Louisiana's governor lifts the state's indoor mask mandate except in But now like you, I suspect I cherish the time spent with loved ones even more. You have permission to edit this article. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Gov. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. "My legislative package includes a number of bills focused on hurricane deductibles, claim transparency, enforcing insurance fraud laws against bad actors, revamping the adjuster registry so that policyholders can verify their adjusters, and stopping mortgage companies from withholding insurance money from homeowners without good reason," Edwards said in the prepared remarks.Edwards opened the speech with a show of support for Ukraine as that country fights a Russian invasion. BATON ROUGE Louisiana Gov. Governor John Bel Edwards lifted Louisianas mask mandate on October 26 2021, and it has not been reinstated. Louisiana is hurtling toward a fifth surge in COVID-19 infections, and once again the state's top health officials are urging members of the public, regardless of their vaccination status, to LSU is also ending restrictions for on-campus events. Opening day fell two years to the day after Louisiana recorded its first COVID-19 death. I wish more school districts, I wish all of them, would take the recommendations of the office of public health around a mask mandate, but at this point in time, Im not going to impose that mandate from my position as governor.. The City of New Orleans reimposed its mask mandate on Tuesday in anticipation of upcoming Mardi Gras celebrations. Hear the latest from the WRKF/WWNO Newsroom. The program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided $10 billion to help homeowners behind on their mortgages. Privately owned businesses are still allowed to require that customers wear masks, and local jurisdictions can still enforce their own rules. Heres what pediatricians think, 'Everybody knew somebody that died': Louisiana's small towns suffered most in fourth wave, Louisiana GOP lawmakers want to end state mask mandate. Read More. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Tuesday that Louisiana will lift its statewide mask mandate, but local governments and businesses can still re LSU's Alex Box Stadium moving to 100% capacity . John Bel Edwards response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a small group of Republican state lawmakers is , In a two-page message Friday to public school leaders, State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol said it is of "paramount importance" that students e, State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumleys plan to let students exposed to the coronavirus remain in the classroom sparked pushback Thur, In a major change, public school students will be allowed to remain in classrooms even if they have close contact with someone who tests posit, LSU will continue to require students, faculty and staff to wear masks on campus for the rest of the semester even after Gov. RANDI: SOMETHING ELSE THAT WE WILL WEIGH IN ON THIS, HOSPITALIZATIONS AT THEIR LOWEST LEVEL SINCE MID-DECEMBER. This newscast is updated weekdays at 6am, 9am, noon, 3pm, and 6pm. Those who are fully vaccinated at the time of exposure or had COVID-19 in the last 90 days and remain asymptomatic can forgo quarantining. The program is available statewide to homeowners experiencing financial hardship after Jan. 21, 2020, and earning less than 150 percent of the area median income or 100 percent of the national median income, whichever is greater, based on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development income data, Edwards said. And those who tested positive in settings where masks are worn, dont exhibit symptoms and were at least three feet away from the contact who infected them can also return immediately. "If the circumstances call for it, I will not hesitate to declare another emergency. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Health officials still recommend masks when people are indoors in public or part of a large outdoor crowd. No mask mandates as Louisiana extends emergency status In addition to higher projected tax revenues, there is an influx of more than $2.8 billion in one-time revenue $1.4 billion from federal pandemic aid, $700 million of surplus from the 2021 fiscal year and $853 million higher-than-planned revenue for the current year.Edwards reiterated a call he made in January for $148 million for pay raises for Louisiana teachers and school support staff; $103 million in higher education faculty raises and $25 million more in early childhood education. HIGH-QUALITY MASKSRE A NOW PRACTICAL OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES, AND CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE BEEN STEADILY DROPPING SINCE WE EMERGED FROM THE OMICN-FUROELDED SURGE THIS WINTER. . The Governor is allowing school systems to opt out of the . Edwards first imposed his statewide mask mandate on July 13, 2020, and it remained in effect until May 2021. We are working to resolve the issue. BATON ROUGE, La. The pandemic is not over," Edwards said. On March 11, I signed a public health emergency for COVID-19 and while it changed over time to reflect the ebb and flow of the pandemic. Gov. Masks are not required statewide in Louisiana, but federal regulations make them mandatory in health care facilities and on public transit. This decision was certainly not made lightly. At the end of the press conference, Gov. >> SINCE THEN OVER 16,800 LOUISIANIANS HAVE DI.ED MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION CASES HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED, BUT A LOT HAS ANGED.CH WE HAVE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CCVAINES THAT ARE SAVING COUNTLESS LIVES. DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. Edwards outlined spending priorities in his proposed budget, which legislative committees have already begun reviewing in a year that has Louisiana, for the first time in years, seeing significant revenue increases. They may be weary, but they never wavered in their efforts to save lives. Louisiana's Mask Mandate Is Lifted With A Few Exceptions THE STATE IS ALSO CLOSE TOHE T LOWEST LEVEL OF HOSPITALIZATIONS SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN OVER TWO YEARS AGO WHEN FEWER THAN 200 WERE TREEDAT IN AREA HOSPITALS. 