On April 2, 2020, noting that "the COVID-19 outbreak in Louisiana has expanded significantly" since he declared a statewide public health emergency on March 11, 2020, and in order "to protect the health and safety of the people of Louisiana," Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards issued a proclamation extending until April 30, 2020 (unless terminated sooner or later extended), the statewide stay at home order that he issued on March 22, 2020. As previously reported, the March 22 stay at home order provided that "without additional measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the state, health care facilities in parts of the state or even throughout the state are at significant risk of being overwhelmed" and instructed all individuals within the state of Louisiana to stay home unless performing an essential activity. The March 22 stay at home order, as well as the April 2 proclamation, define essential activities to include, among other activities (such as obtaining food and going to and from the home of a family member), obtaining medicine and "non-elective medical care and treatment and other similar vital services for an individual or a family member of the individual."

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