The White House is reportedly set to recommend Americans wear a facemask while out in public to halt the spread of coronavirus. Gov. Edwards says if the CDC does call for masks it likely would not be an order.
The decision would be a sharp reversal in federal messaging. In March the US Surgeon General told Americans to stop buying masks because they don’t stop coronavirus transmission.
92% of small businesses are reporting a negative impact from the COVID-19 pandemic according to a nationwide survey conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business. NFIB state director Dawn Starns says small businesses can only last for so long before throwing in the towel.
Cut 3 (07) “…three to six months.”
Businesses with under 500 employees can now apply to receive a Small Business Administration loan from the feds to help cover payroll, and some other expenses for the next two months. CPA Ben Vance recommends interested small business owners “get in line” to apply for the loans now because there’s a lot of interest.
Cut 14 (13) “…apply”
The CPA also warns that this is only a temporary fix and buisiness owners should be preparing for what will happen once the two month period ends.
The Army Corps of Engineers began opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway today to protect New Orleans levees from the rising Mississippi River. For the first time ever, it’s the third straight year the flood structure has been utilized. Colonel Stephen Murphy says opening bays on the spillway diverts part of the river’s flow away from New Orleans
Cut 9 (08) “…hurricane activity.″