Governor John Bel Edwards has a message for all retired healthcare workers, and students and recent grads in healthcare fields…
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Families who’ve just lost a loved one are now faced with the reality of constrained, socially distant funeral services. Jeff Palermo spoke with the President of Mothe (Mott) Funeral Homes about the situation…
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo”
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The Governor is asking healthcare students and recent grads along with retired nurses and doctors to volunteer for the fight against coronavirus, and fast-tracking new licenses to get them into the field. Edwards says in addition to more personal protective equipment and ventilators…
The need for additional healthcare workers in New Orleans will likely be acute with the state in the process of opening a 1,120-bed facility at the Morial Convention Center.
Edwards says LSU Health Shreveport was able to accelerate the timeline for getting residents into healthcare facilities, and he wants LSU Health New Orleans to do the same.
Edwards says having all the beds and equipment in the world doesn’t mean much if you don’t have enough medical workers.
Volunteers can sign up at COVID-19LAvolunteers.org.
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New Orleans is the new hot spot for the coronavirus with over 1,600 cases in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. The director of the National Institute Allergy and Infectious Diseases was asked on Talk 107-3 in Baton Rouge if New Orleans should have put a shelter in place order sooner
Cut 6 (13) “…the perfect setup.”
A shortage of tests has proved to be a hurdle in the initial response to the coronavirus. Fauci says that’s becoming less of an issue.
Cut 7 (10) “…many more tests.”
Fauci says the summer season may help flatten the curve, but adds there are still many unknowns about this virus.
Cut 8 (13) “…there in Louisiana..”
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Losing a loved one is never easy, and COVID-19 is making it harder on families and friends of those recently deceased. Funeral services used to bring people together, but President of Mothe (Mott) Funeral Homes Boyd Mothe Jr. says keeping fewer than ten people in a room is not easy…
Mothe says following the social distancing order is up to the family, and not every family is abiding by it at funerals.
Mothe says funeral homes are no stranger to the emerging lack of PPE…
Funeral homes are still carrying out their function of sometimes being the ones to remove the deceased from homes, even potential COVID positive bodies…
And he says funeral homes can no longer offer the usual empathetic personal touch for families at the scene, they have to offer condolences from at least six feet away, or more if the family is quarantined.
Mothe also warns the virus is causing delays in the usual process for burying bodies, and that’s causing a backlog.
He adds it’s likely at some point both funeral homes and the coroner’s office will also approach capacity.
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Louisiana Economic Development opens a COVID-19 Help Desk that will provide email and hotline support for businesses impacted by the virus. LED Secretary Don Pierson says businesses can find info online at opportunitylouisiana.com
Pierson says if phone support is needed, they’ve setup a number at 1-833-457-0531.
Pierson is anticipating a wave of inquiries from businesses on what the federal $2 trillion emergency relief bill means for them.