Due to surging numbers locally St Tammany Health System shared their first COVID update since October.
They said since then they have been ably managing the COVID presence in our community but within the last two weeks their inpatient COVID census jump from 7 Dec. 15 to 24 yesterday.
They said the current volume is quite manageable, particularly given all they have learned about treating COVID-19 in the past two years, but they strongly urge all local residents to take precautions and recognize that the newest variant, Omicron, is spreading across the Northshore and the state.
STHS said St Tammany Parish is once again in the “Very High” category for community infections with COVID-19 with an 11.8% positive test rate parish-wide.
Omicron is the dominant strain currently spreading, and it is more contagious than the original virus. Vaccines and boosters help protect from infection and lessen severity of breakthrough cases.
Local pharmacies have been struggling to keep home COVID tests in stock. Needing a COVID test is not an emergency, so rather than seek tests from local ERs, consider STPN primary care clinics, Cordes Outpatient Pavilion, Mandeville Diagnostic Center, STHS Express Care Clinic or any Ochsner Urgent Care location.
The update said vaccines and boosters remain the strongest weapons in the fight against COVID-19 and its latest variants. All eligible people are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated and to get a booster if it’s been six months since your last shot.
In addition, the Louisiana Department of Health has suspended distribution of monoclonal antibody treatment because it is not effective against this newest variant, Omicron so at STHS they have closed their monoclonal antibody clinic.