89.3 WRKF Baton Rouge | Louisiana lifts statewide mask mandate; schools, hospitals, local WITHOUT A DECLARATION IN OUR STATE THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THAT CORONAVIRUS TESTING AND VACCINATIONS WILL TRANSITION TO HEALTH CLINICS RATHER THAN COMMUNITY SITES, THOUGH THERE IS NO TIMELINE TO SCALE THOSE DOWN YET. During the delta wave last summer, there were >3K patients. Restrictions are now ramping down in many places, as most states have fully reopened their economies. John Bel Edwards told state lawmakers he would let the order expire in a wide-ranging speech on the first day of the 2022 regular legislative session. LDH state health officer Dr. Joseph Kanter said up to this point the relatively few positive test results had been kept out of daily case totals, but as reinfections have increased during the omicron surge, the department has decided to include those cases in daily totals on its COVID-19 dashboard starting next week. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Democratic governor's mitigation efforts at times included mask mandates and strong limits on public gatherings that put him at odds with some Republican lawmakers and state officials. Lawmakers consider allowing schools to use high-dosage tutoring. THAT ORDER IS BEING VIEWED THIS WEEK AND THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS IS EXPECTED TO RELEASE ANY OF DATES TO THAT ORDER ON MONDAY. On Thursday the state reported 14,077 new cases, which does not include at-home rapid test results and 1,412 COVID hospitalizations. Over the course of the pandemic, the LDH has recorded 35,819 COVID-19 reinfections. More schools in the Baton Rouge region announced Wednesday they are droping their requirements that students and staff wear masks. But God willing, we will never have to see such difficult mitigation measures in our state again," he said. The indoor mask mandate will be lifted beginning at 6 a.m. Thursday. RANDI: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS, LOUISIANA IS NOT UNDER A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGEYNC DECLARATION THIS MORNING. Bobbi-Jeanne Misick is the justice, race and equity reporter for the Gulf States Newsroom, a collaboration between NPR, WWNO in New Orleans, WBHM in Birmingham, Alabama and MPB-Mississippi Public Broadcasting in Jackson. Avegno said officials will consider lifting . High quality masks are now practical options for families and cases and hospitalizations have been steadily dropping since we emerged from the omicron fueled surge this winter. Edwards said he has not received any formal requests to reimpose the mask mandate from hospital leaders across the state. Wednesdays figures showed 1,396 newly reported cases, and 46 deaths. If your concern is for the safety and well-being of our families and our children, the best thing you can do for them right now to protect their future is to get everyone around you vaccinated, Kanter said. The program is intended to help those who may have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic and are struggling to make mortgage payments. No mask mandates as Louisiana extends emergency status The Associated Press // February 16, 2022 With the state heading into the peak of Carnival season, Gov. Important information for employers is also available via the firms webinar and podcast programs. Hospitalizations have now surpassed the Jan. 2021 peak, with 2,081 patients with COVID as of Wednesday, @LouisianaGov says. Private businesses, local governments and public school districts can set their own restrictions as well. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. New Orleans, however, plans to keep in place mask mandates and requirements for vaccines or negative tests for many indoor events through Mardi Gras, which falls on March 1. The governor's current order expires March 16, unless he chooses to end it before that date. "Having personally witnessed redistricting twice now, I can say that the current process is not working," Edwards, a former lawmaker, said in the text. Citing increased COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates, Mayor Latoya Cantrell has ordered that all individuals over the age of two who do not have breathing complications must wear masks when in indoor spaces outside the household, unless actively eating or drinking. The mandate also applies to persons riding in a vehicle with non-family members. John Bel Edwards lifts Louisiana mask mandate, except for certain K-12 schools. Kelly Sikkema / Unsplash. I've always been one to count my blessings. The numbers reflect a decrease in community transmission, Kanter said, noting that Louisianas rate of infections and hospitalizations are now well below the national average. COVID hospitalizations have been cut in half since omicron's peak in middle January. Edwards didnt rule out reinstating the mask mandate again if COVID infections surge back in the future. Louisiana Gov. The orders vary by state, county and even city. The restrictions and mandates had largely fallen away as the state's coronavirus picture improved. -- The "2022 AI Applications and Demand Survey . I wanted to give school districts some flexibility on the matter, some additional autonomy, to reflect the improving numbers, Edwards said. But God willing, we will never have to see such difficult mitigation measures in our state. JENNIFER: EVEN WITHOUT THAT PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARATION, PEOPLE CAN STILL CHOOSE TO USE AS MANY CORONAVISRU PRECAUTIONS AS THEY WANT. New Orleans has