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.

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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.

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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.

Learn more .

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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