State health officials believe the prevalence of the more dangerous Delta coronavirus variant and the state’s low vaccination rate is behind our recent concerning increase in COVID cases and hospitalizations.
State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter said after months of relatively low, stable COVID numbers we’ve seen 100 new COVID hospitalizations in just two weeks, and an increase in COVID incidents that have been increasing statewide for 18 days in seven of the state’s nine medical regions.
Percent positivity on new COVID tests has also jumped to 4% this last week from the previous rate of 3.1%
The problem is particularly acute on the Northshore where Region Nine Public Health Director Gina LaGarde said percent positivity is up to 6%. She says public behavior is behind the rise.
“It is summertime, we are gathering more with our family and friends, we are gathering in large crowds and people are not wearing masks,” said LaGarde.
Kanter said about 52% of new cases nationally are Delta, but in our region, that number is up to 59%.
“If one was to be exposed or contract COVID tomorrow odds are more than likely that they would be exposed to the Delta variant and it is almost certainly causing the increase in COVID that we are seeing,” said Kanter who added the Delta variant is thought to be 60% more contagious than previous strains and more likely to put young people in the hospital due to increased virulence.
Kanter said the state’s low vaccination rate, just 39% of all Louisianans have received at least one COVID shot, is a major driver in the new Delta variant spread. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are thought to give about 90% protection from Delta and a nationwide CDC report showed 99% of those who died from COVID in June were unvaccinated.
1,763 fully vaccinated Louisianans have been infected with COVID with 27 resulting deaths. More than 486,000 Louisianans in total have tested positive since March of 2020.
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