Governor John Bel Edwards lifts ban on non-emergency medical procedures beginning April 27

Greg Hilburn
Monroe News-Star
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards conducts a press conference to brief the public on the coronavirus crisis.

BATON ROUGE — Gov. John Bel Edwards is lifting many restrictions on non-emergency medical procedures including abortions beginning April 27, he said Monday, the first rollback of his stay-at-home order since the coronavirus crisis began.

Among the procedures that will be allowed: abortions; biopsies; some dental work; and other diagnostic testing.

“We believe we need to allow people to resume going to the doctor for things that may not be an emergency,” Edwards said.

Medical professionals who treat the patients and operate the clinics must meet safety guidelines before opening, which is why the governor said he gave them a week to prepare.

Edwards said his new order lifting the ban on non-emergency medical procedures shouldn't be seen as a sign he's ready to lift other large portions of his stay-at-home order that expires April 30.

He said Louisiana hasn't yet met all the requirements for what President Trump and his task force have called the "Phase One" reopening, though he's hopeful the state is closer to meeting the requirements than not.

Edwards said he doesn't plan on reopening the state by parish as some lawmakers like House Republican Caucus Chairman Blake Miguez have asked him to do.

"I don't think trying to reopen by parish is workable," he said. "That's not the direction I intend to go right now. That's not under consideration."

Louisiana Department of Health Dr. Jimmy Guidry said medical professionals will largely determine what non-emergency medical procedures will be allowed under the governor's new order. "We're going to let the professionals decide," he said.

The procedures must be considered "time sensitive."

"Many procedures have been postponed to get us through the (coronavirus) curve," Guidry said. "Our concern is people are so worried about the coronavirus they aren't being attentive to their medical needs.

"In many of these cases the longer they wait the worse the conditions can get."

He said dental work like repairing cavities and performing root canals will be allowed because without the work infection can set in and create serious medical problems.

Guidry also addressed abortions and which cases would be considered time sensitive.

"That is a question at this point; we're still evaluating," he said. "Some are life-threatening and some are elective."

Abortions are illegal in Louisiana after 20 weeks. Guidry repeated that medical professionals will determine whether the abortion is "time sensitive."

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.