Governor Edwards is begging the public to stay indoors and to not congregate after the state saw several reports of mass gatherings over the weekend in defiance of shelter in place orders.
Edwards says it’s not an easy situation but the public needs to comply, and understand we could be enduring this past the initially estimated April 13th reopening of the state.
“Based on facts on the ground as we get close to that date we will determine whether to extend that date and right now I can tell you it may well have to be extended past April 13th,” says Edwards.
Louisiana currently has the second-highest COVID-19 mortality rate per capita of any state in the country.
New Orleans police had to break up a second line in New Orleans of about 100 people over the weekend. Edwards says these kinds of gatherings have got to stop.
“I look forward to the day when we can all hug one and other again and we can dance and we can celebrate and get close like we like to do, but save that for later,” says Edwards.
Other large gatherings in Madisonville, Springfield, and elsewhere were reported as most Louisianans hunkered down for their first weekend in isolation. Edwards says “It is grossly irresponsible for people to flagrantly disregard and violate these social distancing measures that we have in place across the state of Louisiana.”
Organizers of the now infamous second line in New Orleans have been charged, and New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell says people participating in similar incidents going forward will be charged as well.
“We will take action as we are called to do if we find those who consistently violate the law,” says Cantrell.
28-year-old Cecil Spencer is accused of organizing the second line. Clifton Smith, the alleged band leader, has been charged as well.
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