BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards addressed the state Thursday afternoon (May 20).
At 2:30 p.m., he’s discussed COVID-19 and severe weather that moved through the southern portion of the state.
COVID-19
“We have to do better,” the governor said, referencing the pace of vaccination in the state.
Around 35% of Louisianans have “initiated” their COVID-19 vaccination series; about 30% have completed their vaccination series.
“That’s not where we want to be, quite frankly,” he said.
Plus, he said the state is receiving more doses from the federal government than its sending out across the state. He said about 77% of delivered vaccines are being administered.
Therefore, the governor and state medical leaders are urging people to get their 12 to 15 year-old kids vaccinated.
He said 5,725 people in that age group have gotten the vaccine since the May 13 announcement.
Currently, there is no state incentive for people to get vaccinated.
“We haven’t made a final decision,” Gov. Edwards said. ” We have started to discuss incentives and things we can do…Pretty soon, I’m sure you will hear that we are going to offer some things to make sure that more people take advantage of the opportunity.”
Louisiana ranks second-to-last in states in the number of people who have initiated their vaccinations and seventh-to-last for people who have gotten both shots and completed their vaccination series, according to Gov. Edwards.
Despite neighboring states, like Texas and Arkansas, opting out of federal supplemental unemployment assistance, Gov. Edwards said he has no plans to do so in Louisiana yet.
FLOODING IN SOUTH LOUISIANA
Nearly 900 people have reported damage from flood water that swept through south Louisiana this week.
“It is too early at this point to know whether federal assistance will be available,” Gov. Edwards said.
However, he emphasized more rain is on the way – which means more potential for damage and even more flooding.
“Do not go out and drive in a flash flood scenario unless it is 100% necessary.”
Four of the five storm-related deaths were due to traveling through high water, according to the governor.
People who have experienced damage from flood water, should report it at damage.la.gov.
