Coronavirus in Louisiana

State Health Department Updates Only Once Per Day at 12 Noon From ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus

70 New Reported Deaths Today and 1,417 New Cases

16,284 Cases | 582 Deaths | 1,996 Hospitalized 519 On Ventilators Tuesday 12n

14,867 Cases | 512 Deaths | 1,809 Hospitalized 563 On Ventilators Monday 12n

13,010 Cases | 477 Deaths | 1,803 Hospitalized 561 On Ventilators Sunday 12n

12,496 Cases | 409 Deaths | 1,707 Hospitalized 535 On Ventilators Saturday 12n

10,297 Cases | 370 Deaths | 1,707 Hospitalized 535 On Ventilators Friday 12n

Click here for the complete Parish By Parish Stats

63 of 64 Parishes now reporting cases

Louisiana Department Of Health Link

Gov.Louisiana.Gov (Governor Edwards Webpage)

"Stay At Home" Order in Effect

For All Non-Essential Workers

Louisiana COVID-19 Healthcare Volunteering

If you are a healthcare student, graduate, or an active member/retiree of the healthcare workforce, please sign up to volunteer your time and talent to help the State and our healthcare system meet the challenges of COVID-19. We are looking for volunteers with backgrounds in the fields of medicine, nursing, allied health professions, dentistry, counseling, mental/behavioral health, laboratory science, among others.

This is a partnership of all higher education institutions in Louisiana, led by the University of Louisiana System and Louisiana State University, to mobilize our students and graduates in healthcare professions.

Click Here to Volunteer as Healthcare Professional / Student!

If you do not have healthcare training, but are willing to help, we have opportunities in care coordination, community engagement, technology assistance, and many more that can use your talent and time.

Click Here to Volunteer as Non-Healthcare Professional / Student!

If you have questions about coronavirus, please contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing dial 211. Or, you can text the keyword LACOVID to 898-211 for the most current information about the outbreak as it becomes available.

A staggering number of Louisianans have filed unemployment claims as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the world economy. By noon Thursday, 30,000 people had applied for unemployment insurance this week, versus 1,700 for all of last week. Laid-off workers can apply online at laworks.net or by calling 1-866-783-5567.

About Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with recent outbreaks of MERS and SARS.

Risk and Guidance for the Public

To minimize the risk of spread, Louisiana officials are advising the public to practice social distancing by not gathering with large groups of people. Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana and introduce the virus to new communities.

Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a stay at home order for Louisiana residents. Click here to read the full order.

Stay home unless it is necessary to go to work or get necessities.
Cover your cough.
Wash your hands.

For a list of additional guidance for the public click here.

Questions about Coronavirus?

Stressed about COVID-19? We're here to talk.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with stress, fear and anxiety about the uncertainty surrounding this public health emergency, there is a special Keeping Calm through COVID Hotline you can call. This connects you to trained, compassionate counselors who can offer support and who can direct you to mental health and substance abuse counseling services.

Call 1-866-310-7977 24/7

Trained counselors available 24/7. All calls are confidential.

Symptoms

For confirmed infections, reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms (similar to the common cold) to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 infection. People infected with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.

How does novel coronavirus spread?

Health experts are still learning the details about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through:

Through respiratory droplets produced when coughing and sneezing
Close personal contact
Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes

The deadline for filing you State & Federal Tax returns has been pushed back to July 15th

The OMV is now closing all offices effective today as a result COVID-19. On line services at the OMV will remain up and running.

The state is offering free counseling for anyone experiencing stress or anxiety from the COVID-19 outbreak.
The phone number is 1-866-310-7977.

Apply For Food Stamps or S.N.A.P

The Weekend Round Up

A Special Devoted To The Coronavirus

Updated 4/03/20

TOP LOUISIANA HEADLINES (CLICK FOR THE FULL STORY)

News for Monday April 6^th, 2020

In yesterday’s covid-19 update 68 new coronavirus deaths in the state, marking biggest day-to-day jump. Health officials in Louisiana are now reporting there are 13,010 cases of coronavirus in the state, with 477 deaths reported.

