Senator Bill Cassidy says the Trump Administration is looking to implement mass coronavirus immunity testing within the next one to three months. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle.”

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Oil City Republican Rep. Danny McCormick feels that businesses need to open sooner than later and May 1st should be that hard date.  Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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LSU Health Shreveport is recruiting patients that have recovered from COVID-19 to be plasma donors to help critically ill patients. Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”  

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Senator Bill Cassidy says the feds are drawing up plans to conduct mass coronavirus immunity testing as one way to expedite a return to normal life. Cassidy says for life to return before a vaccine is created, we need to know who is and is not a potential coronavirus carrier.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…masks”

Immunity is thought to last for at least a year, meaning a person could interact with others without fear of getting sick or getting others sick.

Coronavirus testing kits may be in short supply, but Cassidy says potential nationwide antibody testing is feasible and is being pursued by the Trump Administration.

Cut 5 (09)  “…widespread”

Cassidy says outside of antibody testing it’s likely that in a few months you could begin allowing those under 30 without co-morbidities back out into the world because they rarely have severe symptoms.

Cut 6 (11) “…know it.”

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Business owners are feeling the pressure of the halted economy. Oil City Republican Rep. Danny McCormick feels that businesses need to open sooner than later.  McCormick says small business owners have reached out to him indicating the state absolutely must start to get back to normal by May 1st.

Cut 7 (11) “…government overreach approach.”

McCormick says he is planning around small businesses reopening by May 1st as he believes they are a vital contributor to the state’s economy.

Cut 8 (11) “…to do something.”

McCormick says the economic recovery has to start soon and it can be done with the public health’s best interests in mind…

Cut 9 (08) “…logic we are following.″

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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.

Cut 10 (10) “…ill patients.”

Ghali says it’s early, but so far results are encouraging and recruiting donors is vital.

Cut 11 (08) “…months away.”

Ghali says the antibodies counteract the antigens of the virus in the body to keep the body’s immune system from overreacting to fight off the virus.

Cut 12 (11) “…the lungs.”

To participate your physician must complete documents verifying your diagnosis and recovery before donating to a Lifeshare Blood Center.

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A survey of the state’s childcare providers shows that roughly a third of childcare facilities that closed do not see a path to reopening.  Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Libbie Sonnier-Netto says a majority of childcare centers have reported losing revenue.

Cut 13 (07) “…lost $1.7 million.”

Sonnier-Netto says over 90% of childcare providers have indicated that grants to pay employees during the closures would support their responses to the pandemic.

Cut 14 (11) “…retain their workforce.”

She adds that more funding will be needed that goes beyond SBA loans and Payroll Protection in order to ensure the stability of what she says is an important factor in the economy.

Sonnier-Netto remains hopeful the childcare sector can hold on to its current level of funding, and if there is the ability to put more into programs for children, that will be done.

Cut 15 (09)“…of this crisis.”

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If the world had not been hit by COVID-19, LSU football would play a spring game on Saturday. Instead, the players are working out on their own. LSU strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt says for players who do not have weights, they have to be creative to stay in shape

Cut 16  (18)  “…stay busy” 

Moffitt says based on what he can tell 60-percent of the players are doing what they should be doing when it comes to staying in shape, but everyone is falling behind

cut 17  (30) “…that” 

Moffit says as it stands now, the earliest LSU football players could return to campus will be June 1st. He says it would take about a month to get the players ready for the grind of a football season…

Cut 18  (22) “…the key”   

Un and underemployed Louisianans can expect to see a much bigger unemployment insurance payments starting Monday…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Outdoor plans for Easter Sunday are now in jeopardy due to severe weather in the forecast. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (28) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart” 

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Starting Monday, Louisianans who lost their jobs or had their hours reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic will receive federally enhanced unemployment insurance payments in addition to the unemployment they already receive from the state.

State Workforce Commission Director Ava Dejoie says the higher payments should be automatically added to your benefits if you’ve recertified your hours.

Cut 3 (07)  “…Congress”  

State benefits cap out at 247 dollars a week, but the feds are now throwing an extra 600 dollars a week on top of it.

Dejoie says contract workers who did not previously qualify for the state’s unemployment now qualify for the federal benefits…

Cut 4 (10)_ “are.”

Self-employed, gig economy, and workers whose employer’s hadn’t paid into the trust fund will now qualify.

Dejoie says the state received the federal funds this week, and so many recipients will receive two weeks’ worth of benefits on their Monday check.

Cut 5 (06)  “…payment”

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54-year-old Lafourche Parish Freshman Representative Reggie Bagala passed away Thursday from COVID-19.

Bagala succeeded former Representative Truck Gisclair in House District 54. Gisclair says Bagala was an energetic public servant, excited to serve his first term at the Capitol.

Cut 6 (06) “the road”

Gisclair says he doesn’t remember ever seeing Bagala without a smile on his face, and he was known for his distinctive chuckle.

Cut 7 (09) “…guy”

Gisclair says the Republican went into state politics inspired to create higher-paying jobs for Louisianans after his son had to leave the state to find employment.

Cut 8 (10) “leaving”

Bagala’s diagnosis was made public April 1^st by his family. He was on a ventilator for more than a week.

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Be prepared for severe weather on Easter Sunday.  State climatologist Barry Keim says the Storm Prediction Center has south Louisiana under an enhanced threat on Sunday and the northern half is under a moderate risk on Sunday.

Cut 9 (13) “…hail and tornadoes.″

Keim says the severe weather threat will materialize late Saturday night and heavy rainfall is possible as well

Cut 10 (09) “…of the coronavirus.”

The Storm Prediction Center only has five risk levels for severe weather, so Keim says for Louisiana to be second from the top indicates a serious situation on Sunday.

Cut 11 (11) “…so brace yourself.”

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Governor Edwards says the state will look at its options for potentially partially reopening Louisiana next month as coronavirus infections continue to level off.

The curve is flattening, but fatalities remain high. Edwards says tough times are still ahead and acknowledged Thursday’s COVID-linked passing of state representative Reggie Bagala.

Cut 12 (13) “right now”

Edwards also saluted the brave medical workers who’ve been pulling incredibly long hours keeping patients alive during the epidemic.

Cut 13 (12) “…Louisiana”

And says the state has been working hard to try and secure as much PPE as possible for those on the frontlines.

Cut 14 (10) “…there”