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Omicron Estimated to be More than 84% of Cases in Louisiana

December 23, 2021

For the week ending December 18, 2021, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) estimates that the proportion of Omicron cases in our state was 84.6 percent. According to the CDC, Omicron is responsible for more than 73 percent of all cases in the United States.

The portion of Omicron in HHS Region 6 (which encompasses Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) is estimated to be 92.1 percent by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For the most current reporting period, just a small amount of Louisiana sequence data is available. Estimated proportions are just that: estimates. Instead of a case count, LDH will now give the Omicron variant proportion. Due to the large number of cases being found, case-based surveillance for Omicron is no longer feasible. Furthermore, presenting case counts of confirmed and probable cases will give an erroneous picture of how much Omicron is circulating in our state.
LDH says that this is because:
1) probable cases are only able to be identified by one specific PCR assay that picks up the S-gene dropout.
2) not all PCR samples are submitted for sequencing.
3) many people are tested by rapid antigen or molecular tests, which are not able to be sequenced.

Updated LDH Guidance
Governor John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana’s Public Health Emergency Order, forcing all state employees, contractors, and visitors to wear masks indoors in most public buildings, due to the fast-spreading Omicron strain. In addition, the Louisiana Department of Health provided updated advice and instructions for Louisiana residents over the Christmas season, particularly for those who are traveling. Being immunized, and boosters, masking indoors – regardless of vaccination status – among people who aren’t in your household, and getting tested many times – before traveling, before a gathering, and after returning from travel – are all examples of these precautions.

In comparison to a fully vaccinated person, unvaccinated people are 14 times more likely to die and 8 times more likely to be hospitalized due to COVID, according to the CDC.

Furthermore, anyone with COVID symptoms should be examined and placed in isolation to avoid transmitting the disease to others. Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, weariness, muscular or body pains, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea are all symptoms of COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are widely available at more than 1,000 locations in all of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, including at pharmacies, hospitals, health care clinics, and doctor’s offices. For a list of locations near you, visit https://ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine or text your ZIP code to GETVAX (438829) in English or VACUNA (822862) in Spanish. If you have questions, would like to speak with a medical professional, or need help scheduling an appointment, call 211 or Louisiana’s vaccine hotline at 1-855-453-0774.

As a reminder, all community-based sites operated by the Louisiana National Guard will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.