Revellers warned to stay away from Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans

Parts of Mardi Gras floats created by Kern Studios sit stored inside Mardi Gras World in New Orleans. Picture: Gerald Herbert/AP

Coronavirus-related limits on access to Bourbon Street, shuttered bars and frigid weather all were expected to prevent what New Orleans usually craves at the end of Mardi Gras season — streets and businesses jam-packed with revellers.

Parades and parties on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) and the days leading up to the annual pre-Lenten bash usually draw more than a million people to the streets.