By T. Scott Boatright

While warning Louisiana residents that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, Gov. John Bel Edwards has annoucned the end to Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate.

That move returns the power to businesses and local governments to set their own face covering restrictions.

“We are not on a one-way street moving away from the pandemic,” Edwards said. “It is very much a two-way street and we do not want to go in the other direction.”

Edwards is still asking the public to wear face coverings and said that state government buildings and asked that others continue to do so, too.

“I will continue to wear a mask when in public when I am close to folks. I think it’s the right thing to do for public health. It’s also the respectful thing to do,” Edwards said. “We know that masks work. The science is clear.”

The statewide mask mandate was first issued in July 2020 following a summer surge in coronavirus cases after easing restrictions caused the governor to act with more stringent measures.

Now it will be up to private businesses and local governments to decide whether they want to implement a mask mandate.

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