Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate will expire on Wednesday, Oct. 27, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced at a news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
The mask mandate will remain in place for the state’s K-12 schools. School districts may opt out of requiring masks if they continue to follow the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention’s (CDC) quarantine guidance, he said.
Gov. Edwards explained he decided to lift the mandate because the state’s COVID-19 case count and hospitalizations had to return to levels before the fourth surge of the virus.
However, he emphasized the state is not finished fighting COVID-19.
“The pandemic is not over. And we still do not know what the future will bring,” he said.
Gov. Edwards also encouraged residents to get vaccinated against the virus, and get a booster shot if they are already vaccinated.
During the news conference, officials with LSU announced the university will “continue with the protocols in place on campus, including the indoor mask mandate, through the end of the semester.”
In New Orleans, a spokesperson for Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the mayor will speak with Dr. Jennifer Avegno before a decision is made about lifting the mask mandate in the city.
