Gov. John Bel Edwards announced during a news conference yesterday that he will be issuing a new indoor mask mandate that will go into effect on Wednesday, Aug. 4 and last for almost one month.
While the order technically takes effect Wednesday, Aug. 4, the governor urged all Louisiana residents to start wearing masks indoors immediately.
The indoor mask mandate applies to anyone age five or older in all public places in the state, including K-12 schools, regardless of whether people have the COVID-19 vaccine or not.
The governor made the announcement surrounded by health care leaders from several different parts of the state.
As of yesterday there were 1,984 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Louisiana, including 213 on ventilators. The Louisiana Department of Health also reported 27 new COVID-19 deaths over the weekend. The agency says 90 percent of all COVID-19 cases documented in the state between July 15 and July 21, were among those who were not vaccinated or not yet fully vaccinated.
