The state reports 5,550 new COVID cases today and a slight decrease in those hospitalized with COVID-related issues, the count now stands at 3,013, down from nine from Wednesday. 91-percent of the current patients are unvaccinated. The state also noted 58 more COVID fatalities.
Even with a slight decline in hospital patients, Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas says nonemergency surgeries are still having to be postponed but they aren’t all elective, they are procedures impacting those with cancer and heart disease and those needing organ transplants.
Thomas says they have had to redeploy approximately 800 staff throughout the system to handle the influx of COVID patients which is another reason for postponing surgeries.
The Louisiana Gaming Control Board approves emergency rules that would allow casinos to offer sports betting to their patrons starting on Monday. Chairman Ronnie Johns says the goal all along was to make sure legal sports wagering in Louisiana was up and running prior to the start of the football season…
The emergency rules approved by the board will give riverboat and land-based casinos and racetracks the ability to take sports bets starting on Monday.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is canceling National Hunting and Fishing Day events that were scheduled across the state for September 25th. LDWF spokesperson Ed Pratt says the current COVID situation caused them to cancel the event, but he hopes that next year we will be in a much better situation.