Phase One of Louisiana's reopening protocol began last Friday, but Governor Edwards is focused on making sure the state is ready for Phase Two in June.

By following the White House guidelines for reopening, the governor is optimistic that Louisiana will begin Phase Two by June 5. He believes the residents of Louisiana will play a critical role in making this happen. Edwards had this to say in a press conference:

If the people of Louisiana will continue to social distance, wear their masks, engage in good hygiene, then there’s no reason why we can’t continue to see improvements in our cases, even as we open up more businesses and houses of worship to more people, and so forth.

Below are highlights of the Phase Two reopening protocol:

  • All vulnerable individuals should continue to stay home.
  • Employers should still encourage tele-work.
  • Schools and organized youth activities can resume.
  • Bars may operate with diminished standing-room occupancy.
  • Large venues can operate under moderate physical distancing protocols.
  • Visits to senior care facilities should remain prohibited.

I know a lot of people are ready to visit their loved ones in nursing homes. Here's what the governor had to say about visitations at those facilities during his recent press conference:

When we can relax those [nursing home] restrictions, I’m not sure. I don’t believe that the federal government through the CDC has recommended that we relax those rules yet, and there’s still a lot of COVID-19 out there...when you see it [coronavirus] in a nursing home, where you know that the people there, by definition, are vulnerable because of their age, because of co-morbidity, and in most cases because of both. So obviously it’s one of the things you’re concerned about.

Edwards said state officials will make their decisions on entering Phase Two by looking at the following data:

  • COVID-like symptoms being reported to emergency rooms across the state
  • Also, the number of COVID-19 cases, testing, and hospitalizations

The governor expects to hold a press conference on June 1 regarding whether or not the state will proceed with Phase Two on June 5.

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