Gov. John Bel Edwards is lifting Louisiana's mask mandate — partially — effective Wednesday.
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. Privately owned businesses are still allowed to require that customers wear masks, and local jurisdictions can still enforce their own rules.
The governor announced the change at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
In a city press conference, New Orleans communications director Beau Tidwell said Mayor LaToya Cantrell and Health Director Dr. Jennifer Avegno would review changes being made to the state’s mask mandate and reopening policies to determine if and how local mandates will change. Tidwell said it is possible that the Mayor will loosen some restrictions but cautioned that the city’s guidelines may not be “in complete lockstep with the state guidelines.”
Edwards’ partial lift of the mask mandate comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased its guideline on masking outdoors, saying fully vaccinated people do not need to wear face coverings when outdoors unless they are in a large crowd.
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