Louisiana was battling its fourth surge of the coronavirus last week as Hurricane Ida roared through and caused widespread power outages and devastated communities.
But with limited testing as people return from shelters and shared evacuation accommodations, there is reason to worry there could be a storm-related COVID-19 bump in the near future.
In the week since Ida hit, COVID-19 precautions have slipped. Even in New Orleans, which has had some of the strictest mandates in the nation, masks came off as people waited for electricity to return in stifling-hot homes and businesses. And distancing was not prioritized as families and friends crowded into homes with generators, in large shelters or in nearby states.
Luckily, Ida came at a time when cases and hospitalizations were slowing in Louisiana.
