Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate.
Ochsner Health announced on Thursday key findings from a COVID-19 Prevalence Study conducted in Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Livingston and West Baton Rouge Parishes between July 15-31. The study was in partnership with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and funded by the Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and The Humana Foundation, with additional support from The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation and Healthy Blue.
Led by Ochsner Principal Investigator Amy Feehan, PhD, in cooperation with Pennington Biomedical, data from the study was analyzed to determine how widespread the virus is, and which populations have been most impacted. Over 2,100 volunteers received free COVID-19 PCR testing and antibody testing representing a sample of Greater Baton Rouge residents.
Key Facts & Findings:
What the Study Tells Us:
“We want to thank the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, all of our funding partners and community members who played a vital role in determining the prevalence of COVID-19 in the greater Baton Rouge region,” said Eric McMillen, Chief Executive Officer, Ochsner Baton Rouge. “The results illustrate the importance of our individual and collective efforts to keep ourselves, our families and our communities safe by wearing masks, social distancing and following handwashing guidelines.”
Ochsner has completed more than 70,000 community COVID-19 tests across the state since May. Testing is open to residents, age 2+, and there are no out-of-pocket costs. For more information and a list of test locations, please visit www.ochsner.org/testing.
To learn more about Ochsner’s COVID-19 response, please visit www.ochsner.org/coronavirus.
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About Ochsner Health
Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Ochsner Health is a not-for-profit committed to giving back to the communities it serves through preventative screenings, health and wellness resources and partnerships with innovative organizations that share our vision. Ochsner Health healed more than 876,000 people from across the globe in 2019, providing the latest medical breakthroughs and therapies, including digital medicine for chronic conditions and telehealth specialty services. Ochsner Health is a national leader, named the top hospital in Louisiana and a top children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report. As Louisiana’s leading healthcare educator, Ochsner Health and its partners educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually. Ochsner Health is innovating healthcare by investing in new technologies and research to make world-class care more accessible, affordable, convenient and effective. Ochsner's team of more than 26,000 employees and 4,500 providers are working to reinvent the future of health and wellness in the region. To learn more about Ochsner Health, please visit www.ochsner.org. To transform your health, please visit www.ochsner.org/healthyyou.