The announcement came as the city posted figures showing the surge, driven by the highly contagious delta variant, has pushed the seven-day average of new cases reported in the city to 117, the highest since early February. It had fallen as low as eight in mid-June but began climbing sharply in early July.
Also Wednesday, Louisiana's health department reported a new case count of 5,388, the third highest since the pandemic began. Hospitalizations for the disease rose to 844 statewide, up more than 600 since June 19.
Dr. Jennifer Avegno, New Orleans' health director, and Dr. Emily Nichols, head of the city's emergency medical services, said the increase in cases has led to a shortage of health care workers. "Our beds are filling up, our providers are working long, hard hours," Nichols said.