Drugmaker Pfizer says their experimental antiviral pill for COVID cuts the rates of hospitalization and death by nearly 90-percent in high-risk adults. Dr. Julio Figueroa, Chief of Infectious Diseases at LSU Health New Orleans says if the data holds true the drug is noteworthy. Figueroa says being able to treat COVID patients outside of the hospital with the convenience of a pill versus the current option is a huge advance in treatment.
Brandon Trosclair, who employs nearly 500 people at 15 grocery stores he owns in Louisiana and Mississippi, is among those suing in federal court to strike down the Biden vaccine mandate on private-sector employees. Trosclair says the vaccine mandate goes beyond the federal government intervening in the health choices of his workers and potentially losing employees because of the mandate.
Cut 9 (10) “…gonna get worse.”
The Biden Administration says the mandatory vaccine requirement for many businesses and federal contractors will result in more people getting vaccinated, which will help end the pandemic.
The state marked another critical COVID milestone today, the lowest number of hospitalizations since spring of 2020. On Thursday the lowest was 235 and today it’s 226. Chief of Hospital Medicine at Ochsner LSU Health Shreveport, Dr. Mike Sewell says he believes an increase in vaccinations is largely responsible.
The winner of last Saturday’s one-point-three million-dollar Louisiana Lotto drawing is from Laura-devastated southwest Louisiana. So says lottery spokesman Dennis Annison who says the lucky ticketholder came forward Monday.
Cut 13 (08) “…thousand after taxes.”
No word on what the winner plans to do with his new riches.