On Wednesday, Gov. John Bel Edwards reported that the state of Louisiana had counted 5,388 COVID-19 cases in a single day, marking the third-highest spike since the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020.
The virus is finding firmer footing across the nation as a whole as well. The seven-day average of cases has risen 53% in the last week, according to the CDC.
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However, it appears that the surge is also driving an increase in vaccinations. Jeff Zients, the COVID-19 response coordinator for the White House, said Louisiana is among five states – along with Arkansas, Florida, Missouri and Nevada – boasting higher numbers of newly-vaccinated people than the national average.
So far, Louisiana has yet to move back towards some of the COVID-19 regulations they had set aside, with Gov. Edwards stating during a July 16 press conference, “We will obviously continue to look at the numbers over time but we’re just not there yet.”
In New Orleans though, Mayor LaToya Cantrell did issue an “indoor mask advisory” this week urging residents to take it upon themselves to wear a mask in indoor public spaces, regardless of vaccination status. There are no consequences though if people choose not to.
