The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Louisiana Office of
Public Health continue to closely monitor this outbreak.
This information will be updated daily at 12:00 PM.
— Updated 04-09-2020 11:47 AM —
Governor John Bel Edwards says this Easter holiday will not look like other years. Edwards urges continued social distancing efforts. The Easter holiday does not create an exemption from mitigation efforts of virus spread.
The COVID-19 lockdown has resulted in an unprecedented dilemma for Christian, Jewish, and Muslim congregations during one of the holiest times of the year. LSU Associate Professor of Religious Studies and History Michael Pasquier says some religious communities are more prepared than others for the challenge of conducting services for an audience at home.
Governor Edwards announces the state has received the federal funding necessary to pay enhanced unemployment benefits to the tune of an extra 600 dollars a week on top of the state’s 247 dollars.
— Updated 04-08-2020 11:33 AM —
State health officials are encouraged to see the number of COVID-19 patients who require ventilation is no longer increasing.
It’s been just over two weeks since the state’s stay at home order was implemented and Governor Edwards says it appears the order has resulted in a recent flattening of the curve. At Tuesday’s press conference the Governor hinted at the fact that the order may have been even more effective at slowing the spread than they planned for, and that’s great news for the state.
With the recent news that a tiger in the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for COVID-19, concern about transmitting the virus from humans to pets has grown. State public health veterinarian Dr. Gary Balsamo says it’s a rare occurrence, but sometimes animals can get sick from exposure.
–Updated 04-06-2020 5PM —
Governor Edwards indicates the curve of new coronavirus infections may be flattening.
—Updated 04-01-2020 12:30 PM —
Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is encouraging small businesses to get a jump on filling out applications for the Payroll Protection Act. Small businesses can apply to receive low-interest loans, with money that is used for payroll being forgiven.
The New Orleans region is facing a potentially life-threatening situation, according to current projections, of running out of ventilators sometime this weekend.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission has given the green light to eligibility for gig economy workers such as Uber and Lyft drivers to apply for unemployment assistance.
There’s widespread frustration about how long it can take to get results back for a coronavirus test, but at the Tulane Medical Center Laboratories tests only take four hours.
Legal ramifications have come down on Rev. Tony Spell, the pastor at the helm of the Life Tabernacle Church in Central that has repeatedly defied the Governor’s ban on large gatherings with congregations regularly exceeding 1,100.
–Updated 03-29-2020 5:30 PM —
Governor Edwards is begging the public to stay indoors and to not congregate after the state saw several reports of mass gatherings over the weekend in defiance of shelter in place orders.
–Updated 12:15 PM 03-28-2020–
Our Lady of the Lake infectious disease specialist Catherine O’Neal says since a vaccine could be over a year away, our best hope to stop coronavirus is for state residents to slowly build up “herd immunity”.
Social distancing, lack of PPE, delays all impacting Louisiana funeral homes.
As part of President Trump’s COVID-19 task force, Dr. Anthony Fauci has become a household name. Dr. Fauci was recently a featured guest on Baton Rouge radio station Talk 107.3.
The Governor is asking healthcare students and recent grads along with retired nurses and doctors to volunteer for the fight against coronavirus, and fast-tracking new licenses to get them into the field.
Lincoln Parish Sherriff deputies are visiting homes, not because they have a warrant, but because they have groceries. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Matthew Henderson says they started doing grocery pickup for the elderly.
–Updated 1:50 PM 03-26-2020–
There’s been another big jump in coronavirus cases and deaths. Louisiana health officials reported an additional 510 cases of COVID-19 today bringing the state’s total number to 2,305.
Eighteen more people have died since yesterday’s update.
The total number of fatalities is 83 and that includes a 17-year-old from Orleans Parish. That’s the first minor from Louisiana who has died from COVID-19.
The state health department has identified COVID-19 clusters in six nursing homes in the state. The five department can identify are Chateau D’Ville, Chateau De Notre Dame, Lambeth House, St. James Place and Vista Shores.
676 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized on Thursday, 239 require ventilation. If the state is unable to flatten the curve, the New Orleans area could run out of vents during the first week of April.
Health officials are also monitoring an uptick in cases in Caddo and Bossier parishes.
–Updated 11:50 AM 03-25-2020–
President Donald Trump has approved Louisiana’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration, which opens the door for more federal cash and resources to flow into Louisiana.
Louisiana residents are used to hunkering down for floods and hurricanes, but staying at home through April 13th because of a pandemic is a daunting task for most. LSU AgCenter registered dietitian Sandra May says it is important to stock up on with the right food.
COVID-19 is also having an impact on mental health as we try to cope with stress and anxiety from the pandemic.
In times of crisis, scam artists will prey on your emotions and your wallet and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different.
A shortage of hand sanitizers has some craft beer breweries and distilleries churning out the disinfectant. Founder of Acadiana-based Bayou Teche Brewing Karlos Knott says they just received the green light from the feds to start production.
–Updated 12:19 PM 03-22-2020
The Louisiana Department of Health has reported another sharp rise in the number of coronavirus cases. The state has 1,172 positive cases, an increase from 335 the day before. 34 have died from virus and 41 of the state’s 64 parishes are reporting COVID-19 cases.
— Updated 4:00 PM 03-22-2020 —
Governor Edwards issues a statewide shelter in place order.
