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.

Cut 4 (05)_ “…was being transmitted.”

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.

Cut 8 (12) “…august.”

Lifeshare has seen a loss of 4,000 scheduled blood donations during March, the biggest hit coming from the suspension of schools.

With coronavirus cases rising, Louisiana is using State Parks as a place for coronavirus patients to stay in isolation when they can’t live at home because of elderly relatives or other reasons. Governor John Bel Edwards says they already have 10 coronavirus patients at Bayou Segnette in Jefferson Parish…
cut 14 (11) “….the state”

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins has slammed the governor for shutting down restaurants, bars and fitness clubs. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry says Edwards has the legal right to restrict public gatherings and the order should be enforced…
cut 11 (12) “…the public”

The state’s largest blood center, Lifeshare, reports they are running low on blood due to a lack of donations. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

State Police is investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting in the Acadia Parish town of Iota. L-S-P says Iota officers were dispatched to a home last night where they encountered a male subject seated in a vehicle and armed with a firearm. Authorities say during the encounter, the subject was shot by at least one officer and died from his injuries at a local hospital.

280 Louisianans have tested positive for COVID-19, 196 of those in Orleans Parish and the number of cases is expected to rise sharply as a backlog of tests come in. Governor Edwards warns a shelter in place order may be necessary.
Cut 13 (11) “place.”
Several cities and counties nationwide have ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses for a lengthy period.

Chair of the Global Community Health Department of Tulane’s School of Public Health Doctor Richard Oberhelman says Mardi Gras played a role in the spread of the virus and hand contamination is likely to have been the main culprit of the spread…
cut 5 (08) “….to somebody else”

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has asked the public that if they see price gouging, they should call the police. He’s also asking residents, especially seniors, that there are scam artists out there too…
cut 12 (12) “….our hotline”
That number is 1-800-351-4889.

Blood centers are reporting that the COVID-19 crisis is causing a critical shortage of blood donations. Lifeshare spokesperson Ben Prijatel says March is usually a busy month for blood centers, but…
Cut 7 (07) “…as well.”
Prijatel is urging the public to donate blood at one of their local centers and he says they do practice social distancing during the donation process.

As the number of COVID-19 cases rises in Louisiana the Governor says the state is looking at all of its options to respond to the potentially impending healthcare emergency…
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House Republican Whip Steve Scalise has decided to self-quarantine after fellow Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida tested positive for COVID-19. Scalise said he had a lengthy meeting with him late last week.

An eighth person in Louisiana has died from the coronavirus, as St. James Parish hospital announces a patient over the age of 60, who had underlying health conditions succumbed to the virus.

Some say the Governor is overstepping his authority by closing some businesses and limiting public gatherings. But during a coronavirus media briefing, Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry said John Bel Edwards has the authority.
Cut 10 (14) “is yes.”
In a Facebook video post, Congressman Clay Higgins questioned whether Edwards’s order limiting public gatherings could be enforced.

New Orleans is the epicenter of the coronavirus spread in Louisiana. Out of the 280 cases, 196 are in Orleans Parish and there’s 45 more in Jefferson Parish. Chair of the Global Community Health Department of Tulane’s School of Public Health Doctor Richard Oberhelman says Mardi Gras parades possibly played a role…
cut 6 (09) “….lead to spread”

The coronavirus count this morning is 280 cases in Louisiana and eight deaths. An eighth patient died in St. James Parish last night and we now have two cases in Lafayette Parish. There are 196 cases in New Orleans, making it the second-highest city, per capita, behind Seattle. Chair of the Global Community Health Department of Tulane’s School of Public Health Doctor Richard Oberhelman says Mardi Gras celebrations provided the fuel for the virus to spread…
cut 4 (05) “…was being transmitted”

