Governor, Health Department outline new COVID guidance

As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in Louisiana, and following the designation of Louisiana by the White House as a “state of concern” because of its rapid case growth and insufficient vaccination rate, the Governor's Office and the state Department of Health issued updated guidance recommending that all people, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, wear masks indoors when at least 6 feet of distancing is not physically possible during the fourth surge of COVID-19.
Additional measures may be announced later if the situation worsens.
“We are in a very dangerous surge right now,” said Dr. Joseph Kanter, state health officer. “To ensure their own safety people in Louisiana should take precautions immediately. Masking and testing will limit death and suffering until we make it through this.”
In light of sharply increasing COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations throughout Louisiana, and as the nation learns more about the transmission dynamics of Delta breakthrough cases, today the Louisiana Department of Health recommends additional layers of protection for all residents, regardless of vaccination status. This updated guidance includes:
–All people – vaccinated and unvaccinated – should wear face masks while indoors if six feet of physical distance cannot be maintained.
All businesses should review their operations to accommodate employees in a way that reduces unnecessary contact to avoid the spread of COVID in the workplace.
All people should take a COVID test immediately after a known or suspected exposure to COVID-19.
If positive, they should isolate immediately.
If negative, they should retest again between five and seven days post-exposure.
If they develop symptoms of COVID-19 at any point they should test and immediately isolate pending the results.
This guidance will remain in place at least until Louisiana is safely out of its fourth COVID-19 surge, with additional guidance and mitigation measures put in place if and when necessary to slow the spread of the more contagious and virulent Delta variant and preserve hospital capacity.
The following guidance from LDH and the CDC has not yet changed:
—The CDC advises that fully vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine following an exposure to COVID-19, and LDH is not yet altering this guidance.
—Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19, even those who are fully vaccinated or without a known exposure, should get tested.
—Anyone who tests positive should immediately isolate. Isolation (for those who test positive for COVID-19) typically consists of:
—If symptomatic, at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared, symptoms are improving, and at least 24 hours with no fever without fever-reducing medication
—If asymptomatic but with a positive test, 10 days from the time the test sample was collected
Local leaders may implement mitigation measures that are more comprehensive that the current state guidelines should they feel this is best for their communities.
In addition, local school boards currently set masking and mitigation policies for their schools.