Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards mandated Saturday that masks must be worn. Edwards also announced bars will no longer be allowed to have on-premises consumption, but can still offer curbside pickup. Masks will be required for everyone age 8 and older, unless they have a health condition that does not allow them to wear a mask. Some parishes will be allowed to opt out of the requirement if they have a low incidence of COVID-19. Governor Edwards also noted that anyone with a health condition that would prevent them from wearing a mask is at a greater risk of serious complications of COVID-19, and should not be out in public unless it is an extremely important circumstance.
The governor has resisted a mask mandate, stating that such a requirement would be difficult to enforce, but the rising number of hospitalizations and the increasing percentage of positive test results have placed new urgency on public health efforts.
