LA COVID RISES- The Louisiana Department of Health’s latest Covid figures show 4,778 new Covid-19 cases reported to the state since Tuesday. This brings the state total to 562,319 cases since March 2020. According to LDH: The vast majority of these cases (98.3%) are tied to community spread rather than congregate settings like nursing homes. This update represents increases across all age groups and regions of the state. 2,247 people in Louisiana are hospitalized with Covid, an all-time high. The previous record high was 2,112 Tuesday (8/3/21). Also reported were 44 Covid deaths, bringing Louisiana’s Covid-related death toll to 11,129.
ABBOTT ON MASKS- Louisiana is once again being asked to mask up in public to help stem the spread of COVID-19. Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards reinstated the statewide mask mandate that began Wednesday, it requires all persons aged 5 years and older to wear masks when entering public buildings and K-12 schools, colleges, and universities. It applies to anyone regardless of whether or not they’ve been vaccinated.
Meanwhile Texas Governor Republican Greg Abbott is doubling down on his stance against mask mandates, and that Texans should exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves against COVID-19. Here’s what he said during an event in Dallas yesterday.
“The surest way to end the pandemic is for everyone who wants one to make sure to get the vaccine," Abbott said. "That said, going forward, in Texas, there will not be any government-imposed shutdowns or mask mandates.”
Abbott’s comments come a day after Democrat President Joe Biden called out Republican Governors, like Abbott, for banning mask mandates even as the delta variant continues to fuel new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Texas and elsewhere In Arkansas, lawmakers have begun a special session to debate whether or not to amend a law that currently bans government agencies like School boards from requiring masks. So far the bill is stalled in committee.
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