Louisiana now has 347 cases of COVID-19 in 17 parishes with 231 of those in Orleans Parish. An eighth person has died, a 60-year-old from St. James Parish. Governor Edwards has issued several guidelines and closures during the virus outbreak that some claim oversteps his authority. Attorney General Jeff Landry offered his input. Brooke Thorington has more.
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Representative Steve Scalise decides to self-quarantine after a fellow lawmaker tested positive for COVID-19. Scalise, who is not experiencing any symptoms, says the two met late last week.
New Orleans ranks second only to Seattle among US cities in per capita coronavirus cases. Health experts say Mardi Gras was the ideal combination of factors to dovetail the number of COVID-19 infections. Chair of the Global Community Health Department of Tulane’s School of Public Health Dr. Richard Oberhelman says the first factor is the international attraction of tourists.
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Blood centers are reporting that COVID-19 is causing a critical shortage of blood donations. Hospitals may be preparing to take an influx of coronavirus patients, but Lifeshare spokesperson Ben Prijatel says that doesn’t mean your routine procedures and patients won’t still need help.
Lifeshare has seen a loss of 4,000 scheduled blood donations during March, the biggest hit coming from the suspension of schools.