Avoyelles State Representative Darryl Deshotel is asking the State Department of Education to use part of the more than one billion its receiving in CARES Federal Funding to assist areas of the state that lack broadband access. The funding is designated to be used for COVID-related expenses and Deshotel says some 200-thousand students need internet sooner than later.
State officials say there is a critical need for blood donation in Louisiana right now due to supply disruptions caused by last week’s winter storms. Governor Edwards asks if you have a regularly scheduled blood donation appointment see if you’re able to move it up to today or this weekend.
You can call 2-1-1 to find a donation center near you.
Next week Louisiana will potentially receive 134,000 doses of the COVID vaccine, the state’s largest-ever weekly allocation. Roughly 1.5 million Louisianans are now eligible to receive a vaccine. State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says this will make it much easier to get your appointment.
The state reports 898 new COVID-19 cases and 26 new fatalities. Hospitalizations continue to fall, currently the state reports 651.