On Friday night, the state health department reported its first probable case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Louisiana.
The case involves an individual in Region 1, the Greater New Orleans area, who recently traveled within the United States.
“We now know Omicron is here in Louisiana. This is cause for concern, but not panic,” said State Health Officer Dr. Joseph Kanter. “We have been expecting and preparing for this moment. To all Louisianans, the single best action you can to protect yourselves and your families is to get yourself and loved vaccinated and boosted if eligible.”
Governor John Bel Edwards said there are a number of studies underway about the variant and there are some things we know and many others we do not know yet. The governor said that the Department of Health has established a network of laboratories and they are proactively sequencing on positive PCR tests.
“Which essentially means they are looking at the genetic coding of the virus to determine if it’s the Omicron variant or any other variant,” said Edwards.
Regardless of variants, Edwards said the best protection is to be fully vaccinated, which includes children five and older and when applicable a booster shot for individuals 18 and older.
“Vaccinations to include the boosters is critically important if you want to protect yourself and your family and the community. And really that’s the way out of this pandemic with the least cases, the least sickness and hospitalizations, and death,” said Edwards.
Currently, Edwards said only 49-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated which he says isn’t enough.
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