4-22-2020
The number of deaths linked to COVID-19 in Louisiana has increased by 77. The state health department’s latest figures show 1,405 deaths linked to the disease caused by the new coronavirus, but there are some hopeful trends. The number hospitalized in the state remains under 1,800. It peaked at 2,134 earlier this month. And the number needing ventilators has dropped below 300 from a peak of 571.
Gov. John Bel Edwards says it’s still too early to say whether stay-at-home orders will be significantly eased May 1. Meanwhile, the state’s top elections official has issued new proposals for making voting safer in the pandemic. Governors in the Deep South have resisted any appearance of synchronization when it comes to opening their economies. Instead they are driving home the message that each state must make its own decision.
THERE WERE JUST EIGHT MORE CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN ACADIANA, THE LOWEST IN SOME TIME. THE TOTAL IS NOW AT THIRTEEN HUNDRED AND THREE. HOWEVER, THERE WERE TWELVE MORE DEATHS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS IN ACADIANA. THEY INCLUDED SIX MORE IN ST. LANDRY PARISH, WHICH NOW HAS THE MOST OF ANY ACADIANA PARISH. ST. MARY PARISH ADDED FOUR DEATHS FOR A TOTAL OF SIXTEEN.
DOCTOR TINA STEFANSKI, THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, TOLD THE OPELOUSAS CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT THAT THERE ARE TWENTY-EIGHT DEATHS IN ST. LANDRY PARISH. SHE SAYS TWENTY-FIVE OF THEM WERE IN NURSING HOMES, BUT SHE DIDN’T LIST WHICH ONES. SHE SAYS IT’S LIKELY THAT NURSING HOME WORKERS TRANSFERRED THE VIRUS TO RESIDENTS. STEFANSKI SAYS NURSING HOMES ARE TAKING EXTRA PRECAUTIONS TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS MONITORING THOSE FACILITIES.
THERE WERE TWELVE MORE CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, INCLUDING TEN IN CALCASIEU PARISH. THE TOTAL IN THE REGION STANDS AT FIVE HUNDRED NINE. THERE WAS ONE MORE DEATH IN CALCASIEU PARISH, WHICH NOW HAS A TOTAL OF TWENTY. THE SOUTHWEST REGION HAS THIRTY-SIX TOTAL.
LAST NIGHT AT THE LAFAYETTE CITY AND PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS, THEY DEBATED WHAT ARE THE MOST ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO AFFORD THEM. MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY TOLD THE COUNCILS THAT A HEALTH EMERGENCY HAS TRANSFORMED INTO AN ECONOMIC EMERGENCY. HE SAID THAT IF THEY DON’T CHANGE THEIR SPENDING HABITS, THEY WILL RUN OUT OF MONEY SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. THE CITY COUNCIL GAVE APPROVAL FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE BONDS, LOANS, GRANTS AND SALES OF L-C-G PROPERTIES, AND THEY ARE CONSIDERING CANCELLING SOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
CROWLEY IS ANOTHER CITY BATTLING BUDGET PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF CORONAVIRUS. GERALD GREUNIG HAS MORE.
VOICER U :18
A LINEMAN FOR THE TOWN OF WELSH DIED WHILE WORKING ON AN ELECTRICAL LINE YESTERDAY. MAYOR CAROLYN LOUVIERE WAS A LONG TIME WORKER FOR THE TOWN OF WELSH. HE WAS IN A BUCKET TRUCK ON COOPER STREET WHEN HE WAS ELECTROCUTED. LOUVIERE SAYS HE WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL BUT DID NOT SURVIVE.
