PHASE 2 RESTRICTIONS EXTENDED - Gov. John Bel Edwards is keeping Louisiana’s mask mandate and business restrictions in place for at least two more weeks as the number of coronavirus hospitalizations is surging across the state. The Democratic governor’s current regulations were set to expire Friday but instead will extend to Aug. 7th. During his Covid-19 update yesterday, Edwards explained there were 1,737 new Covid-19 cases reported bringing Louisiana’s total Covid-19 cases to 96,583.
"That is 2.08% of our population that is number 2 in the country per-capita for cases and it is extremely close to number 1 which remains New York state but they're at 2.1%," Edwards explained.
Last week, the White House Coronavirus Task Force classified Louisiana as one of 18 states in the so-called “red zone” for coronavirus cases per capita, and issued a series of recommendations. They included closing down gyms and limiting public gatherings to 10 people. Edwards said his decision to extend Phase 2 was not taken lightly but added he was concerned about what the surge might do to hospital capacity.
"My biggest concern are hospitalizations per-capita and over the last 14 days they're in an upward trajectory in all regions in the state of Louisiana," Edwards said. "We know that there are only so many beds, there's only so many nurses and doctors and so forth; and the ability to provide life-saving care is critcally important."
The Phase 2 extension means restaurants will limit capacity to 50% for in-person dining, bars will be restricted to takeout and delivery only and gyms, salons and other businesses deemed nonessential will have occupancy limits as well. Face coverings are required for anyone ages 8 and older, with medical exceptions. Indoor gatherings above 50 people are banned.
The Louisiana Department of Health reports the most new COVID-19 cases in northwest Louisiana were in Bossier Parish. 53 new cases were reported bringing Bossier’s total to 1,655 cases. 237 tests conducted in Bossier give it a 22% positive test rate. Bossier Parish also had five new Covid-19 related deaths, raising the parish's death toll to 52.
