As Louisiana continues to see a surge in COVID-19 cases fueled by low vaccinate rates and the highly contagious delta variant, Gov. John Bel Edwards reinstituted an indoor mask mandate that will go into effect on Wednesday. The new order mandates that everyone 5 years and older wear a mask while indoors. Also, children between the ages of two and five years old are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings. The mandate will stay in place until September 1 but is subject to being extended if necessary. The proclamation also stipulates that operators of private businesses and organizations have the authority to issue more restrictive measures than that imposed by the State. The mask mandate applies in all cases, except:
- When consuming food and drink,
- When giving a speech to an audience, or
- When temporarily removing a face covering for identification purposes.
In addition to the updated mask guidance, the governor continues to encourage citizens to get vaccinated. Read more here.