Governor Edwards: Another Two Weeks of Phase 2 for Louisiana
During Governor John Bel Edwards' press conference on Tuesday, he announced that he will be extending Louisiana's stay in Phase 2 for another two weeks until Friday, August 7. The current Phase 2 coronavirus order expires on Saturday.
There was much speculation as to what the Governor would announce. Last week, he announced that he was considering new White House guidelines for red zone states like Louisiana. These guidelines include closing gyms, limiting indoor dining capacity to 25%, and limiting gatherings to 10 people. But, none of these restrictions were announced by Governor Edwards.
Included in his Phase 2 extension order - the mask mandate across the state will stay in place. Also, on-premises consumption of alcohol at bars will continue to be prohibited.
He will sign the extension order on Thursday.
Governor Edwards and Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux expressed concern about the level of hospitalization in Lafayette, stating that it is nearly double what it was when the pandemic first peaked in Louisiana.
"My biggest concern is the upward surge in hospitalizations per capita throughout Louisiana," said Gov. Edwards, citing positivity factors exceeding 10% over the past few days. "There are only so many beds, doctors, and nurses available."
"Most concerning to me is we have clearly turned the corner in the wrong direction and we are steadily seeing a rise in cases statewide," said Dr. Billioux.
You can WATCH the press conference below:
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