Governor John Bel Edwards plans to extend his stay at home order through April 30th. It’s currently set to expire April 13th. But not everyone is complying with the order. An East Baton Rouge church in Central continues to have over a thousand people attend services. Edwards was asked if he’ll pressure local authorities to enforce the order…
cut 12 (11) “…comply”
In Florida, a pastor at a Tampa church was arrested after holding two large Sunday services.

State lawmakers return to the capitol today to read bills into the record that need to be read in before a March 31st deadline. The session is set to end June 1st and there’s no word on when legislators can meet on a daily basis. House Speaker Clay Schexnayder remains hopeful they can pass a budget…
cut 15 (06) “…finish business”

Testing will soon begin in Louisiana on the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19 patients…
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Starting today all food stamp recipients will receive the maximum benefit, which will impact 265-thousand Louisiana households. DCFS Secretary Marketa Garner Walters for those families interested in receiving food stamps, your best bet is visiting their website…
cut 6 (07) “…we do”

Governor John Bel Edwards says he plans to extend his stay at home order through April 30th to match the federal government’s social distancing recommendations. Matt Doyle has more…
voicer 2 (23) “…April 5th”

Following the governor’s press conference, his office announced the state received 100 ventilators from vendors and President Donald Trump has committed to sending 150 ventilators to Louisiana. In total, Louisiana has ordered 14-thousand ventilators, including five-thousand from the federal government’s strategic national stockpile. Currently, 385 patients require ventilation.

Food stamp recipients who are not currently receiving the maximum total possible on their SNAP cards will now start receiving the max. Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Garner Walters says only 37 percent of recipients currently receive the maximum.
Cut 4 (10)_ “…benefits”
The max for a single individual recipient is $194 a month.

LSU’s med school plans to begin clinical trials this week on how effective hydroxychloroquine can be in treating COVID-19 and also looking to see if healthcare workers on the frontline should take it, as a way to prevent getting the coronavirus. Dean of the LSU Health Sciences School of Medicine Doctor Steve Nelson says they already know hydroxychloroquine is a safe drug to take….
cut 9 (06) “…1940s”
Nelson says the state has received a large donation of hydroxychloroquine in order for LSU to conduct the study.

Governor John Bel Edwards says ventilators continue to be the most pressing need in the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak…
cut 11 (09) “….Louisiana”
The governor’s office then announced late Monday that the state received 100 ventilators from vendors on Monday and President Trump has committed to sending 150 more ventilators to Louisiana. Currently, 385 patients require ventilation.

State lawmakers will reconvene the 2020 session today and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder says they will practice social distancing…
cut 14 (09) “…should be fine”
Schexnayder says they will gavel in today to read some bills into the record and then adjourn again for at least another two weeks.

Testing will soon begin in Louisiana on whether hydroxychloroquine can be used to treat COVID-19 patients or if it can be used as a preventive measure for healthcare workers on the frontline. Dean of LSU Health Sciences School of Medicine Dr. Steve Nelson says the drug has been shown in a test tube to kill coronavirus, but there has only been a small number of clinical trials.
Cut 7 (11) “…a small number.”
Nelson says the biggest hurdle has been getting their hands on the drug for testing, but with a donation of 400-thousand hydroxychloroquine sulfate tables from a pharmaceutical company, they expect trials to begin later this week.

Governor John Bel Edwards says by the end of this week the state could reach its ventilator capacity. The state health department reports about 400 patients are currently using the machines to help COVID-19 patients breathe. Edwards says they are seeking over 12-thousand ventilators…
cut 9 (10) “…several weeks now”
Edwards is hopeful that the next time the federal government allocates ventilators, Louisiana will receive a portion of that allocation.

With new hospital restrictions limiting visitors due to the coronavirus outbreak, some expectant mothers are reaching out to midwives. Kyra Kana (Con-yah) of The Natural Birth House in Broussard says they’ve seen an increase in demand.
Cut 10 (10) “…per month.”

