BATON ROUGE — "It is grossly irresponsible for people to be spreading misinformation," Governor John Bel Edwards said Thursday during a press conference.
Thursday, Governor Edwards announced new coronavirus cases and more than a dozen additional reported deaths.
"Sadly, we are reporting 16 additional deaths today, that brings us to total of 3574."
People on social media, people immediately began doubting the data the Louisiana Department of Health released.
One comment said, "There are so many fake positives or inconclusive counting as positive tests."
It's so often repeated, it prompted a response from the governor on Thursday.
"I want to take a moment and do something I really shouldn't have to do, but it's imperative," Governor Edwards said, "it is grossly irresponsible for people to be spreading misinformation about that, to try to minimize how serious the situation is."
He continued to discredit those who say case numbers are so high because people are being tested more than once.
"A case refers to a specific individual, whether that individual tested positive once twice, three times or whatever," the governor said.
Governor Edwards stressed that Louisianians should look to health experts, not social media, for the best answers.
"But nobody should be paying attention to what any of those individuals are saying. I'm not telling you we are perfect, but I'm telling you, we are working extremely hard," Edwards said.
