It’s not lost on me that while Louisiana has seen 18 children die of COVID, half of those deaths came in the last three months, as the much more contagious Delta variant surged throughout our state.” But because case numbers are going down and have reached a new baseline I do believe it’s an appropriate time to give schools more autonomy. Public health experts and I encourage schools to stay that course. And they have done that by following public health guidance including on masking and quarantine. Let me be clear – Louisiana has been a leader in bringing students safely back into the classroom. This new order does offer a way for local leaders to end the school mask mandate, if they so choose. “While the K-12 mask mandate will be in place, school districts can opt out if they follow the existing, evidence-based CDC quarantine guidance. That’s why we are able to lift the statewide mask mandate,” said Gov. “Today, I am cautiously optimistic and very relieved that the worst of this fourth surge of COVID is clearly behind us, which is a direct result of the people of Louisiana who stepped up to the plate when we needed them to and put their masks back on, got vaccinated, and took extra precautions to stay safe. At this time, in light of the Delta variant, CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. They should continue to take all precautions recommended for unvaccinated people, including wearing a well-fitted mask, until advised otherwise by their healthcare provider. People who have a health condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated. And if you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta variant, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area with high transmission. The Governor’s updated order allows school districts to opt out of the mask mandate as long as they continue to follow the existing quarantine guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to better separate exposed students and faculty members from others and avoid outbreaks on campus.ĬDC guidance still says everyone 2 years of age or older who is not fully vaccinated should wear a mask in indoor public places. John Bel Edwards announced he will lift Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate in all settings except for K-12 schools, after sustained improvement across the state in terms of new cases, test positivity and hospitalizations.
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