State to remain in Phase 2 of COVID restrictions, governor announces

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By Mike Scott, mscott@stph.org

With Louisiana continuing to feel the effects of a recent surge of COVID-19 cases, the state will remain in Phase 2 of its coronavirus restrictions – including enforcement of a statewide mask mandate – until at least Aug. 7, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced in a news conference Tuesday afternoon (July 21).

“This resurgence of COVID-19 doesn’t look like it did back in March and April, where it was contained in certain areas – mostly the densely populated areas around Orleans and Jefferson parishes and, later, in Baton Rouge and up in Shreveport,” Edwards said. “(This time) it is widespread across the state.”

That being the case, Edwards said that on Thursday (July 23) – one day before his previous order was set to expire – he will sign an order extending Phase 2 for another two weeks. At that point, he said, he will re-evaluate the situation.

“We will continue to look deeply into the data over the next few weeks to figure out where we go from here,” he said.

In addition to the mask mandate, Edwards on July 11 ordered the closure of bars to all on-premises consumption and limited the size of indoor gatherings to 50 people. Outdoor crowds are also limited to 50 people if proper social distancing – that is, maintaining 6 feet of distance between individuals – is unachievable.

Louisiana has experienced a marked spike in COVID infections since early July. On Tuesday, the state reported 1,691 new cases over day-earlier figures, pushing the state’s total since March 9 to 96,583.

As of Tuesday morning, there were 15 COVID-positive inpatients at St. Tammany Health System’s Covington hospital and two with a test pending.

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Visit STPH.org/COVID-19  for the latest information on coronavirus in St. Tammany Parish.