Governor John Bel Edwards will hold a press conference at 1:30 today to update Louisiana residents about the state’s response to the ongoing fourth surge of COVID-19 cases. The number of COVID hospitalizations is 2,350, a record high since the pandemic started.

Nursing shortages are exacerbating the impact of the Delta surge. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

If you’re on the fence about getting vaccinated, the City of Shreveport is offering 100-bucks to entice you to roll up your sleeve. Mayor Adrian Perkins says they will hold a vaccination event at two community centers tomorrow and the first 250 at each location can pad their wallets.
Cut 7 (11) “…vaccinated.”
Perkins says the city is using money from the American Rescue Act to pay for the vaccine incentive program.

Tulane School of Public Health Dean and co-chair of Louisiana’s COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force Thomas LaVeist is working to end the vaccine hesitancy seen among African-Americans. LaVeist says skepticism is the result of a documented history of medical racism…
cut 12 (10) “…distrust”