Louisiana Department of Health Press Releases

• Published on January 18, 2022 - 15:22 GMT

  

  Local, state and federal partners hosting Health Insurance Marketplace informational events throughout the state

  With the January 15 Open Enrollment deadline quickly approaching for health coverage through Healthcare.gov, local, state, and federal partners will host a series of free community events designed to inform residents of health plan options available …

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• Published on January 10, 2022 - 20:23 GMT

  

  CDC shortens Moderna booster dose interval to 5 months

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its recommendations for the Moderna booster, shortening the 6 month interval between completing the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series and receiving a booster dose to 5 months.    Earlier this …

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• Published on January 8, 2022 - 20:23 GMT

  

  Medicaid Forecast Reports SFY 2020/2021

  The Department of Health submits a detailed monthly report to the Legislature that provides a comprehensive overview of Medicaid spending. The reports include projections for future revenues and expenditures for the given state fiscal year.

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• Published on January 7, 2022 - 17:14 GMT

  

  CDC updates and clarifies COVID-19 booster guidance, unequivocally recommending that everyone 12 years and older get boosted if ...

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated and clarified its COVID-19 booster guidance, unequivocally recommending that everyone 12 years old and above receive a booster dose if eligible. Below is a summary of the updated guidance: …

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• Published on January 6, 2022 - 21:38 GMT

  

  Omicron cases continue to dominate spread in Louisiana

  The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) estimates the proportion of Omicron cases in our state has increased from 88.5% to 90.2% for the week ending January 1.*   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the proportion of Omicron in …

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• Published on January 5, 2022 - 19:07 GMT

  

  Dr. Paulette Grey Riveria joins Louisiana Department of Health as Capital Region Medical Director/Administrator

  Dr. Paulette L. Grey Riveria has joined the Louisiana Department of Health as the Regional Medical Director/Administrator for the seven parishes of the Office of Public Health's Capital Region. Dr. Grey Riveria is a board-certified family medicine …

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• Published on January 4, 2022 - 16:22 GMT

  

  As demand soars, LDH provides guidance on what to do when COVID-19 testing is not widely available

  As demand for COVID-19 testing soars and rapid tests continue to be in short supply statewide and nationwide, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is sharing recommendations for people who are unable to be tested.    LDH continues to work to make …

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• Published on December 31, 2021 - 21:55 GMT

  

  FDA authorizes first antiviral pills for COVID-19

  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued an Emergency Use Authorization for Pfizer’s Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets) — the first oral treatment for COVID-19. The pill can be used to treat mild-to-moderate coronavirus …

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• Published on December 30, 2021 - 15:11 GMT

  

  Sharp increase in Omicron cases across Louisiana

  The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) estimates the proportion of Omicron cases in our state is 88.5% for the week ending December 25.*   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the proportion of Omicron in HHS Region 6 (which …

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• Published on December 29, 2021 - 22:56 GMT

  

  CDC issues new guidance on isolation & quarantine periods

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shortened the recommended isolation and quarantine periods for the general public.    The CDC says individuals with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 can leave home after isolating for five days if …

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• Published on December 28, 2021 - 23:48 GMT

  

  COVID-19 hospitalizations double in one week amid Omicron surge

  Baton Rouge, La. (December 26, 2021) — The Louisiana Department of Health announces that 449 people in Louisiana are hospitalized with COVID-19 – a figure that has doubled in the last week. The last time we reported this many COVID-19 hospitalizations was …

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• Published on December 28, 2021 - 23:48 GMT

  

  Two new COVID-19 sites set up in Baton Rouge

  The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has set up two new drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites in Baton Rouge. Both antigen and PCR tests are available.    The following sites will be open from noon to 6 p.m. until Thursday, December 30 and from 8 a.m. to 1 …

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• Published on December 27, 2021 - 17:16 GMT

  

  LDH: Federal allocations of monoclonal antibody treatments paused due to Omicron variant's resistance to monoclonal antibody ...

  The Louisiana Department of Health is pausing administration of monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments at LDH-run mAb treatment sites in response to a federal decision to cease state allocations.   LDH sites previously offered two mAb treatments: REGEN-COV  …

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• Published on December 23, 2021 - 22:08 GMT

  

  LDH estimates proportion of Omicron cases is more than 84% in Louisiana

  The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) estimates the proportion of Omicron cases in our state is 84.6% for the week ending December 18.   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the proportion of Omicron in HHS Region 6 (which …

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• Published on December 21, 2021 - 22:55 GMT

  

  Louisiana Department of Health issues new guidance as Omicron variant spreads

  The Louisiana Department of Health is issuing updated guidance for the holidays, as the Omicron variant spreads and COVID-19 trends worsen.  "CDC estimates that Omicron is now the dominant COVID-19 variant in the United States and in Louisiana's …

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• Published on December 20, 2021 - 23:50 GMT

  

  LDH announces holiday closures for community-based COVID-19 testing sites

  COVID-19 testing at all Louisiana Army National Guard (LANG) sites and parish health units will be paused on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.   Individuals needing help finding a testing site near them can call 211 …

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• Published on December 17, 2021 - 23:37 GMT

  

  LDH reports 31 additional Omicron variant cases in Louisiana

  The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is reporting 31 additional cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. None of these new cases have required hospitalization.    This brings the total number of Omicron cases in our state to 124. The first confirmed …

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• Published on December 17, 2021 - 21:21 GMT

  

  CDC recommends Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines over Janssen

   The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorses the updated recommendations by its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) expressing a clinical preference for individuals to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by …

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• Published on December 17, 2021 - 19:00 GMT

  

  LDH reports 48 additional Omicron variant cases in Louisiana

  The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) is reporting 48 additional cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. None of these new cases have required hospitalization.  This brings the total number of Omicron cases in our state to 93. The first confirmed …

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• Published on December 15, 2021 - 23:15 GMT

  

  Louisiana Department of Health receives CMS approval to launch TEFRA

  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted approval for Louisiana Medicaid to launch Act 421 Children’s Medicaid Option, or TEFRA, effective January 1, 2022. This program allows certain children under 19 years of age with disabilities …

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