I’m with the author on this.  I consider myself way ahead of the curve (I like to panic early and get it over with) but I never thought Mardi Gras would be a problem at the time.  I do remember St Patrick’s Day parade gatherings (the parades were cancelled) looking like a bad idea, but that was individuals.  But hey, we still have people in my neighborhood who clearly don’t understand Social Distancing, even today.

New Orleans’ Vibe Mid-Coronavirus, Post Mardi Gras