Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced this afternoon the state will not move into Phase Three of reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic this week.
Edwards extended his Phase Two order after recent spikes in cases, hospitalizations and clusters of COVID-19.
"This is not the direction we want to be headed in."
He said recent spikes do not allow for lifting more restrictions.
"We have seen the number of COVID cases and hospitalization increase across the state," the governor noted. "The vast majority of the new cases are related to community spread."
That means businesses currently closed will remain closed and those with limited capacity will not be able to increase that maximum occupancy.
The governor's announcement comes on the same day that 41 more people had to be admitted to hospitals in Louisiana as they battle coronavirus. That is the biggest jump in more than two months.
"It is a trend in the wrong direction that we need to stop," Edwards insisted.
He stressed that people need to do a better job of wearing masks, staying six feet apart and staying home.
The governor said he will do another deep dive on the date in two weeks to determine how to move forward.
