| Good Morning, Hospitals across the state are buckling under the pressure from a surge of COVID-19 patients, most of whom are unvaccinated and have become infected with the highly transmittable and dangerous delta variant. Gov. John Bel Edwards ordered everyone over the age of five years old, whether vaccinated or not, to wear masks whenever they are indoors. His order begins Wednesday and is widely supported by a business community that was wary of past mandates by the governor. Schools, businesses, universities, churches, and any other indoor public settings in Louisiana will require a face mask for entry beginning on Wednesday, under a proclamation Edwards signed that expires September 1. “It has become extremely clear that our current recommendations on their own are not strong enough to deal with Louisiana’s fourth surge of COVID. In fact, nobody should be laboring under the misapprehension that this just another surge,” Edwards told reporters Monday in announcing the order he had already signed. “We can’t send children into schools unvaccinated and unmasked,” Edwards said. The requirement upends the plans of local schools that had not included masks when students return in coming weeks. Meanwhile, state government offices will remain fully operational, adequately staffed, and open to the public. But agency heads are looking for those employees whose tasks can be handled remotely and sending them home to work. Last month’s veto override session, which failed to upend a single rejected bill, is having repercussions for some House members who didn’t go along with leadership. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, a Republican, removed two Democrats as chairs of legislative committees. As always, check throughout the day for the latest Louisiana political news at theadvocate.com/politics or NOLA.com/politics and on Twitter at @MarkBallardCNB, @tegbridges, @samkarlin, @blakepater, @WillSentell. Here are a dozen articles, commentaries and editorials that will catch you up for the week to come. One last item: Thank you to our subscribers. Your support means a great deal to us. If you're not yet a subscriber, we’ve got a special offer you can check out here. – Mark Ballard | 