6,900 Ouachita Parish residents and thousands of other customers were still without power as of 10 AM this morning due to Sunday’s devastating tornadoes. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

The Monroe Regional Airport is closed today after it is estimated to have sustained 25-30 million in damages. Congressman Ralph Abraham says it could be some time before it gets back up and running.

Cut 8 (09) “airport“

The state health department reported 44 more COVID-19 deaths today, bringing the total to 884 deaths. There are over 21-thousand positive cases. Louisiana does not report on how many people have recovered from the coronavirus and Governor Edwards says capturing that information is difficult

Cut 12 (06) “recovered individual”

A survey of the state’s childcare providers shows that roughly a third of childcare facilities that closed do not see a path to reopening. Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Libbie Sonnier-Netto says a majority of childcare centers have reported losing revenue.
Cut 13 (07) “…lost $1.7 million dollars”
Sonnier-Netto says over 90% of childcare providers indicated grants could be used to pay employees during the closures and would support their response to COVID-19 both now and in the future to the pandemic.

Families and businesses are picking up the pieces following a tornado outbreak on Easter.  The coronavirus has presented challenges in how displaced families are sheltered following the storm and President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says they are taking a new approach to sheltering in an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…a permanent location.”

Thousands in north Louisiana are still without power today.  Entergy Louisiana spokesperson David Freese says at the Sunday afternoon peak 26,500 customers were without power, but they’ve managed to pull that number down over the last 24 hours.

Cut 9 (11) “…area″

Entergy damage assessment reports 200 poles, 450 spans of wire, and 50 transformers will either need to be repaired or replaced.

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Doctor G-E Ghali is encouraging those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma because it can be used to treat critically ill patients. Ghali says they’ve already seen encouraging results from this type of treatment…
cut 11 (08) “….months away”
Ghali says the antibodies counteract with the antigens of the virus to help the body fight off coronavirus.

The latest report rises the state’s COVID-19 death toll by 44 to a total of 884 fatalities. Confirmed cases: 21,016, up by 421. 2,134 are hospitalized, up 50.  Use of ventilators has increased to 461, up by 3.

Parts of north Louisiana are reeling after a deadly Easter Sunday tornado system ripped through the area destroying numerous businesses in Louisiana and killing 11 people in Mississippi. President of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Shane Smiley says the devastation is widespread.

Cut 3 (11)  “…to their homes.”  

The damage to homes has many people seeking public shelter, a particularly difficult problem with the widespread prevalence of coronavirus. Ouachita Parish has 367 reported cases.

The system did an estimated 25-30 million dollars in damages to the Monroe Regional Airport. Congressman Ralph Abraham was on scene and says he saw debris littered runways, destroyed buildings, and the remains of small jets poking out from under collapsed hangar roofs.

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There’s growing concern from national health experts that reopening closed economies May 1^st may result in a significant spike in COVID-19 cases, but many businesses owners say they can’t afford to keep their doors closed until June. Oil City Republican Rep. Danny McCormick says the economy absolutely must reopen May 1^st, but it can be done with public health in mind.

Cut 9 (08) “…logic we are following.″

Louisiana is set to reopen May 1^st, but Governor Edwards says that may have to be delayed.

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Dr. G.E. Ghali urges those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma so it can be used to treat critically ill patients. Ghali says donors must have tested positive for the virus, but are now symptom-free for two weeks and tested negative, or symptom-free for 28 days.

Cut 10 (10) “…ill patients.”

Governor John Bel Edwards will be in Monroe this afternoon to survey the damage from Sunday’s severe weather outbreak that has destroyed over 200 homes in the Monroe area. There’s also storm damage in DeSoto, Webster and Bossier parishes and power is out for thousands. But no fatalities have been reported.

North Louisiana state representative Danny McCormick believes businesses that are closed now, should re-open when the governor’s stay at home order expires on April 30th. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Doctor G-E Ghali encourages Louisiana residents who have recovered from the coronavirus to donate their blood. Ghali says it will serve two purposes…
cut 12 (11) “…COVID-19 patients”
Ghali says they are seeing some initial encouraging results by pumping plasma from those who have recovered from COVID-19 into those who are critically ill from the virus.

There are many who would like to see federal and state government re-open the economy in May. Senator Bill Cassidy says a rollout that would allow those under the age of 30 without co-morbidities back into the workplace is possible since they rarely have severe symptoms…
cut 6 (11) “….know it”
Cassidy says expansive immunity testing could be the real game-changer.

