Louisiana governor urges people to get vaccinated amid ‘astronomical’ rise in cases

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) urged his residents to get vaccinated on Twitter and during a press conference Friday, pointing to the surge of COVID-19 cases the state has experienced.

Edwards said during the press conference the state was recording an “astronomical” rise in cases while having a low vaccination rate. 

Louisiana has only 39 percent of its residents fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

“COVID deaths have risen dramatically since June, especially in Louisianans under the age of 40. These are not just numbers. These are our sisters and brothers,” Edwards posted on Twitter on Friday.

“The COVID vaccines can prevent this immeasurable suffering. We do not have to lose any more Louisianans to COVID,” he added.

COVID deaths have risen dramatically since June, especially in Louisianans under the age of 40. These are not just numbers. These are our sisters and brothers. The COVID vaccines can prevent this immeasurable suffering. We do not have to lose any more Louisianans to COVID. #lagov pic.twitter.com/w4asQreNch

— John Bel Edwards (@LouisianaGov) August 20, 2021

The state has recorded almost 650,000 COVID-19 cases throughout the pandemic and almost 12,000 deaths.

The recent surge was shown in numbers from the state health department, with 32 percent more cases recorded in August than July.

There has also been a 1,467 percent increase in COVID-19 deaths in individuals under the age of 40. 

“I can tell you that for the last couple of days, 28 percent of all the new cases that we’re reporting are in children zero to 17,” Edwards said during the press conference.

The rise in cases among children comes as students are returning to school.