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The Louisiana Department of Health reported the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations rose to 2,421 Friday, a new record high, with 277 patients on ventilators.
Those not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus continue to make up the majority of current hospitalizations.
LDH also reported 6,116 new COVID-19 cases with the death toll rising by 48 to 11,210.
An indoor statewide mask mandate is in effect to slow the spread of the delta variant of COVID-19 fueling the state's current surge, its fourth since the pandemic began.
Infectious disease experts say a new strain of COVID-19 has reached Louisiana.
On Thursday, health officials said that the new mutation of the virus, known as the Lambda variant, had been found in a few patients from North Louisiana.
The Lambda variant of the COVID-19 virus was first discovered in Peru last December and then later spread to the United States through Houston, Texas.
Dr. Aldo Russo at Ochsner says the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are effective against the Lambda variant.