Louisiana hospitals are clogged with COVID patients leading to 50 facilities to formally request aid from the state. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will not take place in October this year. The Louisiana staple event announced the cancellation on Sunday scheduled for October 8-17^th. The exponential growth of new COVID cases are cited as the reason for cancellation and they plan to return to a traditional spring timeframe in 2022.

The ongoing pandemic is also taking a mental toll on healthcare workers. Louisiana State Nurses Association President Ecoee (E-coy) Rooney encourages nurses who are starting to burn out or suffer poor mental health to visit the American Association of Critical Care Nurse’s website for a range of useful tools…

Cut 9 (08) “…things.”

The increased rates of burnout are also causing a nursing shortage across the country.

Ochsner Health says they now have over one thousand COVID-19 patients hospitalized across their system, 90-percent are unvaccinated. Some people have decided not to get vaccinated because they already had COVID, but Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says the vaccine remains your best protection…

cut 11 (07) “….vaccinated”

Last week seven cases of the Lambda variant were reported in Northwest Louisiana.

Louisiana’s nurses haven’t had many breaks since the pandemic began in early 2020, and now many are starting to burn out. Matt Doyle has more…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

Mike VII, LSU’s live tiger mascot has been vaccinated for COVID. The University says he received his doses of the July 16h and August 6^th and so far, Mike has not shown any adverse reactions. The vaccine was donated by Zoetis. Last year there was a COVID outbreak at the Bronx Zoo among lions and tigers.

Some who’ve had COVID are reluctant to be vaccinated believing their antibodies will protect them, but Ochsner Health Director of Infection Control and Prevention Dr. Katherine Baumgarten says their antibodies might not be enough for the growing variants.

Cut 10 (12) “…of COVID.”

Blood tests have indicated that protection drops against worrisome variants like Delta and Lambda.

A fourth marker will be unveiled along the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail today. The newest one commemorates the 1967 Bogalusa to Baton Rouge Civil Rights March. The trail also features an interactive website at Louisiana Civil Rights Trail -dot-com. And Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says the trail is not only meant to draw tourists…

Cut 15 (08)“…country.”

50 hospitals in Louisiana have formally requested the state’s assistance in getting additional health care workers to deal with the huge influx of patients coming in during the Delta surge. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says these hospitals have told the state they can no longer adequately provide care for the number of patients they are taking in.
Cut 4 (09) “..come here.”
This fourth surge in COVID cases is exacerbating the nursing shortage in the state. And Louisiana State Nurses Association President Ecoee (E-coy) Rooney says many nurses are facing burnout and struggling with how to cope with the daily physical and mental demands on their profession…
cut 8 (09) “…need”

State Police is investigating an early morning Sunday shooting involving a Lafayette Police officer working security detail. Authorities say the officer responded to a shooting incident in the parking lot of The District nightclub when more shots were fired which resulted in one death and another person injured.

Today, the Louisiana Office of Tourism unveils its newest marker on the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail at A-Z Young Park in downtown Baton Rouge. In 1967, Young along with Bob Hicks and Gaye Jenkins led a march from Bogalusa to Baton Rouge to present a list of grievances to then-Governor John McKeithen, including employment discrimination. Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says the marker at A-Z Young Park is the fourth of 15 to be unveiled along the trail…
cut 14 (12) “…their states”
More information can be found at Louisiana Civil Rights Trail-dot-com.

Staffing shortages and a 4th major COVID surge in 17 months are taking a heavy toll on Louisiana’s health care workers, leading many to suffer poor mental health. Louisiana State Nurses Association President Ecoee (E-coy) Rooney says under normal circumstances nursing is a rigorous, but rewarding profession. However…
Cut 7 (12) “…myself.”
Rooney says many of these hospitalizations could have been avoided. Ochsner Health says they now have over one thousand COVID-19 patients hospitalized across their system, 90-percent are unvaccinated. Some people have decided not to get vaccinated because they already had COVID, but Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says the vaccine remains your best protection…
cut 11 (07) “….vaccinated”

The Louisiana Civil Rights Trail continues to grow. Today another marker is unveiled and on the anniversary of the beginning of a historic demonstration. Brooke Thorington has more
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A major tourism event is officially off the calendar for 2021. There will not be a New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in October as planned due to the rising number of new COVID cases in the Gulf South. Organizers hope Jazz Fest can return in the spring of 2022.

State health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says there are 50 hospitals in Louisiana requesting help from the state because they are treating so many COVID patients. Kanter says if you are only suffering minor symptoms or just need a COVID test, do not go to an emergency room.
Cut 5 (07) “…ability”
COVID-related hospitalizations spiked faster than it ever has and sits at a record high of 2,421.

A recent Gallup survey found that previous infection is one reason COVID survivors will not get vaccinated believing they are protected. But Ochsner CEO Warner Thomas says a CDC study offers real-world evidence disputing the belief that previous infection offers ideal protection.
Cut 12 (10) “…difficult.”

Louisiana’s nurses haven’t had many breaks since the pandemic began in March of 2020, and now many are dealing with burnout. Matt Doyle has more…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Governor Edwards is calling upon Louisianans who believe in the power of prayer to join him and First Lady Donna Edwards in praying and fasting during their lunchtime over the next three days for health care workers and all of those who are sick with or affected by COVID-19. Edwards says he believes strongly in the power of prayer and there are thousands who need to be lifted up in prayer.

