7-2-20
Louisiana is seeing its largest daily coronavirus case spike since April, during the height of the state’s outbreak. Nearly 2,100 new cases of the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus were confirmed over the last day in Louisiana residents, and hospitalizations continued to tick upward. The trend is worrying public health experts that Louisiana’s once successful efforts to slow infections are being undermined by a complacent public ignoring recommended precautions. Baton Rouge mayor Sharon Weston Broome said Wednesday she’s signing an executive order that requires people to wear face coverings when they are inside a business.
REGION FOUR, WHICH INCLUDES SEVEN ACADIANA PARISHES, SET A RECORD FOR DAILY CASELOADS AND FOR THE SEVEN DAY TOTAL. LAFAYETTE PARISHES OVERALL CASE COUNT HAS DOUBLED OVER THE LAST SEVENTEEN DAYS. REGION FOUR ALSO REACHED ITS HIGHEST COUNT FOR COVID-NINETEEN HOSPITALIZATIONS, WITH ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX. THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN SIX THOUSAND CORONAVIRUS CASES AS ACADIANA ADDED THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY-EIGHT. LAFAYETTE PARISH ALONE HAD JUST OVER TWO HUNDRED ADDITIONAL CASES. ACADIANA ADDED FOUR MORE DEATHS, INCLUDING THREE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH AND ONE IN ACADIA PARISH. THE TOTAL IS TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-FOUR.
CALCASIEU PARISH HAD FOUR HUNDRED TWENTY-NINE MORE CORONAVIRUS CASES, WHICH IS NINETY PERCENT OF ALL THE NEW CASES FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. THE TOTAL IS TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY-SIX. THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL DEATHS. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COVID-NINETEEN DEATHS FOR THE REGION IS EIGHTY-SIX.
CROWLEY CITY MAYOR TIM MONCEAUX ANNOUNCED THE CLOSURE OF CITY HALL TO THE PUBLIC. THE RECENT RISE IN CORONAVIRUS CASES IS THE REASON FOR THE CLOSURE. BUSINESS WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA TELEPHONE, E-MAIL, U-S MAIL, AND FAX, AND A TEMPORARY MAILBOX WILL BE SET UP IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAND DELIVER CORRESPONDENCE. HE ASKED EVERYONE TO JOIN THEM IN TAKING THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO ASSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF THE COMMUNITY.
Louisiana will start accepting applications July 28 from small businesses seeking up to $15,000 grants to help with coronavirus expenses. Treasurer John Schroder said Wednesday that he will use three contractors to help run the program, which will hand out at least $260 million in grants. The grants are aimed at helping businesses that had to stop operating or otherwise incurred costs because of the virus outbreak. More than 450,000 Louisiana businesses are estimated to be eligible — far more than the state can afford to give grants.
LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY SAYS HE HAS DECIDED TO ASK CITY ATTORNEYS TO TAKE ACTION TO REMOVE A CONTROVERSIAL STATUE THAT SITS IN FRONT OF OLD CITY HALL. THE STATUE OF CONFEDERATE GENERAL ALFRED MOUTON HAS UPSET SOME PEOPLE BECAUSE HE WAS A SLAVE OWNER. GUILLORY SAID IN A PREPARED STATEMENT THAT HE’LL ASK THE COURT TO PROTECT THE STATUE FROM DESTRUCTION AND ASK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR A RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT. HE SAYS THEY WILL WORK CONSCIENTIOUSLY TO FREE PUBLIC SPACE IN FRONT OF OLD CITY HALL FOR ACTIVITIES APPROPRIATE TO THE COMMUNITY IN 2022.
A southwest Louisiana parish has a new sheriff. Mark Herford was sworn in Tuesday as the newly elected sheriff of Beauregard Parish in a gathering outside the parish courthouse. KPLC-TV reports Herford thanked the people who attended the ceremony. He succeeds Ricky Moses, who did not seek re-election.
SENIORS IN WARD ONE OF OPELOUSAS ARE RECEIVING A HELPING HAND OR, BETTER YET, FREE TRANSPORTATION. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.
VOICER B :17
