louisiana governor john bel edwards
In this Sept. 9, 2016 file photo, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards testifies in on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Associated Press/Molly Riley

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards reissued a statewide indoor mask mandate as COVID-19 cases surge across the Bayou State.

"Today, I am reinstating Louisiana's statewide mask mandate indoors for all people ages 5 & up as COVID-19 cases & hospitalizations continue to rise across Louisiana, threatening the ability of hospitals to deliver care," the Democratic governor said in a tweet.

COVID-19 cases, fueled by the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus, have been rising across the US, especially in Louisiana.

According to federal data, Louisiana has the highest rate of new cases in the country, with more than 600 new cases per 100,000 residents.

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