Governor John Bel Edwards is warning Louisiana residents that we should expect to see a surge in cases as the state gets back the results of more than one-thousand tests. The governor also says there’s a need for healthcare workers…
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Earlier this week Republican Congressman Clay Higgins posted a video on his Facebook page slamming the governor for shutting down restaurants, bars and fitness clubs. There’s also a church leader in East Baton Rouge Parish who is defying the governor’s order of no more than 50 people at a public gathering. But Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry backs the governor on this issue. He says Edwards has the authority to restrict public gatherings and the order can be enforced…
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The state’s number of coronavirus cases is up to 280. The greater New Orleans area has the most cases with 196 in Orleans Parish and 45 in Jefferson Parish. A total of seven people have now died from the virus. Governor Edwards expects the number of coronavirus cases to increase dramatically over the next 24 to 36 as the state plans to receive about a thousand tests results…

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Edwards continues to implore Louisiana residents to wash their hands frequently and practice social distancing.
Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the federal government is working to get more testing kits out. A drive-thru testing site in Baton Rouge had to suspend operations yesterday after it ran out of testing kits. He says finding out who has the virus is critical to stopping the spread…

Cut 7 (05) “…get better”

The Department of Children and Family Services has seen a doubling in the usual number of food stamp applications. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says part of the surge in applications is likely because people think the program is being expanded as it does in natural disasters, but that’s not the case…

Cut 9 (14) “…SNAP″

SNAP sends benefits to roughly 770,000 Louisiana residents currently.

A capital region church is continuing to hold services as normal, defying the ban of gatherings of 50 or more people. The Life Tabernacle Church in Central had an around their average attendance of over 1,100 on Sunday. Rev. Tony Spell says police have shown up after services at the church, telling them next time it’ll be the National Guard that will disband the gathering.

Cut 3 (11)  “…enforce upon us.”  

The number of coronavirus cases is up to 280 in Louisiana and three more patients died today at the Lambeth House, a retirement facility in New Orleans. A total of seven people have now died from the virus. Governor Edwards says health experts estimate the state has two weeks to minimize the spread of the coronavirus
Cut 12 (15) “…health care”
Edwards continues to implore Louisiana residents to wash their hands frequently and practice social distancing.
Congress is working on a massive economic stimulus package that will result in Americans receiving a direct payment from the federal government. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says the goal is for the first check to be issued April 6^th
Cut 6 (07) “…is going.”

The Department of Children and Family Services has seen a doubling in the usual number of food stamp applications. Despite the increased work needed to process all the new applications, DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters does not foresee any disruptions to the usual distribution calendar.
Cut 10 (09) “office”
SNAP sends benefits to roughly 770,000 Louisiana residents currently.
A capital region church is continuing to hold services as normal, defying the ban of gatherings of 50 or more people. The Life Tabernacle Church in Central had an around their average attendance of over 1,100 on Sunday. Rev. Tony Spell believes the virus is politically motivated, adding the church will not have its freedom of assembly taken away.

Cut 5 (08)  “…back to normal.”

Spell says they are not pressuring the congregation to show up and says the church also does not have the technology to conduct services remotely.

Louisiana now reports 257 positive tests for COVID-19, up 60 from yesterday, and seven deaths.

On top of the toll the virus is beginning to take on some Louisianan’s health, it’s also beginning to crush the economy with the Dow dropping below 20,000 points for the first time in the Trump Administration as workers in a number of sectors are being laid off as their companies close down due to social distancing influenced executive order.

Governor Edwards says they’re expecting serious economic damage as a result but are looking to help residents, requesting Small Business Administration disaster loan assistance for all 64 parishes and the suspension of eviction and foreclosure notices for now to prevent homelessness

Cut 14 (06) “…make their payments.”

Edwards continues to implore Louisiana residents to wash their hands frequently and practice social distancing.

Congress is working on a massive economic stimulus package that will result in Americans receiving a direct payment from the federal government. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy says he supports Governor Edwards’ dramatic measures to close down schools, restaurants and bars. He’s been in contact with hospitals to make sure they are ready as the virus is showing no signs of slowing down…

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A capital region church is continuing to hold services as normal, defying the ban of gatherings of 50 or more people. Rev. Tony Spell says they are not pressuring the congregation to show up and says the church also does not have the technology to conduct services remotely.

Cut 4 (09)_ “…that others may.”

The church had an attendance of over 1,100 from 5 parishes on Sunday, which is about normal.