New Orleans Health Department to survey crowds at Krewe the Boo in #thefullfaucis

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:  Friday, October 22, 2021

 

Contact:             

Isis Casanova

Public Information Officer

isis.casanova@nola.gov

(504) 658-2529

 

WHO: New Orleans Health Department workers and volunteers

WHAT: COVID-19 Health surveillance

WHEN: Saturday, October 23, 2021

WHERE: Along the Krewe of Boo parade route

 

New Orleans Health Department to survey crowds at Krewe the Boo in #fullfaucis

 

NEW ORLEANS— The New Orleans Health Department, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health, will be conducting a COVID-19 surveillance study at the Krewe of Boo parade this Saturday, October 23. The purpose of the study is to understand better how community mitigation measures provide a protective factor from COVID-19 during a Carnival-type event.   During the parade, 40 NOHD employees and volunteers, dressed as Dr. Anthony Fauci, will be holding signs with QR Codes that link up to the questionnaire.  The Faucis will be handing out goody-bags to those who participate in the study filled with fun items and a free at-home Ellume COVID-19 test.  Since the City of New Orleans enacted the mask and vaccine mandates in August, vaccinations increased over 11%, and the average daily cases decreased by 90%.  We hope that the information gathered from this study will help us make an informed decision around Carnival 2022.

 

COVID-19 testing

The Ellume home COVID-19 test kits that will be given out on Saturday are simple to use and work with your smartphone. The instructions will tell you to watch the whole video once and then again while you do the step-by-step process. Once completed, you will receive an email with the results.  If you test positive, the contact tracers will follow up with you.

The Health Department will also have PCR testing on the parade route.  Results are not immediate, but you should receive them in 24 to 48 hours.  This is part of our study and taking a test while you wait for the fun to start will help us establish a baseline percent positivity in the crowd, and better track any cases that occur after the parade. The COVID-19 testing station will be on the neutral ground at the foot of Canal Street in front of Harrah's Casino.

"Testing, vaccines, and masking are proven to stop the spread of this virus, and if we continue these mitigation measures, we feel confident that large events will be successful in the future," said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, Director of the Health Department. "We need your help now, so if you see the our team (#thefullfaucis) holding up signs, download the QR code and take the survey.  It’s your chance to save Carnival!" she added.

NOHD also encourages residents to stay home if feeling sick, and strongly recommends paradegoers to wear a mask while in the crowd.

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About the New Orleans Health Department

The mission of the nationally accredited New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) is to protect, promote, and improve the health of all where we live, learn, work and play.  NOHD is committed to building a healthy New Orleans through equitable social and environmental conditions and through policies, programs and partnerships that promote health. Learn more at www.nola.gov/health.