A dreaded fifth wave of COVID-19 begins to sweep through New Orleans just in time for the holidays, bring with this Ilong lines on community test sites, a shortage of rapid tests at region pharmacies and fast growth of cases.

the the city’s health department has reported 742 new cases of COVID-19 Monday, and many Restaurants and places have already started cancel the holiday season. the Louisiana Departhealth ment today also reported a 60% increase in the incidence of COVID-19It’s finish 7-day average of the last week. Louisiana percentage of positivity rate fell from 2.2% last week to 3.3% this week.

BUtah state and city officials stopped before announcing new mandates and instead of have maintained that frequent tests, interior masking and booster shots are the key to spending the holidayss with a parent safety.

“Get tested before you travel, before you get together and again on your return” noted State epidemiologist Theresa Sokol during a briefing Monday.

“Remember, Covid testing really isn’t a snapshot in time – just because you test negative before a flight doesn’t mean you will still be negative two days later when you go to meet at the members’ house. your family.“, Sokol saiD.

Health oofficials also highlighted the data to suggesting that booster injections have so far helped prevent severe infections and noted Louisiana still can bring togetherr, rather than canceling vacation plans outright.

They are mask highly recommendeding like the state remains terribly under–vaccinated – New Orleans, although, has led the state in vaccination rates to over 70%. They warned last week, however, that they would consider further restrictions once they have more data after the New Year.

“The masking is what stops the surge” Sokol noted. “Now is the time to start universally masking in indoor public spaces – this is how you’re really going to brake the transmission. “

She also acknowledged the anecdotal reports of long lines of testing and said the Health Department plans to use federal resources to speed up distribution of tests to pharmacies and testing sites over the next few days.

Friday, a Gambit employee went to a community test site. A member of the National Guard estimated that they had already carried out more than 500 tests at this site alone, by 3 p.m.. and waited for new cargo while a line of cars made his way down Basin Street outside the screening and vaccination site. Meanwhile, social media was filled with stories of people searching pharmacies for Covid home tests and finding themselves empty.

Community testing sites are closed to Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as well as New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, but facilities, such as emergency care and pharmacies, will be able to administer tests if they become available.