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.
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 1st 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 1st, but it can be done with public health in mind.
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Louisiana is set to reopen May 1st, 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.