Louisiana hospitals are clogged with COVID patients leading to 50 facilities formally requesting aid from the state. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Because of the exponential growth of COVID cases in New Orleans and the region the decision has been made to cancel the 2021 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival scheduled for October. Organizers are hopeful the musical festival can return to the New Orleans Fairgrounds next spring.

Some people who previously had COVID are reluctant to be vaccinated believing their antibodies will protect them, but Ochsner Health Director of Infection Control and Prevention Dr. Katherine Baumgarten says their antibodies might not be enough for the growing variants.
Cut 10 (12) “…of COVID.”
A recent Gallup survey found that previous infection is one reason COVID survivors will not get vaccinated believing they are protected.

Another marker will be unveiled along the Louisiana Civil Rights Trail today. The newest marker commemorates the 54th anniversary of the Bogalusa to Baton Rouge Civil Rights March. Lt Governor Billy Nungesser says the 105-mile demonstration grew from 25 to 600 people before its final stop.
Cut 13 (11) “…capitol.”
For more information go to Louisiana Civil Rights Trail-dot-com.

The state health department says over the past two weeks about one percent of Louisiana residents have become infected with COVID-19. Governor John Bel Edwards says more than six thousand children have tested positive this week, which is why children five and up should wear a mask in schools

Cut 7 (12) “…young people” 

LSU faculty and staff members expressed concerns Friday with a 100-percent capacity return to the classroom during the fourth pandemic surge. History Professor Meredith Veldman questioned school leaders when a statement on the school’s website says they follow CDC guidelines, yet their actions show otherwise.

Cut 13 (12) “.occupancy”

Another COVID-19 variant has been detected in Louisiana. LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport has found the Lambda variant in seven cases in northwest Louisiana. But LSU Health Shreveport Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Jeremy Kamil says there’s no reason to believe that this new variant will bypass the vaccines that are available…
cut 11 (08) “….well”
Canadian-based Interfor Corporation announces plans to invest eight million dollars to restart an idle sawmill near DeQuincy. Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance CEO George Swift says the revived plant will support significant logging and logistics activity in the region…
Cut 5 (08) “…this industry”
The project is expected to create 170 new jobs.

The Delta variant has apparently prompted more unvaccinated individuals to seek out the COVID vaccine. Governor John Bel Edwards says the number of people being vaccinated now has grown by 300-percent during this surge…

Cut 8 (07) “..some time”

Because of this record surge in cases, LSU faculty want the school to either mandate vaccines or allow teachers to go all online for the semester. History Professor Meredith Veldman the pandemic is at worse levels now than it ever was in spring 2020 when the school went entirely remote.

Cut 14 (09) “…conditions”

On Friday President Tate said he would mandate vaccines once they receive full FDA approval. Otherwise, there was no official response from the board to faculty members

Seven Lamba COVID variants have been sequenced in Louisiana so far, all clustered in Northwest Louisiana. LSU Health Shreveport Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Jeremy Kamil says Lambda is not an offshoot of the now-dominant Delta variant.

Cut 9 (08) “…Peru”

The Lambda variants most likely crossed the border from Texas.

The Lambda variant, first discovered in Peru, has now been found in Northwest Louisiana. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle” 

In Shreveport, an accident on I-20 leaves three dead and three others in critical condition. Shreveport Police says the accident happened about 2 am this morning after a truck lost a tire traveling west on I-20 and pulled over. A car then hit the truck causing it to cross two lanes of traffic and into the path of five motorcyclists, killing two of them and the car passenger.

For the fourth straight day, Louisiana has set a record for the number of COVID patients in the hospital. On Friday it was up to 2,421 and according to health officials, 90-percent of the hospitalized are unvaccinated. Governor John Bel Edwards says the state is at the leading edge of this fourth surge

Cut 6 (12) “..even close.”

LSU faculty expressed their concerns on Friday over the return of in-person teaching especially with only 34-percent of the students reportedly vaccinated. They want the option to teach classes virtually or limit in-person capacity to 50-percent. Kevin Yua Coordinator of LSU World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures says previous mitigation rules were not always followed.

Cut 12 (12) “..enforced” 

The Delta variant has apparently scared more unvaccinated individuals off the fence and over to a healthcare provider. Governor John Bel Edwards says the number of people seeking a vaccine has grown by 300-percent during this surge…

cut 8 (07) “….for some time”

Another COVID-19 variant has been detected in Louisiana. LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport has found the Lambda variant in seven cases in northwest Louisiana. But LSU Health Shreveport Professor of Microbiology and Immunology Jeremy Kamil says there’s no reason to believe that this new variant will bypass the vaccines that are available…

cut 11 (08) “….well”

There was a report suggesting Chinese vaccines were ineffective against Lambda in Peru, but Kamil says there’s no hard data to back that up.

LSU faculty addressed the administration on Friday over their pandemic concerns as the university plans to return to in-person instruction for most classes. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (32)…I’m Brooke Thorington”  

The weekly winners of the state’s Shot at A Million vaccine lottery today were announced today. Coty Hemperley of Shreveport won the $100,000 cash prize and Nevada Charity of New Orleans is the scholarship winner. The million-dollar grand prize and remaining scholarship winners will be announced on Friday, August 13^th.