There are 3,492 new cases of coronavirus today, reported on 37,432 tests -- a nine percent positive rate. Total confirmed cases are 194,685.
Confirmed COVID deaths are up 24 at 5,885. Hospitalizations are up sixteen at 692.
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards says he's not surprised at the increase.
"We're two weeks removed from Halloween, when , anecdotally, I received reports that many of the restrictions and mitigation measures were not being followed," the governor said. "It also was two week removed from the unfortunate announcement in the House of Representatives about the signing of a petition that caused a lot of confusion with people in Louisiana."
A Baton Rouge judge yesterday declared that petition unconstitutional. Attorney General Jeff Landry, who supports the petition to cancel all of the governor's public health emergency restrictions, says he will appeal.
Edwards says the petition doesn't nullify the pandemic, and he says it is a long way from being over, even if a vaccine is approved in the coming weeks to months.
"In a best-case scenario, we're some time next summer before we can administer enough vaccine to the people of Louisiana to really make a difference," said Edwards.