State health experts: Omicron continues rapid spread in La.

Louisiana will enter the new year in the midst of a new surge in coronavirus cases, this one linked to the emergence of the fast-spreading omicron variant.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a press conference Thursday that he's hoping for a good new year. But "it's going to be a difficult month of January," he said in the Zoom meeting with state reporters.

The number of new COVID-19 cases set a record Wednesday, and than exceeded that total by a third with 12,367 new cases in Thursday's report from the Louisiana Department of Health. The number of people in Louisiana hospitals for COVID treatment has more than tripled to 762 in less than two weeks.

In St. Mary, another 138 new COVID positives were reported between midday Wednesday and midday Thursday. Nearly 500 new COVID cases have been reported here since Dec. 17.

The number of COVID-related deaths, usually a lagging indicator among coronavirus statistics, has remained low early in this fifth surge. Two deaths were reported in Louisiana Thursday, and none in St. Mary, where the pandemic death toll remains at 230.

Some state offices, including the Governor's Office, are requiring masks, although Edwards said he isn't contemplating another statewide mask mandate for now.

But "I don't take it off the table because what we can't have is hospitals losing their capacity to perform lifesaving care," Edwards said.

The public health experts on Thursday's Zoom call said the best way to protect against COVID remains vaccination, including the recommended booster.

Here are recommendations from the Governor's Office:
--Celebrate at home with members of your everyday household.
-- Get vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, to protect yourself and others.
-- Mask regardless of vaccination status. Mask in indoor public places; mask indoors when with people outside your everyday household; and mask outdoors when distancing is not possible.
-- Limit exposure to those outside your everyday household.
--Work remotely if possible.

K-12 return to school recommendations:
Omicron spreads easily and very quickly. This variant will cause widespread outbreaks and will likely result in school closures if prevention measures are not strictly followed in these settings.

--Mask universally indoors and outside when socially distancing is not possible. Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet during mealtimes when masking is not possible
--Most outbreaks identified in school settings have been associated with extracurricular activities. It is safest to suspend extracurricular activities while the extremely transmissible Omicron variant is circulating at such high levels in throughout our state, i.e., until statewide incidence is below 200 infections per 100,000 people.
--Do not participate in social gatherings with individuals outside your everyday household (e.g., pep rallies, school dances) until statewide incidence is below 200 infections per 100,000 people.
--Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible.
--Children should be tested prior to the return to school.

St. Mary Superintendent Dr. Teresa Bagwell said Thursday that a press release is being prepared about the schools' response to the most recent guidance.

The experts also urged people who believe they have COVID symptoms to get tested, but also urged people not to seek testing at hospital emergency rooms .

You can find a list of testing sites at https://ldh.la.gov/page/3934