A GRIM MILESTONE - Louisiana has reached a grim milestone as Governor John Bel Edwards announced yesterday the total number of Covid-19 related deaths in the state has surpassed 4,000. The most recent total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is more than 127,000, with 4,028 confirmed deaths, 1,457 hospitalizations, and over 89,000 recoveries. While the numbers are somber, Edwards explained there is some good news as Covid-19 seems to be trending downward.
"I can tellyou that all those (numbers)still are unacceptably high," Edwards said "but it beats the trajectory that we have been on for several weeks, going back to the Memorial Day activities."
Dr. Gina LeGarde is Regional Medical Director for the Office of Public Health /Region 9 which makes up about 12% of Louisiana’s population- it’s a 5 parish region in South Louisiana that has been a hotspot for Covid-19. She said mitigation measures such as mask-wearing and social restrictions have made a difference.
"All five of our parishes are higher than the federal threshold of 100 cases per 100,000 population," LeGarde explained. "However the good news is that the mitigation efforts that have been put in place with mandates and some of our restrictions is showing that for all five of our parishes,
"...the incidence of Covid is decreasing and I've seen that over the last two weeks." Dr. Gina LeGarde, Medical Director for the Office of Public Health, Region 9
More Covid-19 testing has taken place across the state. Although Covid-19 numbers appear to be trending downward, Governor Edwards Phase 2 reopening restrictions will be extended for another three weeks to August 28th.
