Governor John Bel Edwards gives remarks at his end of year press conference at the Governor's Mansion. (photo: Brooke Thorington/LRN)
Governor Edwards held his End of the Year Press Conference today highlighting accomplishments of 2022. Among the topics were the state’s budget surplus and record unemployment. Edwards also reflected where the state was a year ago with COVID at the beginning of the Omicron surge.
“Which proved to be the steepest surge in the entire pandemic, and in January of this year, just 11 months ago. We had over 3,000 people in the hospital. Think about that, we’re obviously doing much better,” said Edwards.
Even with a reduction in COVID cases compared to a year ago, Edwards pointed out that the healthcare system is still stressed because they are responding to a “tridemic.”
“The combination of COVID, the flu, and RSV are taxing our healthcare providers. So, I do want to encourage people to make sure you’re staying up to date on your COVID vaccines and boosters,” said Edwards.
Instead of giving daily COVID numbers Monday through Friday, the health department transitioned to weekly updates in October. But Edwards pointed out, even though it wasn’t the first topic of discussion that COVID remains an issue.
“COVID is still here it’s not over and you all know that typically in winter when people come together indoors there’s an increase in COVID that will likely happen again this year, but we have the tools to protect ourselves,” said Edwards.
Last Wednesday the state reported 4,700 cases of COVID and a seven-day average of 256 hospitalizations.
To view the LDH COVID dashboard click here.
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