Herd immunity could be a weapon in the fight against COVID-19. People who recover from the coronavirus build up antibodies that prevent you from getting the virus again/ Our Lady of the Lake infectious disease specialist Doctor Catherine O’ Neal explains how herd immunity works…
cut 8 (15) “…person”
O’Neal recently appeared as a guest on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.

Unemployment applications continue to inundate the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Executive Director Ava Dejoie says the department has processed 136-thousand claims over the last two weeks.
Cut 4 (09)_ “…increase in volume.”
Dejoie commends the staff of the LWC and says they have tripled its capacity.

Reports over the weekend of second lines in New Orleans and riverside parties in Madisonville have a frustrated Governor Edwards begging residents to stay at home. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (26) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state health department reported 225 additional coronavirus cases yesterday, bringing the total to 3,540. Eleven-hundred COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, 380 patients require ventilation. The state is also reporting COVID-19 clusters in 20 long-term care facilities.

It’s another day out of work for many as a result of the governor’s stay at home order. Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie says they have tripled their capacity as many state workers have received a crash course processing unemployment benefits…
cut 5 (08) “….and phone calls”
Dejoie says the department has received 136-thousand claims over the last two weeks.

Because of restrictions placed on hospitals because of COVID-19, Lafayette area mid-wife Kyra Kana (Con-yah) says more expecting moms are turning to mid-wives to help with the delivery of their child. Kana says if an expectant mother is wanting to transfer from a physican delivery to a midwife, the midwife must receive the mother’s medical records…
Cut 12 (09) “…to transfer.”
To locate a midwife Kana go to the Louisiana Midwives Association Facebook Page.

With the number coronavirus cases continuing to grow along with the deaths, Governor John Bel Edwards says his stay at home order may be extended past April 13th. Edwards continues to be frustrated by the reports of those who are not following the order of 10 people or less…
cut 15 (10) “..of Louisiana”
Edwards says Louisiana ranks second in the nation in per capita deaths related to COVID-19.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission continues to be flooded with unemployment claims. L-W-C executive director Ava Dejoie says the best way to file is online at Louisiana-works-dot-net and filers need to be patient…
cut 6 (10) “…we can”

Restrictions on how many people can enter a hospital have led to an increase in pregnant women turning to midwives to assist in the delivery of their child. Kyra Kana (Con-yah) runs the National Birth House in Broussard says there will be an increase in the number of home births…
cut 11 (12) “…proper support”
To find a midwife, go to the Louisiana Midwives Association Facebook page.

Our Lady of the Lake infectious disease specialist Dr. Catherine O’Neal says since a COVID-19 vaccine could be over a year away, our best hope to stop the spread of the coronavirus is for people to slowly build up “herd immunity”. She says when you recover from the virus, you make antibodies that prevent you from getting the virus again for a period of time…
Cut 7 (09) “…winter.”
But O’Neal warns we do not currently know long these anti-bodies will last once formed.

Governor John Bel Edwards says his stay-at-home order might be extended as the number or coronavirus cases continue to grow along with deaths. Edwards’s stay-at-home order is through April 13th, but the governor says it may have to be extended as he expects to be in this fight for a long time…
cut 14 (09) “…later”
The state reported 14 more deaths on Sunday to bring Louisiana’s death toll from COVID 19 to 151.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has extended the country’s social distancing guidelines through April 30th as the initial 15-day period was set to expire today. Our Lady of the Lake Infectious disease specialist Doctor Catherine O’ Neal on why it’s important to stay six feet away from others…
cut 9 (09) “…same time”
O’Neal was a guest on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster on Friday.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission has tripled its staffing for receiving unemployment claims, but they are still asking for the public’s patience. Kevin Barnhart has the story
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

A federal inmate at the prison in Oakdale has died from the coronavirus. Saints fans are sad for former quarterback Bobby Hebert. His 81-year-old dad succumbed to the virus over the weekend. And the governor is mourning the death of 33-year-old April Dunn who worked in the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs.