Latest Numbers:
- 884 deaths (+44)
- 21,016 total cases (+421)
- 2,134 patients in hospitals (+50)
- 461 in need of ventilators (+3)
- 64 of 64 parishes reporting cases
- 108,091 tests completed
Key Updates:
- All 64 parishes are now reporting cases of confirmed coronavirus.
- Jefferson and Orleans parishes have more than half the cases in the state and just under half of the deaths.
- Gov. Edwards says it's likely Louisiana schools, which have been closed since March 16, will remain closed for the rest of the school year.
- New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell says the city is now facing a $150 million deficit fighting the coronavirus and the Sewerage and Water Board is critically low on funds due to lack of revenue.
Louisiana sees smallest growth in coronavirus cases again Monday
After Easter Sunday had the lowest percent increase in confirmed coronavirus cases since the outbreak began in Louisiana, the state reported even fewer new cases for Monday.
It continues the now seven-day streak of growth in the single digits and points towards the possibility that the state may have reached its peak – or at least a plateau.
Louisiana's latest coronavirus data from the department of health continued a positive trend: slowing hospitalizations, falling ventilator use and a declining number of deaths reported daily.
Monday's numbers from the department showed 421 new cases and 44 new deaths, down from the 581 reported cases on Easter Sunday but up from 34 reported deaths.
That's just a 2% growth in total cases and a 5% growth in deaths.
The rate of growth for deaths was the third-lowest Louisiana has seen so far, behind only a single day when no new deaths were reported. On that day, March 22, only 837 cases had been reported and there were 20 deaths attributed to COVID-19.
Cases by parish (SE Louisiana):
- Orleans: 5,651 cases, 244 deaths
- Jefferson: 5,088 cases, 186 deaths
- East Baton Rouge: 1,273 cases, 52 deaths
- St. Tammany: 881 cases, 48 death
- St. John: 556 cases, 40 deaths
- St. Charles: 410 cases, 23 deaths
- Terrebonne: 260 cases, 14 deaths
- Lafourche: 481 cases, 13 deaths
- Tangipahoa: 252 cases, 11 deaths
- St. James: 207 cases, 11 death
- Plaquemines: 140 cases, 11 deaths
- St. Bernard 369 cases, 8 deaths
- Washington: 156 cases, 8 death
Brother Martin making 3-D printed 'mask extenders' for medical staff battling coronavirus
Staff at Brother Martin High School are making special attachments for medical masks that make wearing the equipment much more comfortable on first responders' ears.
The masks were irritating their ears from constantly wearing them.
Teachers at Brother Martin were contacted by first responders to make the attachments, called "mask extenders." They're being produced using special 3-D printers at the high school.
So far, Brother Martin has donated about 70 to East Jefferson Hospital and another 80 to other area hospitals.
"We're happy to help when we can," said science teacher David Jouandot II, Ph.D. "We're very blessed at Brother Martin as a science department to be very well stacked with equipment... 3-D printing is a very big push toward the future of technology."
Overnight bus, streetcar service suspended in New Orleans
Starting Sunday night, New Orleans buses and streetcars will stop operating at night, in the latest public transit service reduction made by the city to minimize the risk of coronavirus for riders and operators.
Overnight service, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., will be suspended until further notice on most bus and streetcar routes in the city.
City officials said in a statement the reduction was being implemented because of a decrease in ridership overnight, and to further reduce the risk of COVID-19 associated with public transportation.
Any routes set to begin overnight will instead start at 4 a.m. Any routes starting later than that will keep their original schedule. All routes will end by approximately 10 p.m. each night.
New Orleans pastor recovers from COVID-19 to preach Easter Sunday
After a tough battle with COVID-19, a New Orleans pastor preached for the first time in several weeks on Easter Sunday.
This Easter Sunday service was a little different than past years for Pastor Joshua Palmer of the Greater Little Rock Baptist Church in New Orleans East.
It's not different just because he preached to a nearly empty building as his congregation watched over live-stream; it's different because this Sunday was the first time he's preached in three weeks.
"I want to give people encouragement during this season of this pandemic," Palmer said Sunday afternoon.
Palmer said he's still recovering from a tough battle with COVID-19. He said he thought he had the virus three weeks ago when he had a 104-degree fever, followed by coughing and trouble breathing.
COVID-19 Easter Sunday: Family, faith, and a virtual connection
"It will be strange and hungering for many of us because we will not be able to receive communion," Archbishop Gregory Aymond said.
It's Easter Sunday, but it doesn't look like it outside.
"The streets are empty," Treme resident Gina Lesie said. "It's somber in a way."
With COVID-19, Families in the New Orleans area are celebrating Easter this year in an undoubtedly different way. Not heading to a church for mass, people are celebrating from home, over the web.
"It is impossible for us to go to communion," Aymond said. "So. we ask for spiritual communion as we ask Jesus to keep us close."
Up until several weeks ago, many catholic services were still occurring, but as of late, everything has been moved online. The same goes for different faiths across the region, including synagogues during Passover.
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.
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