Louisiana’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate hits record high

NORTHWEST LOUISIANA (KSLA) - It is a sobering reality: Louisiana has more patients in hospitals across the state fighting COVID-19 than ever before.

Sadly, Northwest Louisiana’s hospitalization rate is among the highest in the state. According to state data, 1,993 Louisianans are in hospitals — the most since the early days of the pandemic in April of last year. A total of 207 of these patients are on ventilators.

In Region 7, which makes of Shreveport-Bossier, 375 people are in local hospitals with the coronavirus. Similar to state data, never has there been a time during the pandemic when hospitals have treated this many COVID-19 patients.

The only other part of the state with more patients is Region 1 - New Orleans.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the grim numbers during a news conference on Tuesday.

“The hospital is full of people who didn’t believe it [COVID-19] was that serious,” Gov. Edwards said. “We have families grieving today because they didn’t do what was required to protect their loved ones.”

Of course, the state’s vaccination efforts provide a glimmer of hope. 56,452 doses have been administered. though this number is likely higher, as there is a delay in state data.

Louisiana also added 6,882 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday - another unprecedented rise in cases. 7,681 Louisianans have lost their lives to the virus.