LA COVID-19 DEATHS - Louisiana coronavirus patients are more likely to die from the infection than those with COVID-19 in almost every other state. That’s according to recent health statistics that show the state has the second highest per capita death rate overall behind New York. During his COVID-19 Update press conference yesterday -- Gov. John Bel Edwards said a contributing factor is that Louisiana has more chronic health conditions per-capita than most states.
"We have individuals who are dying in greater numbers because they have diabetes in greater numbers,'explained Edwards."Because they have kidney disease in greater numbers, because of the obesity. Those are the three chronic conditions for most of that."
Five Southern Louisiana parishes are among the top 13 suffering the worst per capita death rates among U.S. counties. Those include St. John the Baptist , Orleans Jefferson , St. Charles, and Ascension parishes.