LRN PM Newscall April 2nd

A New Orleans East Hospital nurse, Larrice Anderson, becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die of COVID-19. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

____________________________

Colorado State University researchers predict we will see an active 2020 hurricane season. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

___________________________

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says adding to the strain is that COVID-19 patients spend over a week in the I-C-U

Cut 3 (12)  “…14 days.”  

Thomas says 85-percent of their COVID patients in the ICU are on ventilators. He believes they are in a decent position when it comes to personal protective equipment

Cut  4 (12)_ “…world.”

Thomas says their biggest need is staffing and they are working to hire more nurses as they expand the number of beds…

Cut 5 (11)  “…welcome relief”

__________________________________________

A nurse at New Orleans East Hospital becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die after testing positive for COVID-19.  Larrice Anderson passed away on Wednesday.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the death sends a shockwave through the nursing community.

Cut 6 (13) “…what can happen.”

Ducrow says the rapidly developing situation has resulted in changes protective measures from the more strict airborne transmission protocol to the relaxed droplet protocol that requires the use of less PPE.  Ducrow says nurses are concerned about these changes.

Cut 7 (10) “…rather than science.”

Ducrow says the needs of healthcare workers are clear.

Cut 8 (11) “…what is needed.”

Anderson’s employer released a statement remembering the fallen nurse as “a mother, friend, and a caring nurse.”

____________________________________________________

If life wasn’t already difficult enough, Colorado State University Hurricane researchers predict an active 2020 hurricane season. C-S-U forecaster Jhordanne Jones says the likely absence of an El Nino is a primary factor

Cut 9 (08) “…hurricane activity.″

Jones says the tropical Atlantic is also somewhat warmer than normal right now…

Cut 10 (10) “…the air”

An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes. But Jones says their forecast calls for 16 named storms, eight hurricanes, and four major hurricanes

Cut 11 (10) “…happening.”

________________________________________________

Louisiana sees a 42 percent increase in confirmed coronavirus cases as of the noon report, but Governor Edwards cautions that number is a reflection of a backlog of test results that were just reported.

Edwards says some of the over 2,700 new cases reported today were just recently discovered, but…

Cut 12 (10) “…ago”

About 51,000 COVID tests have been conducted in Louisiana between state and private labs, 47,000 of which were in private labs.

The state reported 37 new deaths as well, bringing our total to 310 COVID fatalities. Edwards says the 9,150 total cases should be a wakeup call for anyone still doubting the pandemic’s severity.

Cut 13 (10) “…states”

1,639 COVID patients are hospitalized, with 507 on ventilators, an increase of 17 from yesterday.

The Governor says the recent spike in cases is not evidence that the shelter in place order is failing. He says it will likely take until sometime next week to see our curve flatten as a result of the decision.

Cut 14 (07) “…April”