Governor Edwards says Louisiana has the highest death rate in the nation for COVID-19 and based on what we know about hospital admissions and coronavirus fatalities, the virus is more prevalent than initially thought.

Now the CDC is recommending you wear a mask if you do go out and about to take care of essentials, Governor Edwards says feel free to make a DIY mask, but save the N95s for healthcare workers who need them most.

92% of small businesses are reporting a negative impact from the COVID-19 pandemic according to a nationwide survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business.

Businesses with under 500 employees can now apply to receive a Small Business Administration loan from the feds to help cover payroll, and some other expenses for the next two months. CPA Ben Vance says businesses who qualify get a loan amount that is determined by the SBA.

With the Governor’s extension of virus spread mitigation measures through April keeping many businesses closed, unemployed Louisiana residents are wondering where their next paycheck is coming from.

New testing is starting to become available for those who may have been an asymptomatic COVID-19 positive carrier and now have recovered and likely have immunity.

Ray P. Authement, who served as president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for 34 years, has died. He was 91 years old. Authement died Sunday with his wife, Barbara, at his side after "an extended illness,"

The deadline to submit ACT scores for TOPS qualification has been extended to September 30th as the ability to take a test is non-existent at the moment.

The COVID-19 outbreak is not only impacting our physical health but mental as well. Unlike other disasters the uncertain reality we are all facing makes it extremely challenging for families to reassure children.

Details & More State & Local News (Click Here)

News Center

Judge rejects R. Kelly's request to be released from jail over coronavirus fears

Tue Apr 7th, 2020

ABC News(CHICAGO) -- A federal judge on Tuesday rejected a request from R. Kelly to be temporarily released from a Chicago jail over fears that the RB singer risks contracting coronavirus while locked up.

U.S District Court Judge Ann Donnelly of the Eastern District of New York denied the 53-year-old Kellys motion for bail, ruling the Grammy-winning entertainer failed to establish that he is i...

Ryan Reynolds tweets "weirdly appropriate" scene from 'Free Guy', given COVID news cycle

Tue Apr 7th, 2020

20th Century Pictures(LOS ANGELES) --Ryan Reynoldscontinues his dominance of feel-good COVID-19-era social media, to give us more to smile about during the lockdown.

This installment comes via what hetweetsis a "weirdly appropriate"clipof his movieFree Guy, the release of which was bumped from July 3 to December 11, because of the pandemic.

The hook of the film is that Reynolds charac...

Unemployment, isolation: COVID-19's mental health impact

Tue Apr 7th, 2020

sestovic/iStock(NEW YORK) -- The death of a loved one. A grave personal illness. Loss of income. These traumatic events rank among the most stressful experiences a person can endure, according to psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe.

Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, many American are facing these stressors.

The current pandemic is not just a medical tragedy. Even when the medical thre...

Prince Harry, Meghan name new nonprofit after their son Archie

Tue Apr 7th, 2020

Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images(LOS ANGELES) -- Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have confirmed the name of their new nonprofit venture, which is tied to their nearly 1-year-old son Archie.

The Sussexes, who have settled in Los Angeles, plan to name their new venture Archewell.

"Before SussexRoyal, came the idea of Arche -- the Greek word meaning source of action," Harr...

As flights are canceled amid coronavirus, officer sues United Airlines for refund

Tue Apr 7th, 2020

iStock/aapsky(MINNEAPOLIS) -- As airlines continue to slash flights amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, a police officer from Minnesota is suing United Airlines over a rejected ticket refund claim.

Passenger Jacob Rudolph filed the lawsuit in Chicago federal court on Monday after he claims the airline refused to refund three tickets he purchased in January totaling $1,521.45. Rudolph says the a...

Boston Sports Club hit with class-action suit for charging members during coronavirus

Tue Apr 7th, 2020

iStock/nathaphat(BOSTON) -- A handful of Boston Sports Club members have filed a class-action lawsuit against the gyms parent company, Town Sports International, alleging theyre still being charged gym fees despite all facilities being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The gym-goers claim the sports club was "willfully and knowingly charging consumers monthly membership fees" despite not be...