UPDATE, 3:45 p.m.: BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) — Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that Louisiana is loosening its mask mandate, though it is not lifting it entirely.
In a press conference this afternoon, Edwards laid out new, more relaxed guidelines that will be in place for the next 28 days. Local leaders and business owners can still require people to wear masks, if they so choose.
Masks will still be required in or on:
- Public transit
- State buildings (though each building may opt-out if they choose and should have proper signage)
- K-12 schools
- Colleges and universities
- All health care facilities licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health
Edwards said all of his Cabinet agencies will retain their mask mandates in their respective departments.
The new proclamation, which will go into effect Wednesday, April 28, will also lift outdoor attendance restrictions. Indoor events, such as sporting events and events held in theaters or conference centers, will have a choice:
- They may have 100% capacity with masks, or
- They may have 75% capacity with social distancing
Live music may be held if venues enforce 10 feet of space between the stage and the audience.
Following sustained improvement in COVID hospitalizations and an increase in the supply and availability of vaccines, some mitigation measures will be eased starting April 28. The statewide mask mandate will be lifted but masks will still be required for specific settings. #lagov pic.twitter.com/FntA8V0N9R
— John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) April 27, 2021
