John Bel Edwards

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Gov. John Bel Edwards talks about restarting the state's economy while addressing steps being taken to fight the coronavirus and the status of cases in the state during a press conference at the GOHSEP Thursday April 23, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. (Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP, Pool)

John Bel Edwards, Louisiana governor, extends stay-at-home order to May 15

By James Varney - The Washington Times

As Adjutant General for the Louisiana National Guard Brigadier General D. Keith Waddell, right, watches, Gov. John Bel Edwards, left, addresses steps being taken to fight the coronavirus and the status of cases in the state during a press conference at the GOHSEP Thursday April 23, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. (Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP, Pool)

Amid positive Louisiana trends, unexpectedly high death rate

By MELINDA DESLATTE and KEVIN McGILL - Associated Press

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, left, provides an update on the spread of coronavirus, Friday, April 10, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. (Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP)

Analysis: La. governor warns reopening doesn’t mean normal

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks at his briefing of media members on the state's current situation dealing with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 public health threat, Wednesday, April 15, 2020 at the Governor's Office of Homeland Security &amp; Emergency Management in Baton Rouge, La. At left is sign language interpreter Leona Gayle Coronado. Louisiana COVID-19 numbers include 21,951 cases reported, and 1,103 deaths, as of Wednesday. (Travis Spradling/The Advocate via AP, Pool)

New Orleans Jazz Fest is latest COVID-19 economic casualty

By KEVIN McGILL - Associated Press

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks at a briefing on the state's current situation dealing with the novel coronavirus COVID-19 public health threat, Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at the Governor's Office of Homeland Security &amp; Emergency Management in Baton Rouge, La. (Travis Spradling/The Advocate via AP, Pool) **FILE**

Louisiana K-12 school closures to continue because of virus

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

Editorial Roundup: Louisiana

By The Associated Press - Associated Press

West Monroe mayor Staci Albritton Mitchell, left, shows Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards photos of areas in West Monroe that were impacted by the Easter tornado before the news conference at the Public Safety Center in Monroe, La. on Monday, April 13, 2020. (Nicolas Galindo/The News-Star via AP)

Edwards worries about backsliding as virus deaths top 1,000

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks during a news conference regarding the Easter tornado and the coronavirus pandemic at the Public Safety Center in Monroe, La. on Monday, April 13, 2020. (Nicolas Galindo/The News-Star via AP)

Edwards: ‘Too early to know’ when Louisiana can relax orders

By KEVIN McGILL - Associated Press

Archbishop Gregory Aymond talks to reporters after riding in a World War II era Stearman PT-17 biplane over the city of New Orleans, to bless those sick or deceased from the new coronavirus, as well as the front line responders, Friday, April 10, 2020. The Archbishop has recovered from the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Edwards creating task force on virus’s racial disparities

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

Nurse Holli Martin with the LSU Cancer Center prepares the arm of JPSO Deputy Sean Lee as she gets ready to take a sample of blood at the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office administration building in Harvey, La., on Wednesday, April 8, 2020. Several JPSO deputies, including Lee, who have recovered from COVID-19 donated blood samples. (Chris Granger/The Advocate via AP)

Edwards: K-12 schools likely to stay closed for school year

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

FILE - In this March 19, 2020 file photo, a streetcar conductor wears a mask due to the coronavirus pandemic as she runs her route on St. Charles Ave. in New Orleans. Where political divides marred early recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Louisiana is showing rare political unity in the fight against the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Louisiana responds to coronavirus with rare bipartisanship

By KEVIN McGILL and MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

Fr. Steve Buno, Pastor of St. Rita of Cascia Catholic Church in Harahan, La., performs drive-thru Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, as a form of social distancing due to the new coronavirus, during Holy Week, Tuesday, April 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

As curve appears to flatten, Edwards says keep staying home

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards talks about a chart as Attorney General Jeff Landry listens, while addressing steps being taken to fight the coronavirus and the status of cases in the state during a press conference at the Governor's Office of Homeland Security &amp; Emergency Management, Monday April 6, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. (Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP, Pool)

Louisiana data: Virus hits blacks, people with hypertension

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

Dr. Alex Billioux, assistant state public health officer, right, answers questions as the Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, left, listens, while addressing steps being taken to fight the coronavirus and the status of cases in the state during a press conference at the Governor's Office of Homeland Security &amp; Emergency Management, Monday April 6, 2020, in Baton Rouge, La. (Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP, Pool)

COVID-19 hits blacks in Louisiana hardest: 70% of almost 600 deaths

By James Varney - The Washington Times

A temporary hospital has been set up in the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, as an overflow for local hospitals that are reaching capacity, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in New Orleans, Saturday, April 4, 2020. Phase one of the operation can house 1,000 patients with the capability to double that capacity as needed. The facility will open April 6. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Louisiana governor: State may be turning the corner on virus

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

Swarnamala Ratnayaka prepares RNA for testing for the new coronavirus at the molecular pathology lab at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, Thursday, April 2, 2020. The test is identical to the PCR test being used by the Centers for Disease Control to ease the testing crisis and stop the spread of COVID-19, which has hit the New Orleans area especially hard. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Louisiana hospitals, medical staff stretched thin amid virus

By MELINDA DESLATTE and REBECCA SANTANA - Associated Press

State Sen. Eddie Lampert, R-Dist. 18, has his temperature taken as he arrives at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Legislators convened in limited numbers, while exercising social distancing due to the new coronavirus pandemic, on the last day bills could be introduced during the legislative session. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Louisiana virus cases spike as testing expands statewide

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

Pastor Tony Spell, right, walks with others after services at the Life Tabernacle Church in Central, La., Sunday, March 29, 2020. Spell has defied a shelter-in-place order by Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, due to the new coronavirus pandemic, and continues to hold church services with hundreds of congregants. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Tony Spell, Louisiana pastor, vows to keep violating coronavirus ban

By Melinda Deslatte and Chevel Johnson - Associated Press

Loyola University professor Dr. CJ Stephenson packs boxes of protective gloves from the Chemistry Department storeroom at Loyola University to donate to the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, La. Monday, March 30, 2020. Loyola University professors Dr. CJ Stephenson and Dr. Elin Grissom responded to a request by the Tulane University School of Medicine that is asking for public donations of medical protection wear and disposable laboratory supplies. The full list of needed items and the places to donate can be found at medicine.tulane.edu/need-medical-supplies. (Max Becherer/The Advocate via AP)

Louisiana waits on ventilator shipment as virus deaths spike

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press

Workers prepare the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Hall J on Friday, March 27, 2020, in New Orleans after Louisiana state health officials said they are planning to put more than 1,100 beds in the makeshift hospital for patients with the coronavirus. (David Grunfeld/The Advocate via AP)

Louisiana ‘stay at home’ order to be extended through April

By MELINDA DESLATTE - Associated Press