State health officials are reporting the first probable case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in Louisiana. The Department of Health says it involves an individual in the greater New Orleans area who recently traveled within the United States. The Omicron variant has now been detected in nine states and 30 countries. State Health Officer, Dr. Joe Kanter, says news of Omicron in Louisiana is cause for concern, but not panic.
Regardless of variants, Governor Edwards says the best protection is to be fully vaccinated, which includes children five and older and when applicable a booster shot for individuals 18 and older.
Currently, Edwards says only 49-percent of the state’s population is fully vaccinated.
CWD, or Chronic Wasting Disease which is fatal to deer, is becoming a growing concern in Louisiana. Jeff Palermo has the story…
Over the past 30 days, Louisiana State troopers say they’ve seized more than six million dollars in illegal narcotics during numerous traffic stops across the state. Trooper William Huggins says on Wednesday a traffic stop in St. Tammany Parish led to the discovery of a large quantity of suspected meth.
Cut 9 (06) “…of suspected methamphetamine.”
The street value of the haul is estimated at more than two million dollars. A Texas man was arrested on drug-related charges.