Musicians face the prospect of another year of lost opportunities, revenue streams and their social and professional identities
Coronavirus
Link: Louisiana Covid hospitalizations hit lowest count in almost a year
Hospitals reported 478 Covid patients Friday, the lowest total since March 2020. Louisiana’s third surge has steadily abated since hospitalizations peaked in January at 2,069. Acadiana, which at one time led the state in Covid hospitalizations, counted just 51 in-patients. The region has not reported fewer than 44 Covid hospitalizations since the end of March 2020, just weeks after the area confirmed its first cases. Vaccinations and improved therapies have dramatically cut hospital stays and mortality.
Touchless prescription delivery startup expands after successful Covid launch
Launched as a pandemic pivot, Presto’s touchless medicine delivery service is expanding after an early run of success.
4 min read
Volunteer-run Covid vaccine scheduling line targets persistent access gaps in Lafayette
Despite growing supply, there are people who want vaccines and are struggling to get them.
6 min read
Link: COVID vaccine eligibility expands to 1.6 million people
Louisiana is expanding vaccine eligibility to include most adults with certain health conditions that put them at high risk. Announced Tuesday by Gov. John Bel Edwards, the new eligibility extends the age range in the high risk pool to as young as 16-years-old, substantially increasing the current priority group. Around 1.6 million people are estimated to now qualify. Below are the conditions listed in the update:
- moderate to severe asthma
- cerebrovascular disease
- cystic fibrosis
- hypertension or high blood pressure
- immunocompromised state from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids or use of other immune weakening medicines
- neurologic conditions, such as dementia
- liver disease
- overweight
- pulmonary fibrosis
- thalassemia
- type 1 diabetes mellitus
Conversation: How about a hug?
After the last year, we could all use one. And if you and yours are fully vaccinated, it’s safe to share an embrace. But are you ready?
1 min read
Trust, representation and access are big hurdles for vaccine distribution in Lafayette’s Black community
The proportion of African Americans who’ve gotten their first vaccine shot continues to fall short both nationally and in Lafayette Parish.
8 min read
Following Carencro’s Amazon announcement, major PPE manufacturing heads to Broussard
The gist: Personal protective equipment manufacturing is coming to Broussard, a project one economic development professional says may be “bigger than Amazon,” a reference to the fulfillment center the mega e-commerce retailer has under construction in Carencro.
5 min read
Reader Reactions: This is Lafayette
Overwhelmingly, respondents said recent press accurately reflected Lafayette and that our community is getting worse.
6 min read
Link: Lafayette bars can re-open after two weeks of low positivity
For two straight weeks, fewer than 5% of coronavirus tests performed in Lafayette Parish have come back positive, meeting the threshold to opt back in to limited indoor service for the first time since November. On Wednesday, Mayor-President Josh Guillory did just that, notifying the governor that he will allow Lafayette bars to re-open at 25% occupancy. Permitting loopholes and lax enforcement have kept much of Lafayette’s night life humming throughout the pandemic, with crowds piling up Downtown on weekends. But some big clubs will remain closed because of the low cap on occupancy.
Link: What to do with $1 billion in school aid for Louisiana?
December’s coronavirus stimulus included $1 billion for schools in Louisiana. Districts across the state are working the windfall into their plans, with most using the money to address learning loss. Lafayette Parish schools will use its $37 million allocation for ” academic recovery, student services and personal protective equipment,” according to The Advocate.
Link: Gov. Edwards: Lafayette’s failed mask mandate a ‘failure of leadership’
Sounding off to The Washington Post, Gov. John Bel Edwards bemoaned Lafayette’s second failed attempt a local mask mandate a “failure of leadership.” Edwards called the decision “regrettable” and emphasized that the statewide mandate is in effect, despite an apparent lack of enforcement both by the state fire marshal and the open defiance of Mayor-President Josh Guillory.
“It’s unfortunate, because that region of our state, at numerous times throughout the pandemic, has actually had some of the highest positivity rates and case growth and hospitalizations,” Edwards said.