Louisiana has now seen three straight days of COVID-19 hospitalizations, the metric used by health officials to track the actual rate of community spread. Neighboring Texas and Arkansas have seen record-breaking increases in the last week. Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says that could be foreshadowing.
Cut 14 (09) “them.”
The growth in cases has been largest in the Lake Charles, Alexandria, and Monroe regions.

A study from Scripps Research Institute indicates the strain of coronavirus in the US appears to show mutations making the virus more infectious than the original strain from China.  With every new infection comes a slight imperfection between the source virus and the new virus protein. LSU Health New Orleans molecular geneticist Dr. Lucio Miele says one of the drugs being used for treatment right now, remdesivir works by cause more mistakes in the repetition of the virus.
Cut 9 (10) “…a double-edged sword.”

A House committee has approved a bill that would result in the state sending 250-dollar checks to front-line employees who were required to work when the coronavirus pandemic hit Louisiana. Shreveport Representative Sam Jenkins says his legislation covers first responders as well as health care and child care workers
Cut 6 (05) “…with the public”
Jenkins expects the program will cost 50-million dollars. The money will come from coronavirus relief aid the state received from the federal government.
A Lake Charles attorney is pushing for the removal of a Confederate monument at the Calcasieu courthouse.  Attorney Todd Clemons says he was surprised to see the support from a judge. Clemmons says his frustration has grown over the years after seeing confederate monuments come down in other areas, but he didn’t see that same energy come up in Lake Charles.
Cut 11 (13) “…that’s on you.”