The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Louisiana increased over the past 24 hours from 837 to 1,172 with 14 additional deaths, bringing the total deaths to 34.In Lafayette, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals as of noon Monday is reporting nine coronavirus cases, up from six Sunday.
JBE Sunday update: ‘stay at home’ ordered
The gist: In an emergency press conference called today, John Bel Edwards pulled the trigger on the awaited, “Stay at Home” order that several other states enacted. According to the order, which will begin at 5 p.m. on Monday, March 23, all non-essential businesses will close to the public.
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Reader Q: Has anyone heard what precautions LPCC is taking right now?
The jail population has been reduced by at least 60 inmates in the past week, because of the efforts of judges, lawyers and the D.A.’s office, all of whom are working together for the early release of prisoners. Some individuals are bonding out, pleading to time served or probated sentences, or having probation/parole hold lifted.
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Can our hospitals handle a surge?
We’ve seen alarms go up in New Orleans, where hospital staff are staring down a wave. The reality is some hospitals run near capacity when there isn’t a pandemic around.
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JBE Thursday update: we’re on Italy’s track
The gist: Gov. John Bel Edwards took a sobering look at Louisiana’s worst-case scenario for infections versus hospital beds and found that Louisiana could see an Italy sized problem in as little as 7-10 days.
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Lourdes, General postponing elective procedures
In an updated notice to all of the state’s health care facilities, the Department of Health said it was “directing and requiring” hospitals to use their judgment in determining which medical procedures can be safely postponed for 30 days.
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JBE Wednesday update: surge is coming
The gist: Gov. John Bel Edwards held his daily COVID-19 news conference to update the state on the viral situation we’re facing. Joined by Jeff Landry, Attorney General for Louisiana and a known political opponent of the governor, and Coach Orgeron of LSU Edwards laid out the ongoing plan for protection in 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
COVID-19 drive-thru screening site launching Wednesday
The Cajundome will be a drive-thru SCREENING (not testing) site for coronavirus beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Communications Director Jamie Angelle stressed at Tuesday’s press conference.
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Amid new cleaning procedures, LFT still flying
While the Lafayette Regional Airport is taking major cleaning precautions to account for the COVID-19 outbreak, flights are still going in and out of the airport as of Monday, according to the LFT website.
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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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