Louisiana COVID Numbers topple 1.2 million cases, 17,000 deaths, and 65,000 reinfections
UPDATED: Community levels are rising after the Louisiana Department of Health reported more than 1.2 million cases of COVID, 17,000 deaths, and 65,000 reinfections since the first case in 2020.
On May 18, Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome sounded the alarm about rising COVID cases in the parish and across the state as reported by the Louisiana Department of Health.
“We are seeing a recent increase of COVID-19 in East Baton Rouge Parish wastewater, in addition to increased cases, percent positivity, and emergency department visits for COVID-19 like illness,” Broome stated.
“We encourage citizens to take advantage of our free COVID-19 testing & vaccine site located at the Mall of Louisiana and take extra measures for vulnerable or immunocompromised loved ones, wear a mask in indoor settings if you are at high risk, & stay home and get tested if sick,” she stated.
Although Tangipahoa and East Baton Rouge parishes continued to have low community levels, a review of the Louisiana Department of Health Coronavirus on May 13 shows that the state has had:
17,295 total deaths with four new deaths reported on May 13 at the time of this reporting.
100 new reinfections for a total of 65,617 reinfections. Reinfections are defined as a positive COVID test at least 90 days after a previous positive COVID test.
65 patients were hospitalized on MAy 13 with COVID and five were on ventilators.
Those not fully vaccinated account for 48% of COVID cases from April 28 to May 4 and 50% of deaths from April 28 to May 4. On Friday, May 13, unvaccinated patients were 68% of current COVID hospitalizations.
Of all COVID deaths in East Baton Rouge Parish, 49.67% were Black residents and in Tangipahoa 26.71% were Black residents.
Fifty percent of all COVID cases in East Baton Rouge Parish were Black residemts and 33% of all cases in Tangipahoa Parish
If you have questions about coronavirus, please contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing dial 211. Or, you can text the keyword LACOVID to 898-211 for the most current information about the outbreak as it becomes available.
Monoclonal antibody therapy treatments available
Monoclonal Antibody Treatments (mAb) for COVID-19 can prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death among high-risk individuals. This treatment is now widely available in Louisiana.
High-risk individuals 12 years and older who have tested positive for COVID-19 are eligible for this no-cost treatment. If you are at risk or are currently experiencing severe symptoms of following a COVID diagnosis, you can be treated at no cost.
Having trouble sleeping? Pennington Biomedical Research Center continues sleep study.
Have trouble getting a good night’s rest? Join Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s study, HD-SLEEP. Seeking African-American men and women older than 18 years of age. You can earn up to $50. See if you qualify: www.pbrc.edu/hdsleep2