Gov. Edwards says La. will stay in Phase Two until Aug. 28

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Governor John Bel Edwards announced Tuesday, Aug. 4 Louisiana will stay in Phase Two of the White House’s reopening guidelines until Aug. 28.

The governor’s previous executive order for Phase Two was set to expire on Friday, Aug. 7.

Edwards said data shows mitigation efforts are starting to show signs of success in the state as the positivity rate remains above 10% across the state, which is why he is keeping the state in Phase Two for another 21 days.

Dr. Alex Billoux, with the Louisiana Department of Health, said during the news conference Tuesday officials believe there are more than 50,000 active cases of COVID-19 in the state.

The number of positive coronavirus cases is starting to show early signs of plateauing, Edwards said in a press conference Tuesday, July 28.

ONE-STOP-SHOP: Stats, links related to COVID-19

East Baton Rouge Parish has surpassed Orleans Parish in having the highest number of positive coronavirus cases in the state.

RELATED: Gov. Edwards joins governors of 5 other states to ask for 3 million rapid antigen tests

In Mississippi, Gov. Reeves is expected to issue an executive order on returning to schools this afternoon. Mississippi is currently on track to have the highest positive cases per capita in the country, according to a top health official at Harvard.

More: East Baton Rouge Parish surpasses Orleans Parish in COVID-19 cases, has second highest in state

Edwards issued a PSA to people 29 and younger, who, on average, make up around 30% or more of the new cases daily, according to the Louisiana Department of Health.

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