7-13-20
Gov. John Bel Edwards on Saturday ratcheted up Louisiana’s restrictions to combat the coronavirus’ spread, saying he’s instituting a statewide mask mandate, putting tougher limits on group gatherings and shuttering bars. Edwards says the tightened requirements will take effect today. The order is aimed at trying to curb a sharp rise in infections of the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus that is sparking troubling surges in hospitalization rates. Masks will be required when entering establishments statewide, though some parishes can opt out if they meet certain thresholds for the virus.
HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID-NINETEEN CONTINUE TO RISE IN LOUISIANA WITH ANOTHER SIXTY-ONE REPORTED YESTERDAY, MOVING THE TOTAL OVER TWELVE-HUNDRED. THERE ARE THIRTEEN MORE PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS. THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS THERE ARE MORE THAN THIRTEEN HUNDRED NEW CASES OF CORONAVIRUS, PUSHING THE TOTAL ABOVE SEVENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND. THERE WERE THIRTEEN MORE DEATHS.
ACADIANA SAW THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-FOUR MORE CASES AND NOW THE REGION HAS HAD MORE THAN TEN THOUSAND TOTAL CASES FOR THE FIRST TIME. LAFAYETTE ADDED ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN CASES OF CORONAVIRUS. TWO MORE PEOPLE DIED FROM COVID NINETEEN. BOTH DEATHS WERE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH. THE TOTAL FOR THE REGION IS TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-THREE.
SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA ALSO HAD TWO MORE DEATHS FROM COVID-NINETEEN. THEY WERE IN CALCASIEU AND JEFF DAVIS PARISHES. THE REGION HAD ONE HUNDRED SIXTEEN MORE CASES INCLUDING SIXTY-SIX IN CALCASIEU PARISH. THE TOTAL IS FOUR THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE.
FREE DRIVE-THRU COVID TESTING SITES WILL BE SET UP IN CROWLEY. CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS THE DETAILS.
VOICER I :23
A NUMBER OF VOTERS FROM THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT PARTIES REPORTED PROBLEMS IN VOTING IN SATURDAY’S LOUISIANA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. KATC TV REPORTS THAT THEY GOT SEVERAL CALLS FROM PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE IN THEIR PARTY’S PARISH AND STATE COMMITTEE ELECTIONS. LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY IS ASKING THOSE WHO HAD TROUBLES TO CONTACT THE LAFAYETTE PARISH REGISTRAR OF VOTER’S OFFICE. HE SAID BE PREPARED TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION ABOUT YOUR REGISTRATION AND TO REPORT WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU TRIED TO VOTE.
STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A CRASH IN VERNON PARISH THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A DERIDDER MAN. IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY MORNING AT AROUND FIVE A-M WHEN FIFTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD JAMES FISHER WAS TRAVELING EAST ON HIGHWAY TEN. FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, FISHER VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. FISHER, WHO WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. A TOXICOLOGY SAMPLE WAS TAKEN AND SUBMITTED FOR ANALYSIS.
SWAMP POP MUSICIAN AND BROADCASTER ROD BERNARD HAS PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF SEVENTY-NINE. HIS SON SAID IN A TWEET THAT BERNARD DIED AFTER A SHORT ILLNESS THAT WAS NOT COVID-NINETEEN. BERNARD HAD A TOP TWENTY HIT SONG IN NINETEEN FIFTY-EIGHT, “ THIS SHOULD GO ON FOREVER”, THAT EARNED HIM AN APPEARANCE ON DICK CLARK’S “AMERICAN BANDSTAND.” BERNARD WENT ON TO BE A LOCAL BROADCASTER ON KLFY TV AND SEVERAL RADIO STATIONS AND WAS ALSO A SALESMAN.
