By Baptist Message staff
BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Louisiana will remain in Phase 2 to stem the spread of COVID for at least three more weeks, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Phase 2 was set to expire Friday, Aug. 7, but will now be extended beginning that day for another 21 days.
All restrictions issued under the current restriction will remain in place. This includes:
–a 50 percent capacity restriction for businesses and churches
–a statewide mask mandate for anyone eight years or older or with a major health condition
–limitations of bars to curbside food service only
– and a reduction of indoor social gatherings to 50 people.
Edwards, in a news conference, noted the state has seen a recent decline in new COVID-19 related cases and hospitalizations. He asked Louisianans to continue wearing masks and observing proper social distancing measures so the state can move toward Phase 3.
“There is a bit of good news,” Edwards said. “The data shows that over the past several days we are beginning to move in the right direction. That gives me hope and encouragement, and it should to everyone.
“But I do want to caution everybody that it’s still too early to say that we have changed the trajectory in a way that is going to be sustained,” he continued. “And I will tell you that we will never change the trajectory in a way that is going to be sustained absent people doing what is required of them with respect to all the restrictions and mitigation measures.”