revived its mask mandate for indoor spaces, effective January 12, 2022. This program provides an avenue for resources and assistance that has not been available before, and this is an important step to help ensure that low- and moderate-income homeowners and their families are able to stay in their homes. The Federal Reserve is on track to raise its benchmark interest rate for the 10th time Wednesday. New Orleans Revives Mask Mandate, Effective January 12, 2022 - Mondaq The Democratic governor's mitigation efforts at times included mask mandates and strong limits on public gatherings that put him at odds with some Republican lawmakers and state officials. She is also an Ida B. Food at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has long been almost as big of a draw as the musical acts. On Thursday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported 14,932 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, 2,081 hospitalizations and 11 deaths. Especially my Children, Samantha Bell, Sarah Ellen and john miller and my beautiful wife and best friend Donna Who have enjoyed being married to for 33 years now. Gov. Edwards stops short of reinstating mask mandate as COVID cases THE GOVERNOR MAKING THE DECISION BASED ON THE LATEST HOSPITALIZATION NUMBERS AND DATA FROM OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT. This extension calls for all state government . (KTVE/KARD) On Thursday, March 3, 2022, the City of New Orleans lifted their indoor mask mandate. Great Jones Cookware Review: Is It Worth Buying? New Orleans CityBusiness is the industrys #1 trusted resource for 40+ years on authoritative local industry news. Masks will still be required under state law as a protective measure against the coronavirus in K-12 schools, on higher education campuses, on public transportation, in health care facilities, and in state government buildings. More from DCFS Latest from LDWF March 14, 2022 @ 02:24 PM CDT New Orleans Revives Mask Mandate, Effective January 12, 2022 Louisiana Attorney General responds to New Orleans' lifted mask mandate "We're definitely on the downswing of the omicron surge," Edwards said. Multistate Effort Against Unlawful Mask Mandate | My Florida Legal That set up a possible override effort by lawmakers at the end of March.Edwards didn't veto legislative maps but was critical that minority districts weren't increased in the state House or Senate, something lawmakers could revisit during the current session. The Democratic governor's mitigation efforts at times included mask mandates and strong limits on public gatherings that put him at odds with some Republican lawmakers and state officials. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com. As Dr. Joseph Kanter, right, watches, Gov. But the virus is still incredibly dangerous among the elderly and unvaccinated, and 92 Louisiana children were hospitalized with COVID-19 last week, according to the state department of health. Officials now believe the 2020 celebration was responsible for making the city and state early Southern hot spots of the disease. Parades rolled again. October 26, 2021 Today, Gov. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards dropping state mask requirements The cities of New Haven and Bridgeport also ended indoor mask mandates in early 2022. Louisiana COVID-19 emergency declaration ends, AND LOW 60S. YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE FEDERAL ONES LIKE THE CDCS MASK MANDATE ON PUBLIC TRSIANT. As we move deeper into the Mardi Gras season and with the continued return of big events and gatherings, people should be aware that the CDC recommends that in communities with high transmission rates, currently all 64 of our parishes, people wear masks in public in crowds, especially indoors, Edwards said in the release. Oct. 26, 2021. Mask mandate lifted in New Orleans - WAFB Gov. Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Great Jones Cookware Review: Is It Worth Buying? The Louisiana Illuminator is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization driven by its mission to cast light on how decisions are made in Baton Rouge and how they affect the lives of everyday Louisianians, particularly those who are poor or otherwise marginalized. Tidwell said it is possible that the Mayor will loosen some restrictions but cautioned that the citys guidelines may not be in complete lockstep with the state guidelines.. Im encouraging everyone to do the single most important thing, which is getting vaccinated. As Dr. Joseph Kanter, right, watches, Gov. Throughout the pandemic, officials across the United States have rolled out a patchwork of restrictions on social distancing, masking and other aspects of public life. Edwards opened the speech with a show of support for Ukraine as that country fights a Russian invasion. BUSINESSES CANSK A CUSTOMERS TO FOLLOW CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AND LOCAL LEADERS CAN LAY OUT THEIR OWN MANTEDA. Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30. Gov. I can only tell you the mask mandate makes sense especially in that environment where youre going to have those young people who have the lowest vaccination rates in the state who have to be in that class and if we want to have in person learning, with the fewest disruptions then we need to control transmissions, Edwards said. Edwards Extends COVID Public Health Emergency Order, Without Required Mitigation Measures. But God willing, we will never have to see such difficult mitigation measures in our state again," he said. However, Edwards said it might end sooner. Louisiana is set to receive $146.7 million to administer the fund through the Louisiana Office of Community Development. All rights reserved. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. COVID-19 Newsroom | Office of Governor John Bel Edwards They arent yet included in our overall COVID case counts, but they will be starting next week.#lagov #lalege pic.twitter.com/fRnDzGtYjx.