Governor Edwards is demanding businesses comply with coronavirus restrictions as the state reported another 1,300 cases today. Earlier this month, the governor loosened capacity restrictions on businesses and re-opened bars. The governor says that decision has not lead to a spike in cases.
“The public as well as the businesses are not complying with the mitigation measures that we have in place. Obviously, the most important one is wearing a mask,” said Edwards.
Businesses who have employees that come in contact with customers are required to wear masks. And Edwards says the public should be wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing, and washing hands frequently.
Edwards has said since the pandemic started the state can not enforce its way to compliance, but he’s planning to take a more heavy-handed approach.
“We’re going to do a more robust job in responding to complaints we receive and doing courtesy visits and making sure that establishments are operating in accordance with these mandates,” said Edwards.
Edwards has paused the state’s re-opening, extending the Phase 2 guidelines for another 28 days as the number of hospitalizations has risen to 700. The governor says the state office of public health, ATC and state fire marshal deputies will conduct robust compliance checks when they get complaints.
“I don’t want to shut a single business down, not one. But I will do that before we have to go back a phase before we allow bad actors who have a negative impact on this state as a whole,” said Edwards.
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