Louisiana to remain in Phase 2 until at least Aug. 28, governor announces
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, right, speaks during a COVID-19 press conference in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. (Screengrab)
By Mike Scott, mscott@stph.org
Louisiana will remain in Phase 2 of its COVID-19 restrictions for at least three more weeks, until Aug. 28, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Tuesday (Aug. 4).
That means wearing of masks will still be mandatory in public settings, bars will remain closed for on-site consumption, and public gatherings will be limited to no more than 50 people.
The orders are in keeping with recommendations of St. Tammany Health System infectious disease specialists, who also urge rigorous hand hygiene, proper cough and sneeze etiquette, and self-isolation for anyone who feels what they suspect to be COVID symptoms.
Edwards’ Tuesday announcement comes amid a recent statewide surge in COVID-19 cases, including in rural areas, which had previously seen limited infection rates. Still, Edwards said the mask mandate he ordered enacted July 11 is beginning to pay dividends.
That includes a decrease in the number of people showing up at emergency rooms with COVID symptoms, a statewide decrease in new cases and a plateauing of COVID-related hospitalizations, he said.
“Still, every single one of our 64 parishes has high COVID incidence,” Edwards said.
Earlier Tuesday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported that the state had logged 124,461 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since March 9, an increase of 3,615 cases over day-earlier figures. St. Tammany Parish has logged 4,884 cases in the same time period, including 26 cases currently being treated at St. Tammany Health System’s Covington hospital.
“We may be seeing fewer new cases but there still is a lot of COVID statewide,” Edwards said.
“We now have ticked above 50,000 active confirmed cases, which means there is more COVID in our state than ever before. We need deeper, sustained gains.”
Edwards cited a White House report released Monday that categorized Louisiana as being in the “red zone” for cases, meaning a growth rate above 10 percent. Based on that, the White House Coronavirus Task Force recommended the mask mandate remain along with the closure of bars to on-premises consumption, Edwards said.
“I am deeply appreciative of the vast majority of Louisianans and businesses who are acting responsibly and caring for their neighbors by wearing masks, staying home when they are sick, practicing social distancing and washing their hands frequently,” Edwards said. “We are in this together for the long haul, and I am confident that we can continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our state if each and every Louisianan will recommit to these necessary mitigation measures. We are at a critical point in our battle against COVID-19, and we need every person in our state to play their part.”
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Visit STPH.org/COVID-19 for the latest information on coronavirus in St. Tammany Parish.