In Acadiana Region 4, Vermilion Parish has Highest Percent Positivity of COVID Tests and Lowest Vaccination Rates.
Early Identification/Symptoms of COVID-19 Virus:
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as more is learned about COVID-19. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.
When to Seek Emergency Medical Attention:
Look for emergency warning signs* for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
Call 911 or call ahead to your local emergency facility: Notify the operator that you are seeking care for someone who has or may have COVID-19.
Below are quotes from qualified Infection Control Professionals:
COVID Identification:
Early identification is critical to prevent spread of the virus. Should you experience COVID symptoms get tested immediately! Take steps to care for yourself and help protect loved ones in your home and community.
COVID Prevention:
Masking, distancing and handwashing are still key to prevention of COVID Infection.
COVID Vaccination is the ultimate key to ending the pandemic. COVID -19 is now the leading cause of death in the United States. The vaccines are a critical tool for protecting yourself and those around you, ultimately ending the pandemic and getting our lives back to normal.
Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson COVID Vaccines are safe and effective vaccines. The research daily supports how well these vaccines are performing in preventing COVID infections, hospitalizations and death.
Currently Vermillion Parish is the lowest vaccinated parish in the Acadiana region. We will continue to have senseless preventable COVID deaths until people get their vaccine. Abbeville General Hospital and Abbeville rural health clinics provide COVID vaccines. COVID Vaccines can also be accessed through the state web site ldh.la.gov/covidvaccine or by calling the COVID hotline 1-855-453-0774.
Get vaccinated!
–Michelle Glatter RN, BSN, CIC
Infection Control Preventionist/Employee Health Manager
Abbeville General
There has been a concerning increase in the number of cases and percent positivity of COVID tests in Vermilion Parish. For the last report period ending on May 19, Vermilion parish had the highest percent positivity of COVID tests in the Acadiana region at 7.8%, well above that state’s percent positivity of 3.3 % and the Acadiana region’s 4.6% positivity. Compared to rates of infection in late April, the number of new cases has also doubled in Vermilion parish. With Vermilion Parish having the lowest vaccination rates in the Acadiana region, we need to do everything we can to answer questions people have about the safe and effective vaccines that are available to protect our communities from COVID-19. The vaccines are absolutely the way we can put an end to this pandemic and to prevent people in our communities from sickness and hospitalization, and from spreading the virus to their loved ones.
–Dr. Tina Stefanski, M.D., Region 4 Medical Director
Let’s all get vaccinated and help “Save a Life!”