Gov. Edwards, health care officials provide latest on COVID-19, including ongoing surge of hospital patients

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards held a news conference on Friday, August 13, to discuss the state’s continued rise of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

He was joined by Dr. Joseph Kanter with the Louisiana Department of Health, Dr. Amanda Logue with Ochsner Lafayette General, and Dr. Terrie Thomas with Woman’s Hospital.

Edwards did not issue any new COVID-related mandates but did provide information about a new incentive program that is going into effect.

RELATED: Gov. Edwards announces vaccine incentive for college students

The news conference came one day after New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test will be required before entering restaurants, bars, and other indoor venues in the city, including the Caesars Superdome, beginning Monday, Aug. 16.

Louisiana has broken records for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 almost every day since Aug. 3 and reached an all-time high on Thursday, Aug. 12, with 2,901 patients.

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As of Thursday, more than 1.77 million residents had received either both doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.

Gov. Edwards reinstated a statewide mask mandate on Aug. 4.

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