The numbers on COVID infections in Louisiana are very encouraging. The latest figures show only 38 patients hospitalized statewide, with not a single patient currently on a mechanical ventilator. State Health Officer, Dr. Joe Kanter likes what he sees.
“We’re actually in the best place that we’ve been at any point in time during the past two years of this pandemic,” said Kanter.
Kanter says the numbers don’t mean there’s no longer a reason to take precautions and believes another surge is likely at some point, though Louisiana is in much better shape to face that when the time comes.
“The degree of the population that has now either been vaccinated or has had COVID before and recovered (in Louisiana), that total is about 95 percent of the population combined,” he said. “Although that’s not absolutely protective, it certainly is significant.”
Individuals still have to assess the level of risk for themselves and their families. Vaccinations remain the best protection from COVID, and Kanter says if you haven’t gotten a booster, now’s the time to do so.
“Folks who haven’t gotten their first booster yet, I can’t recommend it enough and in strong enough terms,” Kanter said. “It really does add protection that has probably waned a little bit because of the nature of this variant.”
For more information on COVID visit ldh.la.gov.
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