Analysis: Will people comply with La.'s tougher virus rules?
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Gov. John Bel Edwards can heap on coronavirus restrictions, telling Louisiana residents not to gather in groups and to practice behavior that puts fewer people at risk of the COVID-19 disease. But he can't be in every business, home and holiday party forcing people to follow those rules.
In fact, the Democratic governor said he doesn't want strict enforcement, hoping that people will voluntarily comply with his coronavirus regulations. That leaves him to urge, cajole and plead with Louisiana residents in a sort of drumbeat marketing effort against pandemic fatigue.
He doesn't seem to be winning the battle.
The number of Louisiana's COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are again spiking — the third time since the pandemic began. Edwards tightened virus restrictions on businesses and gatherings shortly before Thanksgiving in hopes of curbing the surge.
But even the governor admits that if Louisiana residents had been following his looser Phase 3 rules, mask mandate and precautionary suggestions, he wouldn't have reverted back to the Phase 2 guidelines to try to combat the latest swell in cases.
“Everybody should understand that this is a very, very serious situation and that we have to do our part to slow the spread. It's got to be a collective effort,” Edwards said.
He's running into a simple reality, however. Some people don't think the virus is as dangerous as they're told. Some people think only those most at risk should be forced to change their habits and lifestyles. And many people are just tired of COVID-19's disruption of their lives.
Houma Rep. Tanner Magee, the second-ranking Republican in the state House of Representatives, said people ignoring the governor's restrictions is “pretty widespread” now in his region.
“If you...