The percentage of unvaccinated individuals in Louisiana hospitals has dropped from the upper 90s to the mid-80s. Brooke Thorington asks a professional as to why the vaccine could be perceived as waning.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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More than 400 days after Hurricane Laura devastated the Lake Charles area the city is still working to recover. More from Dave Brannen.
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At the height of the fourth COVID wave, the percentage of those unvaccinated in the hospital in Louisiana hovered in the upper 90s but now it’s dropped to 86-percent. Doctor Lucio Miele with LSU Health New Orleans says it’s another indicator of the need for booster shots because immunity naturally drops over time.
Cut 3 (10) “….two weeks after vaccination”
Another factor for the percentage drop among those unvaccinated in the hospital with COVID is because Miele says we have a much more infectious virus now.
Cut 4 (08) “…infecting humans.”
The declining percentage over time Miele says reinforces the need for booster shots, much like annual flu shots that are advised yearly. Miele says the booster shot could help us avoid a scenario in which…
Currently, only the Pfizer vaccine has received emergency use authorization from the FDA for booster shots. It’s expected that the same will happen in the next few days for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
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Well over a year after Hurricane Laura ripped apart Lake Charles and the surrounding area, many folks there still haven’t recovered from the onslaught of the storm. Mayor Nic Hunter says they hold a record of sorts for disasters.
Cut 6 (07) “…in American history.”
He says about eight percent of his city’s population is still residing outside the area and believes some of them will never come back.
He says that area of the state is still playing the waiting game for the much needed supplemental disaster aid to assist in the continued efforts to try and get his city back to a sense of normalcy.
Cut 7 (06) “….Laura hit yesterday.”
Hunter is taken back by the lack of a quick federal response to the needs of Laura victims.
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The Louisiana Gaming Control Board approves an application from the online sports betting site Fan Duel. The board unanimously approved the application this morning which makes Louisiana the 47th state to approve Fan Duel. Tammy Hop an auditor with the Louisiana State Police Gaming Division gave a report to the commission concerning their projected revenue.
As for when sports betting will be widely available in the state, Gaming Commissioner Ronnie Johns says it’s the number one question he gets from the media and says Hurricane Ida forced the gaming division of state police to shift their focus briefly to recovery, but he remains optimistic on the timeline but chose not to give a specific date.
So far only 13 of the 20 casinos in Louisiana have applied for a license to allow sports wagering. Currently, only Paragon Casino, south of Marksville is the only outlet with legalized sports wagering operating. As for rumors that sports wagering would be up and running as soon as this weekend, Johns set the record straight.
Cut 11 (12) “… the right way.”
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The National Retail Federation estimates consumers will spend just under $1000 on holiday gifts and other purchases this year, which is comparable to 2020. But NRF Senior Director of Industry and Consumer Insights, Katherine Cullen says holiday shoppers are starting their quest for the perfect gift much earlier this year.
Cullen says the survey indicates that seniors plan to spend more on gifts for their grandchildren this year and those hosting gatherings anticipate spending more on food this year if the pandemic continues to see a downward trend.
And because of anticipated supply chain disruptions, Cullen says 50-percent of shoppers will begin their holiday shopping before November.
Cullen says 57-percent of shoppers play to shop online for their holiday purchases, that’s down from 60-percent in 2020, and a quarter of shoppers plan to shop locally this year.