The coronavirus commonly known by its scientific name COVID-19 is showing everyone that it is not about to go away anytime soon. Especially here in Louisiana. That was made painfully aware Monday(June 22) when Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that Louisiana would not be moving to Phase 3 of a federal mandate program for states to follow to completely reopen the nation. In making the announcement, Edwards clearly was disappointed by not being able to move the state to Phase 3, but the evidence has been trending to significant increases in reported coronavirus cases and deaths to where the governor decided that the risks outweighed any move to Phase 3. Edwards said that the state would remain at the Phase 2 level for the next 28 days, after which a further determination will be made on whether to proceed to Phase 3. “We are going in the wrong direction”, said Edwards, as what was seen to be a slight decrease in cases several weeks ago, where officials were somewhat optimistic that the state was on the verge of flattening the curve, the reverse happened. Edwards believes that when the state went to Phase 1, many of the state’s residents may have had a false sense of security, thinking that the state had “turned the corner”. Phase 2 opened up more freedom to move around, allowing limited operations for businesses to reopen as more state leaders appealed for less restrictions, particular religious ones.

Edwards said that many residents felt that “they were done” with the virus, but the facts show that the virus “is not done” with us. The northeast region of where Ouachita Parish is located, is still a main concern for the state. As of Monday there were over 50,000 reported cases and 3,000 deaths reported in Louisiana since the pandemic hit the U.S. four months ago. One of the things that was troubling to the governor, was that not only are people “becoming slack” in how they approach mitigation measures to slow the virus, but at the increasing number of young people that appear to be more complacent. Younger people tend to congregate more in crowds where there are large groups of people around their age. Older people who are more at risk, seemed to be staying home more, only venturing outside the home on a as needed basis. Afro-Americans need to adhere more to the medical/health policies because of reasons yet unexplained, the virus is more deadly to them.

The next 28 days will be crucial for the state if things are to improve. Edwards continues to ask residents to practice social distancing when they are in the public. It can even be done in your home. Businesses will continue to require that their employees wear masks when they are on the job, as he is also asking that the public wear masks when they leave their homes. It is the governors along with dedicated workers in the health profession that are on the front lines battling the pandemic, as the response from the White House, for lack of a better phrase, seems to be is, “let them eat cake”. “We are not where we want to be”, said Edwards. Let’s hope that over the next 28 days, we will be.