According to the Louisiana Department of Health, more than 10,000 Louisianans have died from COVID-19.
“10, 000 lives lost in one year. Any loss of life is tragic, but a loss this large is stunning,” said Dr. Courtney N. Phillips, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health. “For context, that means we have lost more residents to COVID-19 than accidents, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s Disease combined, which were the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth leading causes of death in Louisiana in 2017. It would have been the second leading cause of death that year, behind only heart disease. Said another way, we’ve lost more residents to COVID than the population sizes of 85% of Louisiana’s towns, cities, and villages.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards released the following statement:
“Today is a grim milestone for our state as more than 10,000 Louisianans have now died from COVID-19, marking a year of sadness and loss, as so many families and friends are missing their loved ones. We must pray for them and their families and do everything we can to prevent the spread of this terrible illness. While the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, in the midst of darkness, there is hope – more than one million people in Louisiana have now started the vaccination process. We are blessed that our scientists and doctors have produced three highly effective and safe vaccines against this illness, and now more than ever, we are called to continue to protect each other and to save lives through wearing masks, keeping distance, and getting the vaccine when it is our turn. These vaccines are not just about to getting back to a more normal life and ending the pandemic, they’re also a critical tool in ensuring fewer people die from this illness.”
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Beginning today, all essential workers in Louisiana are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Those needing to schedule and appointment can do so by:
- Signing up through the mass vaccination site at the Convention Center: LCMChealth.org/vaccine, or calling (504) 290-5200
- Joining the citywide waitlist at ready.nola.gov/getvaccine, 3-1-1-, or (504) 658-2299
- Finding a local pharmacy or clinic: covidvaccine.la.gov
“The COVID vaccines are our exit ramp from this pandemic and I could not be more encouraged by the tremendous work already undertaken,” said Dr. Joseph Kanter, State Health Officer. “I am looking forward to even more Louisianans having the opportunity to get vaccinated in the near future.”
Currently, Louisiana has administered over 1.6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 611,494 Louisianans completely vaccinated against the coronavirus.
