40 percent of the state’s entire population is now fully vaccinated but for rural regions, that number is still hovering in the low 30s, with numbers in the mid-20s in small rural parishes. LSU Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal grew up in rural Vidrine. She says it can take a long time for mainstream messages to penetrate these smaller communities.
Cut 10 (11) “…working on.”
Meanwhile, New Orleans officials say at least 78-percent of their eligible adult population has at least one shot.

One COVID vaccine shot or a negative COVID test 72 hours prior to entry will be needed in order to attend an LSU football game this season. Monroe Republican State Senator Stewart Cathey calls the protocol an overreach with no historical precedent…..
cut 14 (09) “….sporting event”
LSU athletics director Scott Woodward says they are doing everything they can to ensure the experience in Tiger Stadium is safe and enjoyable.

The largest percentage of new COVID positive cases in the state are among five- to 17-year-olds, and hospitals are seeing a trend in pediatric patients. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The Louisiana Health Department announced 139 more COVID deaths yesterday. That’s a single-day high for the state.

Full FDA approval of the Pfizer COVID vaccine gives way to vaccine mandates and possibly relieving hesitancy. Brooke Thorington talks with a physician that helped oversee the Pfizer Trial.
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

The state health department is reporting a decline of COVID patients in the hospital. Last Tuesday, COVID hospitalizations reached a pandemic high of 3,022. Since then it’s declined to 2,838. L-D-H says 91-percent of those hospitalized with COVID are unvaccinated.

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education says it will not hold a special meeting to discuss mask mandates in schools. BESE says they tried to discuss the issue last week, but members of the public refused to wear masks and also disrupted the meeting by shouting. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder believes BESE should hold a special meeting and establish clear guidelines of what attendees can and cannot do…
cut 6 (11) “….a reason”
BESE says requested five times for audience members to wear masks and not talk out of turn, but after failing to get compliance the board voted to adjourn.

House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says the Bond Commission did not delay 30-million dollars in public financing for construction projects just because of the city’s vaccine policy to enter many businesses. The motion to delay came moments after the Bond Commission delayed funding for Superdome renovation projects…
cut 11 (05) “…agenda”

State workers will likely soon have to either show proof of vaccination or submit to periodic COVID tests. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

Two-point-two million people in Louisiana have started the vaccination series. That is 48-percent of the state’s population and 40-percent of the state’s residents are fully vaccinated. The governor’s office says 50-percent of adults in Louisiana are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Louisiana’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education says it will not hold a special meeting to discuss whether masks should be required in public schools. The issue was set to be discussed last week, but people who came to voice their opinion refused to wear a mask and were vocal about it. Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says concerned parents should call or email their BESE representative…
cut 5 (11) “….with it”

Now that the F-D-A has given full approval to the Pfizer COVID vaccine, will we see more vaccine mandates? LSU Health Shreveport Infectious Disease Specialist Doctor John Vanchiere says in healthcare institutions it’s paramount that employees are not potential spreaders of COVID in convalescent settings…
cut 15 (09) “….do no harm”

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education says it will not hold a special meeting to discuss mandatory masks in schools after adjourning last week’s meeting early due to outbursts from protesters, who also refused to wear a mask in a state-building. Republican House Speaker Clay Schexnayder urges BESE to reconsider…
cut 4 (11) “….whatever it be”
But BESE members say because of all of the disruptions during last week’s meeting, they had no choice but to adjourn early.

House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says the State Bond Commission did not pause tens of millions in funding for projects in Orleans Parish over the city’s vaccine policy. Zeringue says the decision was made because out of 64 parishes Orleans was receiving a quarter of construction funding.
Cut 10 (06) “…legislators.”
Zeringue says six of the 22 projects slated for Orleans were ultimately approved, including a 39 million dollar Sewage and Water Board project.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has received full approval from the U-S Food and Drug Administration. There are some who fear the mRNA vaccine was rushed and long-term effects are unknown. LSU Health Shreveport Infectious Disease Specialist Doctor John Vanchiere says the mRNA platform for developing vaccines has been under development for several decades…
cut 14 (12) “….pandemic hit”

Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne says the governor’s office is working on plans to require state workers to either be vaccinated or submit to periodic COVID tests now that the Pfizer vaccine has received full FDA authorization…
Cut 7 (07) “…for you.”
An Associated Press report says federal funding will likely be used to pay for regular testing of state employees.

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education says it will not hold a special meeting to discuss masks in schools after adjourning early last week due to numerous disruptions from an anti-mask crowd. Brooke Thorington has thoughts from a legislative leader…
cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

BESE has given Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley a positive job evaluation. Brumley has been on the job for just over a year.

The Food and Drug Administration has given full approval to Pfizer’s COVID vaccine. LSU Health Shreveport Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. John Vanchiere oversaw clinical trials of the Pfizer vaccine and says he’s excited and relieved the important milestone has been achieved.
Cut 13 (11) “…their vaccine.”

House Appropriations Chairman Jerome Zeringue says the vaccine mandate that New Orleans has in place to enter many businesses is not the reason why the Bond Commission delayed construction funding for several projects in the city…
cut 12 (07) “…projects”
Zeringue says the decision was made because Orleans Parish was set to receive a quarter of the construction funding and they want to make sure the entire state is getting its fair share.