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As of Monday, Louisiana currently holds the nation's highest case rate per 100,000 residents and more than 1,400 patients are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. That figure marks the highest number of patients receiving care since January, according to federal data.

Croft, who works at Willis-Knighton Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, told ABC News' \"Start Here\" podcast that in the past few weeks, she has seen both unvaccinated and vaccinated people become infected.

“Typically, the unvaccinated are much sicker and they progressed much further along and deteriorate much, much more versus the people that are vaccinated,” said Croft.

Although there are an increasing number of these “breakthrough” cases among vaccinated people, Croft encouraged the vaccine. She said it saves lives.

“I've had a lot of people that are like, ‘So I thought the vaccine was supposed to make it so we wouldn't get covid, what's the point?’” said Croft, “[But] our patients that are vaccinated are going home to their families… versus patients that are unvaccinated and we're seeing more of them not go home to their family.”

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards reinstated a state-wide indoor mask mandate on Monday to curb the high number of cases - making it the first state to do so.

\"PHOTO:
Hilary Scheinuk/The Advocate via AP
PHOTO: Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks during a news conference at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La., June 17, 2021.
>

Croft said that she understands people's frustration with masks and the skepticism surrounding the vaccine, but ultimately both are for the greater good.

“I support everybody being able to make a choice on vaccination, but I also think that if we're not going to vaccinate, that we need to take other steps to protect others,” she said. “The vaccine is helpful and people don't understand that. Even though it's not 100% prevention, it is a help.”

This report was featured in the Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, episode of “Start Here,” ABC News’ daily news podcast.

\"Start Here\" offers a straightforward look at the day's top stories in 20 minutes. Listen for free every weekday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, the ABC News app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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