Louisiana Has Just Hit an All-Time High in COVID-19 Infections

Honestly, I thought that after we started to roll out the most effective vaccines in human history, there would be a light at the end of the COVID-19 crisis tunnel.  After today's report from the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), it's clear that the previous single-day record has been smashed by a significant number.

According to KTBS, officials in Louisiana registered 6,754 positive tests - besting the previous all-time high of 4,339 recorded on Dec. 9th of this year.  Of course, this absolutely destroys any and all hopes for a New Year's Eve celebration of any size in the state.

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell has already informed establishments in the Crescent City that bars, restaurants, and the like will have to close their doors to indoor seating at 11 p.m. on Wednesday.  Outdoor seating for up to 50 socially distanced people and drive-thru, takeout and curbside pickup will still be allowed.

That means that  "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve," set to be hosted in New Orleans will still happen - however police will be on hand to make sure no in-person viewing of the event takes place.

As if that news isn't scary enough, both Colorado and California are now reporting that a more contagious mutation of the Coronavirus named B.1.1.7 has been detected in their states.  According to USA Today, none of the patients who have tested positive for the new strain have any recent travel history, suggesting that the virus mutated in the United States.

All of this means that we aren't out of the woods yet, so don't let your guard down.  Wear your mask, wash your hands, avoid crowds, and take advantage of delivery systems and curbside pickup whenever you can.