Topline
LSU announced Tuesday that proof of vaccination against the coronavirus will be required for football games this season.
General view of LSU Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana circa 2008: (Photoby... [+] LSU/Collegiate Images via Getty Images). Collegiate Images via Getty Images
The Key Facts
All 12 year old fans will need to provide proof that they have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine or evidence of a negative PCR test within 72 hours. Students will also be required to prove that they have received a full vaccine. They will have until October 15 to submit proof or to undergo regular testing. Three other colleges at the top of college football will also have similar vaccine requirements for gamesOregon State, Tulane and Oregon State are all examples of programs that have similar mandates. This mandate was established after New Orleans' citywide mandate.
Big Number
102,321. This is the capacity listed for LSU's Tiger Stadium. It is frequently ranked as one of the most difficult stadiums in college football for rivals to play in.
Important Quote
We are conscious of the many perspectives in the country regarding vaccinations and masks. However, we must take all reasonable precautions to protect our campus, not just on game day but also long after guests have left Tiger Stadium," LSU President William Tate IV stated in a statement.
Important Background
Louisiana was a hot spot in the U.S. for the delta coronavirus variant. However, cases are starting to fall after officials issued a series of new restrictions. This contrasts with other Southern states that have been affected by the surge. In the midst of a record-breaking increase in Covid-19, Louisiana became the first state that reimposed a statewide mandate for masks. New Orleans, which enacted the mandate one day before the similar New York City order, became the first U.S. state to require vaccinations for indoor activities such as dining in restaurants. The key to LSU’s decision was Monday's announcement that the FDA had given full approval for the Pfizer/BioNTech covid vaccine. Officials from the university had stated earlier this summer that they would require Covid vaccinations for their students once the vaccine is fully approved by FDA.
Surprising Fact
According to The New York Times the number of daily Covid cases has dropped 13% in the last 14 days in Louisiana. This is the largest drop in any state, but the state still ranks second in the U.S. for new cases per capita with 100 cases per 100,000 people. Mississippi has 118 cases per 100,000, while Mississippi has 123.
What to Watch
LSU hosts McNeese State in its home opener on Sept. 11. The Tigers are No. 16 in the College Football Poll by The Associated Press.
Continue reading
Pfizer Gets FDA Full Approval for Its Covid Vaccine. Here's What Next (Forbes).
Louisiana is the First State to Reissue a Statewide Indoor Mask Mandat in the Face of Covid Surge. Here's where other States stand (Forbes).
Louisiana Covid Hospitalizations Get a Dip for the First Time in Weeks (Forbes).
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