Mobile was weeks away from its first Mardi Gras of the pandemic era, and the city was watching two numbers at once: the omicron case count and the expected crowd size.
Visit Mobile estimated that pre-COVID celebrations drew roughly one million people to downtown over three weeks of parades — and president and CEO David Clark predicted 2022 would be “one of our biggest celebrations in years because people are excited to get back to our beloved Carnival traditions.”
Shortages Everywhere but Downtown
With omicron sweeping through workplaces, Dr. Rhinid Murphree of the Mobile County Health Department described staffing shortages hitting “all factors of life” — schools, daycares, nursing homes, hospitals, businesses and restaurants. For carnival season specifically, his concern centered on the people who keep the streets safe. “We are really concerned about the safety of our first responders, including security,” Murphree said.
The city said it was monitoring COVID cases across all municipal departments to keep parades rolling without disruption. The Downtown Mobile Alliance, meanwhile, reported no advance concerns about shortages — product or otherwise — and businesses downtown were simply gearing up for the crowds.
A Masked Party Either Way
Clark urged revelers toward what he called personal responsibility: “Mardi Gras always features masks, but this year you may need to wear one of a different kind!” He reminded visitors to wash hands frequently and distance indoors, and voiced confidence that Mobile’s hotels, restaurants and attractions would deliver despite thin staffs.
Regular parade-goer Wesley Wyatt summed up the mood on the street: not worried about shutdowns, because “we’ve been through it before. It’ll just be more of the same if that happens.” The health department’s advice for attendees: test before and after the festivities, and get vaccinated.