In spite of the COVID-19 related deaths of several members, including State Representative Reggie Bagala, Congressman-Elect Luke Letlow, and former State Representative Steve Carter, the Louisiana Republican Party is planning an in-person meeting of its 230-member central committee on Jan 30, 2021.
According to an email sent out by the Louisiana Republican Party, masks will not be required at the indoor event, in direct violation of Gov. Edwards’ statewide mask mandate. Instead, one section of the auditorium where the meeting will be held will be “reserved for members who wish to wear a mask for the entire meeting and who want others seated in their section to also wear masks.”
Louisiana is currently in Phase Two due to a resurgence in community spread of COVID-19. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, there were 3,868 new cases reported to the state on January 27. There were 67 COVID-19 related deaths reported to the state. Every single parish in the state is considered high risk for community spread.
According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, a top immunologist, and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, not only is masking imperative to slowing the spread of COVID-19 double masking “makes common sense.”
“If you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective,” Fauci said on the Today show earlier this week. “That’s the reason why you see people either double masking or doing a version of an N95.”
While the CDC doesn’t recommend double masking, they do recommend wearing masks with two or three layers. In addition, Gov. John Bel Edwards has instituted a statewide mask mandate and President Joe Biden has instituted a mask mandate in all federal buildings and facilities.
Louisiana’s Republican Party has fought against Governor Edwards’ COVID-19 safety measures – which include limits on gathering sizes in addition to a mask mandate – from the beginning, even taking the fight to the courts. However, the courts have resoundingly rejected any Republican attempts at overturning the restrictions. However, in 2020, former President Donald Trump praised Edwards’ efforts to control the spread of the virus.
