With the post-Thanksgiving surge in COVID infections continuing to strain on the state’s hospitals, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on Tuesday extended the state’s Phase 2 coronavirus restrictions until at least Jan. 13. He also strongly urged people to limit their Christmas celebrations this year to members of their immediate household in order to avoid another surge.
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COVINGTON, Louisiana -- With coronavirus infections still raging statewide, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Tuesday (Dec. 22) that Louisiana will remain under Phase 2 of its COVID-19 restrictions for at least another three weeks, until Jan. 13.
The decision will maintain 50% occupancy limits for most businesses. Additionally, bars can open to indoor service at 25% capacity but only if their parish has seen two straight weeks of 5% or less positivity.
While the positivity rate has dropped statewide as of late, suggesting a potential plateauing of cases, a post-Thanksgiving surge in cases has many hospitals still at or near capacity. On Tuesday morning, St. Tammany Health System had 48 inpatients under COVID care at its Covington hospital, the highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic in mid-March.
“While we have seen minor improvements, no one should feel good about our current COVID situation in Louisiana,” Edwards said. “We have too many new cases, too many people in the hospital and, sadly, too many Louisianans continue to die of this illness.”
Echoing infectious disease experts, including those at STHS, Edwards urged Louisianans to keep their holiday gatherings small to avoid a similar post-Christmas surge that could keep put a further strain on the state’s hospitals – and keep Phase 2 restrictions in place well into the new year.