With COVID hospitalizations surpassing 3,000 this week, the governor’s office says there are now ten times as many people in the hospital with COVID than there were at the start of July.
The Louisiana Health Department says 91-percent are unvaccinated.
Governor John Bel Edwards says there are some waiting for full authorization from the FDA to take a vaccine. But he warns if you get hospitalized with COVID you’ll be treated by therapeutics under emergency use authorization.
“If you are going to trust the doctor, to treat you for COVID using something under a EUA, trust your doctors, when they ask you to get vaccinated, so you don’t have to go there,” said Edwards.
Full authorization for Pfizer is expected early next month.
On Wednesday, LDH reported 3,022 COVID patients in the hospitals. Edwards says that’s about the size of his hometown of Amite.
“And I just picture every single person that I know that just puts it in perspective for me,” said Edwards.
Edwards made the comments during his monthly “Ask the Governor” call-in radio show.
The governor was also asked about any possible restrictions for LSU football games this year.
“Good news there, it’s outside and it’s always safer than inside, is it safe as you have enough distance between the two people, no, but there are other things that can be done,” said Edwards.
Edwards recommends wearing a mask while inside Tiger Stadium for football games.