Latest Numbers:
- 1,758 deaths (+61)
- 27,286 total cases (+218)
- 1,666 patients in hospitals (-17)
- 244 patients on ventilators (-18)
- 64 of 64 parishes reporting cases
- 17,303 presumed recoveries
- 151,108 tests performed
Key Updates:
- Governor John Bel Edwards has extended his Stay at Home order until May 15, saying parts of Louisiana hit with COVID-19 have not met the federal guidelines to begin phase one of re-opening the state.
- While health leaders praise the decision to extend the order, the news is met with frustration for many business owners struggling during the shutdown.
- Starting May 1, all workers dealing with the public must wear face masks.
- Elective medical procedures are now allowed during the shutdown.
As Louisiana reopens, New Orleans mayor says not so fast
As Louisiana begins to ease some restrictions in its statewide stay-at-home order, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said some rules will stay in effect longer in the city than other parts of the state.
Monday, Gov. John Bel Edwards extended his stay-at-home order to May 15, but said that starting on May 1 stores could open for curbside delivery and restaurants could open outside seating for customers to eat.
However, a post on Cantrell’s official Twitter account Tuesday said the governor’s announcement does not change the existing stay-home order in Orleans Parish. Cantrell extended her own stay at home order until May 16 earlier this month.
“Restaurants will not be allowed to host curbside seating and stores will not be allowed to open curbside delivery,” Cantrell’s post said.
Masks will be mandatory for some Louisiana workers, Gov. Edwards says
Starting Friday, May 1, any employees who have contact with the public must wear face masks or covers, Edwards said on Monday after announcing he would extend Louisiana's Stay at Home order until at least May 15.
Edwards also encouraged businesses to require their customers wear masks as well.
The directive comes as the coronavirus outbreak slows and the state shifts toward reopening businesses. Edwards said Monday the state was on the right track but certain areas were still seeing increases in COVID-19 cases and did not meet the guidelines to reopen laid out by the White House.
The governor's orders, while not technically law, can technically be enforcement through misdemeanor charges for "disobeying the governor's orders," which carry a fine of up to $500 and up to six months in parish jail.
Gov. Edwards extends Stay at Home Order to May 15
Gov. John Bel Edwards will extend Louisiana's Stay at Home order until May 15.
According to the Governor, the state doesn't meet the criteria to move on to Phase One of the reopening guidelines.
Some changes to the Stay at Home Order will go into effect on Friday, May 1.
- Malls will be closed to the public, but stores may open for curbside delivery
- Restaurants can open outside seating for customers to eat, but can not provide table service. They will still be take out only.
- Employees of businesses that are interacting with the public MUST wear masks or face covers.
Edwards also noted that non-essential retail stores have never been ordered closed, but must practice proper social distancing and can not have more than 10 people inside the store at any given time.
Edwards said that if Louisiana meets the White House guidelines, we will being Phase One by May 15. That announcement will be made on May 11.
Here's why Gov. Edwards said he had to extend the Stay at Home order
Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana's Stay at Home order to May 15, saying the state doesn't yet meet the criteria to begin Phase One of reopening the economy yet.
The Governor said his decision is based on data from the Louisiana Dept. of Health, that shows some regions of the state are still seeing an increase in new cases and hospitalizations.
According to the LDH, the rate of new cases and hospitalizations in the Baton Rouge and Monroe regions are still increasing. Increases in new cases are also being seen in Acadiana. Around Shreveport and in Louisiana's southwest region, new cases are decreasing but hospitalizations have plateaued.
On Lake Pontchartrain’s North Shore, hospitalizations are decreasing but new cases have plateaued.
The Governor hopes to move on to Phase One on May 16. He said that announcement will come around May 11 if Louisiana’s numbers improve.
Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin released from prison under COVID program
Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has been released from federal prison three years early, one of his attorneys told WWL-TV.
Nagin, who served as mayor from 2002 to 2010, became a national figure during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and afterward, but had already begun a kickback scheme that began in 2004 and continued until after he left office, receiving money and help for his sons’ granite business in exchange for city business and support for private development projects.
The 63-year-old Nagin was convicted on 20 counts of corruption, bribery and fraud in February 2014. He reported to a low-security prison in Texarkana, Texas, for a 10-year sentence in September 2014. He was scheduled for release after serving 85 percent of his sentence. That was to be on March 16, 2023, according to the Bureau of Prisons’ websit.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced a program to release older, low-risk offenders nearing the ends of their sentences because of the threat of COVID-19 spreading in the prisons.
The Texarkana Federal Correctional Institution had not reported any cases of COVID-19, raising the question of whether Nagin would be safer from the virus in prison than at home.
The story was first reported by our partners at The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate.
Business groups 'disappointed' by Gov. Edwards' Stay at Home Order extension
Disappointment seems to be the main reaction to Gov. John Bel Edwards’ extension of Louisiana’s Stay At Home Order.
Many businesses groups weighed in after the Governor extended the order to May 15 on Monday.
