LATEST GUIDELINES: (Source: Louisiana Dept. of Health)
FULLY VACCINATED
If you are fully vaccinated you have very good, but not absolute protection. Your risk, while relatively small, will increase as the amount of COVID-19 circulating in your community increases. You must wear a mask if 5 or older when indoors in any place outside of a private residence.
NOT FULLY VACCINATED
If you are not fully vaccinated, you should socially distance and you must wear a mask if 5 or older when indoors in any place outside of a private residence, for your safety and for the safety of those around you.
AT INCREASED RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS
If you are at increased risk for complications of COVID-19 by virtue of advanced age or underlying medical condition or have a member of your household family unit who is, you must wear a mask if 5 or older when indoors in any place outside of a private residence unless you have a medical condition that prevents the wearing of a face covering.
What are the latest safety protocols?
Gov. John Bel Edwards has temporarily reinstated Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate indoors for all people age five and older as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise across Louisiana, threatening the ability of Louisiana’s hospitals to deliver care during this fourth surge of COVID.
Louisiana is currently in the worst surge of the COVID-19 pandemic so far in terms of case growth rate, percent positivity and hospitalizations.
What is the Delta Variant?
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has mutated (changed), resulting in different variants of the virus.
One of these is called the delta variant. The delta coronavirus is considered a “variant of concern” by the CDC because it appears to be more easily transmitted from one person to another (more contagious). As of July 2021, delta is regarded as the most contagious form of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus so far. (Source: Johns Hopkins)
Is there any new information regarding the vaccine?
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine remains the single best way of protecting yourself, your family and your community against COVID-19. While the protection provided by each of the three currently available COVID-19 vaccines is very good against COVID-19 and the variants currently spreading in Louisiana, the protection is not absolute. LDH is aware of a small number of “breakthrough cases,” or individuals who contracted COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. (Source: Louisiana Department of Health)
Although vaccines afford very high protection, infection with the delta and other variants remain possible. Fortunately, vaccination, even among those who acquire infections, appears to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. (Source: Johns Hopkins)
Being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 can protect you from the delta variant.
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- All three of the F.D.A.-authorized COVID-19 vaccines can protect you from the delta coronavirus. For Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, you need both doses for maximum protection.
- While the authorized COVID-19 vaccines are not perfect, they are highly effective against serious coronavirus disease and reduce the risk of hospitalization and death.
- Other vaccines available in other countries may not be as effective in protecting you from the delta variant and other mutations of the coronavirus. (Source: Johns Hopkins)
Why are there breakthrough cases? I thought vaccines gave a person immunity.
COVID-19 vaccines are effective. However, a small percentage of people who are fully vaccinated will still get COVID-19 if they are exposed to the virus that causes it, also known as vaccine breakthrough cases.
This means that while people who have been vaccinated are much less likely to get sick, it will still happen in some cases. It’s also possible that some fully vaccinated people might have infections, but not have symptoms. Experts are continuing to study how common these cases are.
While approved vaccines are historically well-known to be effective, no vaccine prevents illness 100% of the time. For any vaccine, there are breakthrough cases. (Source: CDC)
Where can I learn more about the vaccine?