3-25-20
THE NUMBER OF CORONAVIRUS CASES CONTINUES TO CLIMB IN ACADIANA AND ACROSS THE STATE. GERALD GRUENIG REPORTS.
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CALCASIEU PARISH IS REPORTING ITS FIRST DEATH FROM THE CORONAVIRUS. THE PERSON WAS SEVENTY-SEVEN YEARS-OLD, ACCORDING TO THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE. JEFF DAVIS PARISH OFFICIALS ARE ALSO REPORTING THAT THEY HAVE THEIR FIRST CASE OF THE CORONAVIRUS. THE CASE WAS IDENTIFIED AT THE JENNINGS AMERICAN LEGION HOSPITAL. ST. MARTIN PARISH IS ALSO OFFICIALLY HAS IT’S FIRST CASE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.
President Donald Trump granted a federal disaster declaration exists in Louisiana and ordered assistance to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by COVID-19. Louisiana’s governor says conversations about easing restrictions that have hammered the national economy are too soon for his state. Gov. John Bel Edwards asked the White House to declare a major disaster in his state to free up more direct federal aid to cope with the surging coronavirus outbreak. Trump approved Tuesday evening.
- LANDRY PARISH HAS A PARISH WIDE CURFEW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT YESTERDAY. VAN REED, THE PARISH’S DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, SAYS THE ORDER IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE STAY AT HOME ORDER IMPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR ON SUNDAY, NOT BECAUSE THERE IS A SPREAD OF THE VIRUS. THE CURFEW BEGINS NIGHTLY AT NINE P-M AND LASTS UNTIL SIX IN THE MORNING. ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE ORDER AND ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES ARE ALLOWED TO STAY OPEN AFTER NINE.
SOME NON-ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES IN LAFAYETTE ARE CONTINUING TO OPERATE, DESPITE A STATEWIDE ORDER BY THE GOVERNOR FOR NONESSENTIAL BUSINESSES TO CLOSE AS OF MONDAY AT FIVE P-M. JAMIE ANGELLE, THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR OF THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, SAYS THEY RECEIVED CALLS ALL DAY YESTERDAY REPORTING NONCOMPLIANT BUSINESSES. HE SAYS THEY ARE TRYING NOT TO HAVE TO FORCE BUSINESSES TO CLOSE BUT THE ONLY WAY FOR THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER TO WORK IS FOR PEOPLE TO ADHERE TO IT. ANGELLE SAYS SOME PROBLEMS WERE CLEARED UP WITH JUST A PHONE CALL.
THE SALVATION ARMY’S CENTER OF HOPE MEN’S SHELTER IN LAKE CHARLES IS REMAINING OPEN TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY, THOUGH THEY ARE TAKING STEPS TO BE CAREFUL. THE CLEANING STAFF IS THREE TIMES BIGGER PER SHIFT, THEY ARE ONLY ALLOWING TEN PEOPLE AT A TIME IN THE DINING ROOM, AND THEY ARE TRYING TO PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING, THOUGH THERE IS LIMITED SPACE. THE SALVATION ARMY IS THE ONLY SOUP KITCHEN STILL OPEN IN LAKE CHARLES AFTER ABRAHAM’S TENT CLOSED. THEY ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC FOR FOOD DONATIONS, AS WELL AS LAUNDRY DETERGENT, SOAP AND CLEANING SUPPLIES.
A NURSING HOME IN CROWLEY IS USING MODERN TECHNOLOGY TO HELP RESIDENTS MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THEIR FAMILIES. SEVENTY-THREE RESIDENTS AT ENCORE HEALTHCARE AND REHABILITATION HAVE BEEN USING FACETIME AND VIDEO MESSAGING IN ORDER TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND BE ABLE TO SEE THEM. FOR MANY, IT’S THE FIRST TIME THEY’VE EVER USED THE TECHNOLOGY. MEANWHILE, RESIDENTS ARE MAINTAINING THEIR NORMAL ROUTINES WHILE KEEPING A SIX FOOT DISTANCE, ACCORDING TO JESSICA GUIDRY, WHO IS WITH THE NURSING HOME.