Stephen Waguespack, President of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, said the group is “disappointed” by the extension.
“Essential service industries such as groceries, hardware, maintenance and construction have operated safely and productively for weeks now and have shown us all that smart steps can be taken to protect the public AND serve the public at the same time,” Waguespack said. “Right now, other small businesses are simply asking for the same right to show they too can operate safely and responsibly to serve their community and hire back their workers.”
'We're not going to be able to bring everybody back'
It was a little after noon at Katie’s in Mid-City Monday and it was about the time owner Scot Craig would expect to see huge crowds for the lunch rush. But at Iberville and North Telemachus streets, business has almost come to a complete stop.
“There would be people right here waiting to get in,” Craig said while sitting outside of the door of his restaurant. “It’s quite different.”
He knows there will be fewer than the 130 seats he used to have. “I’m hoping to get 60 or 70,” he said.
Which means another stark reality for his staff. “We’re not going to be able to bring everyone back,” he said. And for those who are able to return to work, they’ll hand out menus that are used once and then thrown away.
Louisiana's top industries, oil and tourism, face uncertain futures
As state and local leaders try to figure out when and how to reopen the economy, two of the biggest industries in Louisiana are facing uncertain futures.
Tourism and energy production are taking critical hits. Whatever the “new normal” looks like post COVID-19, is anybody’s guess.
The New Orleans tourism industry saw record breaking numbers in 2018, with more than 18.5 million visitors. Those visitors spent more than 9.1-billion dollars. Now, the French Market and the streets around it are empty, and the industry is bracing for potentially record low numbers.
We may be loving the low gas prices, but these numbers indicate danger for workers in Louisiana’s oil and gas sector.
Restaurants prepare for outdoor seating amidst stay at home order changes
This weekend will be the first time in a month when the outside patio at El Gato Negro in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans will be ready for seating.
“We’re still going to practice social distancing guidelines that have been put in place,” said Johnny Contreras, a member of the family that owns the restaurant.
Part of Governor John Bel Edwards’ two-week extension of the stay at home order comes with a few changes on the menu. Beginning Friday, restaurants with outside seating will be able to open those spaces to customers, but no table service.
“We’re glad to be able to offer at least table and chairs for guests,” said Contreras.
While not a full reopen, Contreras says is a step towards normalcy.
Stroke patients are avoiding hospitals, causing brain damage to avoid COVID-19, doctors say
Stroke is the number one cause of disability in adults in the U.S.
The South has been described as the stroke belt, and New Orleans as the belt’s buckle. That’s because so many local people suffer from strokes.
Doctors are seeing a dangerous trend during the coronavirus pandemic, patients having a stroke and not going to the hospital.
"Even over the last week, we’ve had several cases where patients waited to come in and they’ll tell you they were worried, you know, they didn’t want to get exposed to the virus," said Dr.Justin Salerian, Medical Director of the Comprehensive Stroke Program at Tulane University.
Coronavirus tracing could be the key to re-opening the economy
The road home from the coronavirus crisis is expected to be long, with potential detours along the way.
Public health experts said to reopen safely, we need to find out sooner when someone has COVID-19, then trace and isolate the people they've come into contact with.
Gov. John Bel Edwards has a goal of 200,000 COVID tests per month in Louisiana.
The state health department estimates it needs a small army of 700 contact tracers.
City of New Orleans announces dates/sites for future COVID walk-up tests
From the city:
The City of New Orleans Health Department, LCMC Health and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) will continue conducting a mobile testing campaign for COVID-19 across the metro area over the coming weeks.
The mobile campaign is bringing walk-up testing to neighborhoods that have been heavily affected by COVID-19, with the goal of identifying early cases that are showing little if any symptoms. A person must be 18 years of age, have been exposed to COVID-19, or think he or she may have had or has symptoms.
Tools
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. These symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after exposure.
Worldwide illnesses have ranged from mild to severe, including severe pneumonia that can result in hospitalization or death.
Older people and people with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease or cancer seem to be at greater risk of serious illness.
People with recent travel to China, or have come in contact with someone who has recent travel and is ill, have a greater risk for becoming ill.
What to do if you are sick:
If you recently traveled to an area affected by COVID-19 transmission, and you feel sick, stay home and call your doctor immediately. Do not go to the doctor without calling first.
If you have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath, call your primary care provider. If you do not have a primary care provider, call the Louisiana Department of Health hotline at 1-855-523-2652.
If you are severely ill and you think you need to go to the hospital, call 9-1-1 or go to an emergency room.
How to Prevent the Spread:
The virus is thought to spread between people in close contact (within 6 feet) and through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Wash hands with soap and water often or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Especially wash hands after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Stay home if you feel sick to prevent the spread of germs.
- Cover your cough with your elbow to prevent the spread of germs.
Treatments for COVID-19:
There are no medications specifically approved for COVID-19. People with coronavirus should be treated with supportive care to help relieve symptoms.
Some severe cases require going to the hospital, particularly in the elderly or those with underlying medical conditions.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.
