NEW ORLEANS, La. – Besides schools, nursing homes and hospitals, where masks will still be required statewide, businesses and even local governments can decide whether to keep the mandate in place. The new rules start Wednesday and come after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said fully vaccinated people — and even non-vaccinated people in some cases — can go outside without masks unless they are in a big crowd.

Shortly after Gov. John Bel Edwards announced to end the statewide mandate, some metro New Orleans parishes either made the switch to lift the mandate or kept the rules, albeit loosened.

Here’s what you need to know about mask mandates in the New Orleans area:

Orleans Parish

Throughout the pandemic, New Orleans officials have opted to forge their own path instead of following the loosened restrictions put out by Edwards.

The decision to keep rules the same will be the case for the mask mandate too. But on Tuesday, officials hinted at loosened guidelines to come as early as this week.

Jefferson Parish

Orleans Parish’s neighbor took a different approach following Edwards’ announcement: their officials said they too would end the mask mandate.

In announcing the move, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said she was following state health officials as she has throughout the pandemic.

St. Tammany Parish

North Shore officials also joined Jefferson Parish in dropping the mask mandate starting Wednesday.

St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper added that parish officials are not considering more stringent coronavirus restrictions outside of what state officials have put in place.

Plaquemines Parish

Only minutes after Edwards lifted the mandate, Plaquemines officials shared to their Facebook page the new rules from the state, which also said that masks were still encouraged.

St. John the Baptist Parish

Council members in St. John Parish voted Tuesday evening to follow the new state rules, which will mean individual businesses in the parish will get to decide whether or not to implement a mask policy.

A spokesperson added that masks will still be required in parish government buildings.

St. Charles Parish

The parish said Wednesday that it won’t have a local government mask requirement. In a news release it said the mask mandate is lifted for all government buildings, including the Parish Courthouse in Hahnville. Also, temperature checks won’t be needed to enter government buildings.

However, masks are still required in the parish’s courtrooms as ordered by the parish’s 29^th Judicial District Court. Masks will also be required during meetings taking place in the Parish Council chambers due to inability to social distance in that room.