"I will extend Phase 2 order for an additional two weeks," Gov. Edwards announced today. "The current proclamation goes through this Friday, so on Thursday I will sign a new proclamation that will become effective Friday that will extend us in Phase 2 for an additional two weeks."
That would make August 7 the earliest the state could enter Phase 3.
With 1,691 new coronavirus cases reported today, state health officials say the percentage of test results coming back positive show the virus is still being transmitted in the community , and has not decreased to safe levels for increased reopening.
Not everyone is a fan of the announcement. The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry expressed their disappointment in the decision, saying in a statement they are just as concerned with the lack of a clearly articulated and creative pathway to a safe, reopened society, school system, and economy.
Edwards says the next order will also see the extension of the restrictions added on July 13.
"That is going to include the changes that we made that became effective last Monday with respect to the mask mandate, the bar closures for the on-premises consumption of alcohol," said Edwards.
Edwards cites the positivity rate of new tests as another red flag. As of July 15, all regions of Louisiana had a seven-day average positivity of new tests that was greater than 10 percent and the overall statewide positivity rate was 15.46 percent. The state’s goal is a rate to be below 10 percent.
Edwards says his biggest concern is the hospitalizations per capita as, over the last couple of weeks, it has been in an upward trajectory in all regions of the state.
"The ability to provide life-saving care is critically important and again, that’s true for COVID patients, but that’s also true for all patients, whether they have a stroke or a heart attack or motor vehicle accident," said Edwards.