1A launches economic recovery toolkit
One Acadiana today announced the launch of a new Economic Recovery Toolkit for businesses facing economic hardship due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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The Current Staff
State-led program offers COVID-19 small biz help
Gov. John Bel Edwards today announced a new loan guarantee program offering loans of up to $100,000 to Louisiana small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. To be eligible, businesses must have fewer than 100 employees.
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Cox, LGH partner on coronavirus info initiative
Cox and Lafayette General Health have partnered to help Acadiana residents get the latest information on the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the state.
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The gist: Louisiana relaxed regulations to allow the state’s restaurants to offer carryout sales of beer and wine. The move is aimed to help cushion COVID-19’s economic blow to restaurants, amid enforced closure of dining rooms statewide.
- Packaged wine and beer can be sold
- Liquor and draft beer are not included in the revised rules
- Customers must buy food to buy alcohol
- Alcohol must be in factory-sealed containers
The gist: While no doubt disappointing, the news was widely expected. Health officials have heavily emphasized social distancing and authorities have placed attendance caps on gatherings to tamp down the threat of community spread. On Monday, the Gov. John Bel Edwards imposed a 50-person limit on public events for the next eight weeks, responding to updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, the federal agency that sets the pace of nation’s response to the virus.
“We held strong as long as we could, hoping for a better turn of events, but when that CDC recommendation came down, we figured it was time,” Festival International Director Scott Feehan told The Advocate.
LPSS serving meals Tuesday, revises distribution sites
The Lafayette Parish School System will prepare and distribute a grab and go breakfast and lunch pick-up for students while schools are closed during due to the coronavirus outbreak. The drive-thru pick up will begin in Tuesday, March 17, from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
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Governor locks down bars, restaurants, casinos and more; limits gatherings to 50
The gist: Gov. John Bel Edwards tightened the state’s population controls in an update to his emergency proclamation, closing bars, casinos and movie theaters and limiting restaurants to drive thru and delivery service.
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Lafayette City Court suspending normal operations to the public until March 30
All sessions of the court from Monday to March 27 are canceled and will be rescheduled. All civil and criminal prescriptive periods remain unaffected at this time.
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The gist: The Centers for Disease control now recommends cancelling or postponing public gatherings of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks. A governor’s order previously set the cap at 250 or more, based on earlier guidelines. Lockdown efforts are ramping up in coronavirus hotspots around the country.
The gist: Cases confirmed by the Louisiana state lab are no longer considered “presumptive” until validated by the Centers for Disease Control. CDC now considers Louisiana tests reliable.
Highlights:
- No confirmed cases in Lafayette or surrounding parishes.
- Health officials expect a confirmed case locally soon.
- LCG is working to stand up four testing centers in coordination with local hospitals.
- All public buildings are closed, but operations remain open. Drive-thru book checkout is available at parish libraries. Bill pay for LUS and LUS Fiber is available by drive-thru or online.
- Changes to federal, district and city courts were announced.
- LCG declares state of emergency.
Next LCG briefing will be held at 3:30 p.m. on 3/16
Highlights:
- LUS will suspend disconnections and late fees for 60 days. Those recently disconnected will be put back on the grid.
- LCG operational departments and payment facilities are not closing.
- A public health advisory task was created and Dr. Tina Stefanski will head it.
- Mark Garber announced temperature screenings and interviewing anyone who enters the jail.
- Cancellation for all public events is extending through March 29.