BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. John Bel Edwards urged calm Monday as he announced the third death related to COVID-19, the deadly disease associated with the coronavirus, in Louisiana.
The third patient was an 84-year-old resident of the Lambeth House senior living facility in Orleans Parish, the governor said. At least 12 cases have been confirmed at that facility.
Alongside the third death – all of which have been in New Orleans – Edwards said there were 136 confirmed cases in the state, 94 of which are in Orleans Parish.
At least 11 parishes have reported positive tests for the virus, but Edwards said the number will grow in the coming days.
"The experts tell us coronavirus is spread across Louisiana and we expect this to be confirmed in the coming days," he said. This is a statewide problem that demands a statewide solution."
But Edwards said there was no need to panic in the face of the coronavirus spread.
Specifically, he addressed the recent rush on food and supplies at stores throughout the state.
"When you go to the store, buy for the week," he urged. "Don not try to buy for the month. You do not need to hoard items or stock up for extended periods of time."
He also confirmed that three drive-thru testing sites would be established in the metro New Orleans area to increase the number of people checked for the virus.
Two of the sites are planned for Orleans Parish and one will be in Jefferson Parish, according to the governor.
The testing sites are part of a pilot program between the city of New Orleans, the federal government and three other cities across the country.
The exact locations of the testing sites have not been determined yet.
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