4-23-20
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says masks will continue to be recommended attire for Louisiana residents even when stay-at-home orders are eased. Edwards stressed at a Wednesday news conference that masks are important to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. Exactly when and how restrictions will be eased remains unclear, but Edwards is expected to provide more guidance as early as Monday. The state surpassed 25,000 known coronavirus cases, based on testing, as of Wednesday and the death toll rose to 1,473, but the number of cases requiring hospitalization continues to decline.
THERE WERE FORTY-SEVEN MORE CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN ACADIANA. THE TOTAL IS NOW AT THIRTEEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY. BOTH IBERIA AND ST. MARTIN PARISHES PASSED THE TWO HUNDRED MARK. THERE ARE FOUR MORE DEATHS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS IN ACADIANA. THEY INCLUDED THREE MORE IN ST. LANDRY PARISH, WHICH NOW HAS THE MOST OF ANY ACADIANA PARISH AT TWENTY-NINE, AND ONE MORE IN IBERIA PARISH.
THERE WERE EIGHT MORE CASES OF CORONAVIRUS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, INCLUDING SEVEN IN CALCASIEU PARISH. THE TOTAL IN THE REGION STANDS AT FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN. THERE ARE THREE MORE DEATHS IN CALCASIEU PARISH, WHICH NOW HAS A TOTAL OF TWENTY-THREE. THE SOUTHWEST REGION HAS THIRTY-NINE TOTAL.
LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT AND LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE DISTRIBUTING ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND WASHABLE AND REUSABLE FACE MASKS THAT WERE PROVIDED BY THE HANES CORPORATION. THE MASKS WILL BE PROVIDED TO BUSINESSES THAT ARE ABLE TO REOPEN UNDER THE SAFE SHOP GUIDELINES. THE LAFAYETTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ESTIMATES THAT SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF BUSINESSES IN LAFAYETTE FALL UNDER THE SAFE SHOP DESIGNATION. LAFAYETTE POLICE WILL BE DISTRIBUTING THE MASKS TO BUSINESSES AS THEY ARE DOING COMPLIANCE CHECKS.
An emergency plan to increase early and mail-in voting options for Louisiana’s summer elections because of the coronavirus has won approval from key state House and Senate oversight panels. Republican lawmakers who stalled the first plan submitted by GOP Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin lifted their objections once Ardoin more strictly limited the list of who’s eligible for mail-in ballots. Wednesday’s committee votes send the plan to the full House and Senate for consideration by emailed ballot. If approved as expected, Ardoin will use the plan to manage the July 11 presidential primary and an August 15 municipal election.
THE CITY OF CROWLEY IS LIFTING SOME OF ITS COVID-NINETEEN RELATED RESTRICTIONS. CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS THE DETAILS.
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THE HALLIBURTON FACILITY IN BROUSSARD HAS BEGUN TO LAY OFF WORKERS. THEY SUBMITTED A NOTICE TO THE LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISION INFORMING THEM THAT THIRTY-SIX EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN LET GO. THE LAY OFFS WERE EFFECTIVE FOR APRIL FOURTEENTH. THE OIL INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HARD HIT BY THE MARKET CRASH WITH PRICES PER BARREL OF OIL DROPPING BELOW ZERO DOLLARS ON MONDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, AND ARE CURRENTLY AT THIRTY-FOUR CENTS PER BARREL.
THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS SETTING GRADUATION DATES FOR THE FIRST HALF OF JUNE. HATHAWAY HIGH AND LAKE ARTHUR HIGH WILL HAVE GRADUATIONS ON JUNE FIFTH. ELTON HIGH WILL HOLD GRADUATION ON TUESDAY, JUNE NINTH, WELSH HIGH ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE TENTH AND LACASSINE HIGH ON THURSDAY, JUNE ELEVENTH. THE GRADUATION FOR JENNINGS HIGH IS STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED.
