NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards described the start of vaccinations in the state as "an exciting time," even as the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 reaches the highest levels in eight months.
In a news conference on Thursday, Edwards said that at least 7,000 healthcare workers at 71 hospitals across the state have already received the first doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine. Frontline healthcare workers and nursing home patients and staff are the first priority groups to receive vaccinations in the coming weeks.
"This is the beginning of our process of putting the pandemic behind us," Edwards said.
The vaccination rollout comes at a critical time as COVID-19 hospitalizations reach the highest level since April and hospitals worry about preserving remaining capacity.
The Louisiana Department of Health reported on Thursday that 1,602 patients with COVID-19 were hospitalized in Louisiana, an increase of 18 compared to the previous day's report. Of those patients, 169 require the use of ventilators.
Thursday's hospitalization total surpasses the peak set during the second surge of the virus in the summer and is now at its highest level since April 22.
"Our hospitals are already stressed," Edwards said.
The governor said he spoke with CEOS and medical directors at several Louisiana hospitals who said they were concerned about bed capacity more so about staffing.
"That is another reason why the vaccinations taking place across the state are so important," Edwards said, adding that more healthcare workers receiving the vaccine means fewer critical nurses and doctors who can not work because they have to quarantine.
The state department of health reported an additional 31 deaths and 3,851 new cases of the virus since Wednesday. In total, 279,321 cases have been reported and 6,964 people have died in Louisiana since the first case was discovered in early March.
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