New Orleans Department of Health Director Jennifer Avegno said Thursday that she is “more concerned” about the coronavirus than she has been for several months due to data trends in Orleans Parish and neighboring parishes and states. .
Avegno said growth in the cases could put the city back on the road to exponential expansion and threaten the hospital’s capacity.
Several city officials gathered at a press conference on Thursday and urged people, especially young adults, to avoid social gatherings to help prevent the spread over the July 4 weekend.
The Louisiana Department of Health reported 1,383 more coronavirus cases, 17 more deaths, and 41 more hospitalizations in its daily update on Thursday noon.
There were 15,286 more tests reported to Louisiana on Thursday. Of those tests, 9.05% were positive for coronavirus. The positive percentage in the last seven days was 7.63%. During Phase 1, there was an average of a positive rate of 4.78% percent.
Avegno added that community testing sites, starting next week, will limit testing to 150 per day as a potential problem arises with the national testing supply chain.
The Louisiana Department of Health reported 1,383 more coronavirus cases, 17 more deaths, and 41 more hospitalizations in its daily update on Thursday noon.
This is a developing story. More details to come.