Senator Bill Cassidy says the Trump Administration is looking to implement mass coronavirus immunity testing within the next one to three months. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

Many families in the Monroe area are looking at a lengthy rebuild after a strong storm system blew through yesterday damaging an estimated 250 to 300 homes. Significant damage was done to the Monroe Regional Airport, which is closed. Thousands are without power, but no fatalities reported.

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Dr. G.E. Ghali urges those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma so it can be used to treat critically ill patients. Ghali says donors must have tested positive for the virus, but are now symptom-free for two weeks and tested negative, or symptom-free for 28 days.
Cut 10 (10) “…ill patients.”
Ghali says the plasma from COVID-19 survivors has shown early encouraging results when used to treat critically ill coronavirus patients.

The governor’s stay at home order lasts until April 30th, but many businesses that are closed now are hoping on May first they can re-open. Oil City Representative Danny McCormick is calling on the state to create a plan to return to work in a responsible manner by May 1st…
cut 8 (11) “….do something”
McCormick says COVID-19 has killed over 800 Louisians but so does poverty.

Hundreds of families are without a home in Ouachita Parish today after Sunday’s severe storm system that spawned a tornado damaging an estimated 250 to 300 homes in the Monroe area. The airport sustained major damage and is closed, but no fatalities have been reported.

Business owners are feeling the pressure of the halted economy. Oil City Republican Rep. Danny McCormick feels that businesses need to reopen sooner than later. McCormick says small business owners have reached out to him indicating the state absolutely must start to get back to normal on May 1st
Cut 7 (11) “…government overreach approach.”
The governor’s stay at home order is effective until April 30th, a decision on whether to extend it has not been made.

The state reported 34 more COVID-19 deaths yesterday, bringing the total number of fatalities to 840 and the state has surpassed 20-thousand cases.

LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor Doctor G-E Ghali is encouraging those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma because it can be used to treat critically ill patients. Ghali says they’ve already seen encouraging results from this type of treatment…
cut 11 (08) “….months away”
Ghali says the antibodies counteract with the antigens of the virus to help the body fight off coronavirus.

A statewide survey on the impact of COVID-19 on Louisiana child care providers finds that 78-percent of them have experienced a loss in revenue, with collective losses totaling almost one-point-seven million dollars. Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Libbie Sonnier-Netto says most childcare providers are seeking grants to help them out…
cut 14 (11) “….retain their workforce”

It was a destructive Easter Sunday across north Louisiana after a powerful storm system produced tornadoes and large hail. Hundreds of homes are destroyed in the Monroe area, there’s also been damage to homes in Bossier and DeSoto Parishes. But no fatalities reported. Governor Edwards will be in Monroe later today.

North Louisiana state representative Danny McCormick believes businesses that are closed now, should re-open when the governor’s stay at home order expires on April 30th. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Political leaders say a key to re-opening the economy is immunity testing. It’s a blood test also known as a serology test. It can establish whether a person has developed antibodies to fend off the virus because they’ve already been infected by COVID-19. Senator Bill Cassidy says the Trump administration is pursuing nationwide antibody testing…
cut 5 (09) “…widespread”
Louisiana is reporting 840 deaths from the coronavirus as the death toll rose by 34 yesterday, the smallest increase since April 1st.

Based on information from the department of education, 60-percent of child care providers had to close because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Louisiana Policy Institute for Children has found that one-third of child care providers will have to close permanently due to an extended closure. Executive Director Libbie Sonnier-Netto says additional state support is needed now more than ever…
cut 15 (09) “…crisis”

Governor Edwards declares a state of emergency in response to Sunday’s severe weather outbreak that damaged an estimated 200 to 300 homes in the Monroe area. 30-million dollars in damage has reportedly been done to planes at the Monroe Regional Airport, which is closed. Thousands are without power along the I-20 corridor, but no fatalities reported.

LSU Health Shreveport is recruiting patients that have recovered from COVID-19 to be plasma donors to help critically ill patients. Brooke Thorington explains.
voicer 3 (30) “…Brooke Thorington”

Senator Bill Cassidy says the feds are drawing up plans to conduct mass coronavirus immunity testing as one way to expedite a return to normal life. Cassidy says for life to return to normal before a vaccine is created, we need to know who is and is not a potential coronavirus carrier.
Cut 4 (10)_ “…masks”
Immunity is thought to last for at least a year.

A survey of the state’s childcare providers shows that roughly a third of childcare facilities that closed do not see a path to reopening. Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Libbie Sonnier-Netto says a majority of childcare centers have reported losing revenue.
Cut 13 (07) “…lost $1.7 million dollars”
Sonnier-Netto says over 90% of childcare providers indicated grants could be used to pay employees during the closures and would support their response to COVID-19 both now and in the future to the pandemic.