COVID-19

The Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) is committed to supporting Louisiana residents as we work together in the face of an unprecedented public health disaster. 

LPHI has conducted two statewide surveys on COVID-19 to ask participants about their knowledge of COVID-19, how their behaviors have changed during the pandemic, vaccine willingness, how the pandemic has impacted them, the status of their physical and mental health, and more. The first survey was conducted in June 2020 and the second was conducted in February 2021. Additional information about the surveys, the full report, and overview documents can be found on the COVID-19 Survey page. 

With funding from Baptist Community Ministries, LPHI conducted an assessment to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Greater New Orleans behavioral health system (mental health and substance use services). LPHI surveyed and spoke with 154 behavioral health service providers and clients from Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, and Plaquemines parishes from August 3 to August 19, 2020. The full assessment can be found here. 

Current information on COVID-19 in Louisiana, including information on the risks, spread, prevention measures, and case counts, can be found on the Louisiana Department of Health website. Information on vaccine providers, boosters, and vaccination events can be found here and a statewide list of testing sites can be found here. Compiled below is information from trusted resources that can be used by the public, providers, and public health professionals.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, including a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, call your primary care provider. Do not go to the doctor without calling first. If you do not have a primary care provider, call the Louisiana Department of Health hotline at 1-855-523-2652. If you are severely ill and you think you need hospitalization, call 911 or go to an emergency room.

General Information and Resources

• Utilize 211 for COVID-19 questions
  • Call 211
  • Text LACOVID to 898-211
  • Visit www.la211help.org
• Keeping Calm Through COVID
  • Hotline: 1-866-310-7977
  • Text REACHOUT (all caps together) to 741741 
  • 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • Compassionate, trained counselors
  • No cost to you
• Webinars
  • All Things COVID-19 Vaccines – A Tele-Town Halls for Sharing Information and Answers
    • Recording for Acadiana and Lake Charles (Region 4 and 5)
    • Recording for Alexandria, Shreveport, and Monroe areas (Region 6, 7, and 8)
    • Recording for Greater New Orleans, Houma-Thibodaux, and North Shore areas (Region 1, 3, and 9)
    • Recording for Baton Rouge Area (Region 2)
  • Protecting our Communities from the Flu & COVID-19
    • Recording for Greater New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Hammond, and North Shore Areas (Regions 1, 2, and 9)
    • Recording for Alexandria, Shreveport, and Monroe Areas (Regions 6, 7, & 8)
    • Recording for Houma-Thibodaux, River Parishes, Acadiana, and Lake Charles Areas (Regions 3, 4, & 5)
  • No, We’re Not Immune: The Impact of Coronavirus on African-American Whole Health in Louisiana
  • How to Survive & Thrive – Corona Virus Mental Health
  • Now Is the Time: An Open Conversation with Local Leaders about Race and Public Health
  • COVID-19: Preparing for the Next Phase
    • Recording for Greater New Orleans Area (Region 1)
    • Recording for Hammond & North Shore Area (Region 9) 
    • Recording for Baton Rouge Areas (Region 2)
    • Recording for Monroe Area (Region 8)
    • Recording for Houma/River Parishes Area (Region 3)
    • Recording for Acadiana Area (Region 4)
    • Recording for Greater Alexandria Area (Region 6)
    • Recording for Greater Shreveport Area (Region 7)
    • Recording for Lake Charles Area (Region 5)
• Resources to quit smoking (information on the correlation between smoking and COVID-19 available here under “Health Impacts of Tobacco Use)
  • • Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW
    • Enroll online at QuitWithUsLA.org

Additional Information from State Agencies

• Governor’s Office COVID-19 Page
• LDH Coronavirus Page

Information for Providers and Public Health Professionals

• Louisiana Department of Health 2020 Health Alert Network Messages
• Medicare and Medicaid have implemented temporary rule changes or loosening of restrictions, including telehealth services, to help providers offer better care for patients.
  • Medicare updates are posted here. 
  • Louisiana Medicaid updates are posted here and can also be found here.
• What Healthcare Personnel Should Know about Caring for Patients with Confirmed or Possible COVID-19 Infection (CDC)
• The Healthcare Worker Exposure Response & Outcomes (HERO) Registry invites U.S. healthcare workers to share clinical and life experiences to facilitate rapid-cycle research and better understand the perspectives and problems faced by those on the COVID-19 pandemic front lines
• Rural Health COVID-19 “Call First” Communications Toolkit (Rural Health Association and Legato Healthcare Marketing)
• Telehealth Coordinator Online Training (California Telehealth Resource Center)
• “Every Contact Counts” is contact tracing training for public health professionals, offered by the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice 
• American Public Health Association COVID-19 Page

Grant Funding Opportunities in Louisiana

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Of Louisiana is accepting grant applications for their Community Crisis & Disaster Response Grant program
• The Community Foundation of North Louisiana established the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund
• Candid has compiled a list of funding opportunities broken out by state
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is offering $50 million in immediate short-term relief to several national and community organizations to help some of the families and communities feeling the greatest strain under the COVID-19 health emergency