LA COVID COUNT - Yesterday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported the second-highest single-day increase in confirmed Coronavirus cases, Louisiana has almost 300,000 confirmed cases and 7,273 confirmed Covid-19 related deaths. Hospitalizations are closing in on 2,000 patients. The LDH news came just before Governor John Bel Edwards held a press conference in Baton Rouge where he addressed the rising numbers and mitigation response in which he expressed some frustration at those who refuse to follow the public health safety guidelines such as mask-wearing and social distancing.
"Even if you don't like them, and I suspect nobody really likes them, the mitigation measures we know work," Edwards said. "And quite frankly they're not that damn onerous, put a mask on!"
"We have a lot of really good partners out there in our hospitals and clinics and pharmacies and other places. I can assure you this is going to get better over time." Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana
This was the Governor’s first press conference for 2021. Edwards addressed the state’s Covid-19 vaccination rate and expressed a desire to increase the number of vaccinations and said he would look into improving the pace of administering the shots.
"We have a lot of really good partners out there in our hospitals and clinics and pharmacies and other places," Edwards said. "I can assure this is going to get better over time."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data Monday listing Louisiana as among the bottom five states in administering the vaccines it has available. Edwards also announced he signed two executive orders yesterday to call for special elections for Congressional District 2 and Congressional District 5, the latter regarding the recent passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow who recently died from Covid-19 complications.