–Updated 10:10 AM 03-21-2020–
The state health department announces two more deaths from the coronavirus bringing the death toll to 16. The latest two victims are from Orleans Parish, one is 77-years-old and the other is 53. There are 585 cases, 352 from Orleans Parish, 116 in Jefferson Parish, 14 in St. Tammany, and 13 in Caddo Parish.
— Updated 5:15 PM 03-20-2020 —
Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas says their health system is prepared to handle a potential influx of COVID-19 patients as cases.
— Updated 4:45 PM 03-20-2020 —
New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell orders residents to stay in their homes as the number of COVID cases balloons.
— Updated 2:40 PM, 03-20-2020 —
The Louisiana Department of Health on Friday confirmed two additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total to 12. The deaths of a 38-year-old Catahoula Parish resident and a 77-year-old Jefferson Parish resident were reported today. Both had underlying medical conditions.
— Updated 1:28 PM, 03-20-2020 —
Workforce Commission sees slowdowns in processing unemployment claims due to high volume of new claim filings
— Updated 6:07 PM 03-19-2020 —
Governor Edwards warns healthcare capacity in the New Orleans area could be surpassed within the next seven to ten days under a worst-case COVID-19 spread scenario.
The crawfish industry is suffering major losses as the state goes into partial shutdown during the heart of crawfish season.
Guns and ammo sales are seeing a huge surge as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
–Updated 6:00 PM 03-18-2020 —
Edwards tells Louisianans to prepare for the possibility of “further enhanced mitigation measures” as the number of confirmed cases hits 280.
–Updated 3:10 PM 3-18-2020
The number of coronavirus cases has jumped to 257 in Louisiana and two more people died this morning at the Lambeth House, a retirement facility in New Orleans. A total of six people have now died from the virus. Governor Edwards says health experts have told him they have two weeks to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.
“We have to make sure we flatten the curve that’s what we’ve been talking about, so we have fewer people infected at any given time, so that’s flattening the curve, then you extend the duration, because what we can not have happen is that we exceed our capacity to deliver critical health care,” said Edwards.
Edwards continues to implore Louisiana residents to wash their hands frequently and practice social distancing.
The governor expects the number of coronavirus cases to increase dramatically over the next 24 to 36 as the state plans to receive about a thousand tests results.
“This is going to get much worse before it gets better, we need for these cases to plateau as soon as possible and then obviously start declining, but obviously we are a long ways from that,” said Edwards.
Edwards says if you believe you should be tested and don’t have a primary physician, dial the state’s coronavirus hotline, 2-1-1.
The governor also says he’s requested Small Business Administration disaster loan assistance for all 64 parishes and he’s suspended eviction and foreclosure notices for now to prevent homelessness.
“However the obligation to pay your mortgage and your rent is not suspended, so people should make their payments,” said Edwards.
— Updated 2:54 PM 03-18-2020 —
Blood centers are reporting they are running low on blood as donors shy away from contributing due to COVID-19 scares.
— Updated 12:31 PM 03-18-2020 —
The Department of Children and Family Services has seen a doubling in the usual number of food stamp applications. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says part of the surge in applications is likely because people think the program is being expanded due like it would in a natural disaster. The problem is this crisis is not being treated as a natural disaster.
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The Life Tabernacle Church in Central had their normal attendance of over 1,100 on Sunday and says they don’t plan on cutting services anytime soon, despite the ban on gatherings of 50 people or more.
— Updated 5:57 PM 03-17-2020 —
The Louisiana Workforce Commission is being swamped by unemployment insurance claims. Due to COVID-19, claims will be expedited, and those receiving them will not have to actively search for new employment.
— Updated 12:44 PM 3-17-2020 —
LABI is asking residents to take the Gift Card Challenge to help local small businesses survive shutdowns.
Southwest Louisiana Congressman Clay Higgins slams Governor Edwards for ordering shutdowns. Calls them unnecessary and an infringement on resident’s rights.
— Updated 6:58 PM 3-16-2020 —
Governor Edwards announces that through April 13th, all bars and gyms must close, and all restaurants must go to carry out as Louisiana hits 136 COVID-19 cases, and sees it’s third death.
Edwards also called for the mobilization of 400 guardsmen.
“To provide security at Bayou Signet State Park and to make sure that things run smoothly at the three drive-through testing sites that we hope and believe and are working extremely hard to have come online later this week,” says Edwards.
The Governor also tried to allay fears that groceries are running out of food, saying the supply chain is intact and efficient.
“When you go to the store buy for the week, don’t try to buy for the month or longer. If you keep your usual shopping habits there will not be a problem. You do not need to horde items or stock up for an extended period of time,” says Edwards.
Edwards noted the April 13th timeline could be extended another 13 days depending on how the situation develops.
Edwards made the announcements yesterday at his afternoon press conference, where he introduced Our Lady of the Lake Infectious Disease specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal who says nearly everyone will be infected over the next few months, but most won’t notice.
“80% of us will not feel the effects of these infections. 80% of us will be asymptomatic, feel well, and will continue to go about our daily lives,” says O’Neal.
But she noted that 80 percent can still infect those in risk groups, like those who have comorbid health problems.
O’Neal says to save your vulnerable friends and family, you need to put COVID-19 on your calendar.
“Think about every gathering in term of how many people are here, are we washing hands, are we wiping shared surfaces, are we staying a great distance from each other, could we have done this remotely?” says O’Neal.
O’Neal says if we do not observe social distancing our medical system will be inundated with too many cases to provide adequate care to everyone.
–Updated 5:39 PM 3-16-2020–
