As many anticipated the state fully re-opening at some point, Louisiana will remain under the Phase 2 for another month after Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the state will not move on to Phase 3 on June 26.

“Louisiana reached two sad milestones today as we surpassed 3,000 deaths and 50,000 positive tests in our state,” Gov. Edwards said.

It is clear that COVID is alive and well in Louisiana, and as we see more people testing positive and admitted to hospitals, we simply are not ready to move to the next phase, and ease restrictions further as businesses open widely.”

The second phase of reopening, which began on June 5, was expected to last a minimum of 21 days, which would have made June 26 the earliest opening date under the order Edwards signed earlier this month.

“We have seen the number of COVID cases and related hospitalizations increase across the state over the last number of days,” Edwards said.