Gov. John Bel Edwards held a news conference Wednesday to address the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. Edwards warned that the state will return to phase one restrictions if the surge of new infections and hospitalizations does not slow. Edwards said the number of new infections and hospitalizations now rival the peak in April. He said all progress made during the spring shutdown has been erased. According to Edwards, 95% of the cases reported Wednesday were caused by community spread with the most outbreaks now traced back to exposure at bars. Edwards said current testing shows there are at least 25,000 people with active coronavirus infections in Louisiana. He said anyone who has come in contact with someone who has tested positive must quarantine for 14 days, even if that person tests negative for the infection.
Assistant Secretary of Public Health for Louisiana, Dr. Alex Billioux, said the risk of catching coronavirus is higher now than it has ever been.
