may rattle some peoples’ chains: if I hear one more person say that they are not getting vaccinated because “God will take care of them,” I’m going to scream. Religious beliefs have nothing to do with this. This is a matter of science, facts and a disease that doesn’t respond to your belief in a supreme being. God gave humans brains: use yours!  And if you’re too afraid of needles to get the vaccine, well, I only have two words: Man up. I’d rather get a slight prick from a needle than to get very sick or to die.

I’m very afraid once again for our music and cultural communities. I’m afraid that many of them will not be able to withstand what’s coming down the pike…once again. And that includes OffBeat.