Louisiana has surpassed 35-hundred coronavirus cases and is reporting 151 deaths. Governor John Bel Edwards’s stay-at-home order is until April 13th, but it will likely be extended…
cut 13 (10) “…13th”
President Donald Trump has extended the social distancing guidelines nationally for another 30 days through April 30th. Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma are among the states requiring Louisiana residents who enter their state to self-quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

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.”

As hospitals restrict visitors and the number of people who can accompany a mother in the delivery rooms many pregnant moms are turning to Mid-Wives. Brooke Thorington has more.
Cut 2 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington ”

Governor John Bel Edwards is urging Louisiana residents to comply with the state’s stay at home order as the numbers of coronavirus cases continue to rise sharply. Edwards says the only way to flatten the curve is to the follow the mitgation orders and practice social distancing…
cut 13 (11) “…to do it’
A pastor in East Baton Rouge Parish has become well known, because he’s defying the governor’s order and holding services with one-thousand people in attendance.

Meanwhile, in New Orleans, the state is moving eleven-hundred beds into the Convention Center as the governor anticipates running out of hospital beds in less than two weeks. He says the New Orleans area could also run out of ventilators by the first week in April. The governor is also concerned about an uptick in cases in Bossier and Caddo Parishes.

Lincoln Parish Sheriff deputies are showing up at residents’ homes with groceries instead of warrants. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart ”

The governor’s order that closes state offices includes the Louisiana Lottery. Spokesperson Kim Chopin says if you’ve won a lottery prize this week greater than 600-dollars than you’ll have to hold on to your winning ticket…
cut 5 (08) “….can”

83 people are dead from the state’s 2,305 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including a 17-year-old from New Orleans, the first minor to die from the coronavirus in Louisiana. Governor John Bel Edwards says it is a reminder that everyone is at risk.
Cut 10 (11) “…it doesn’t discriminate.”
Orleans Parish has the highest per capita death rate in the U-S as New Orleans has deloped into a coronavirus hot spot. But the governor says he’s also concerned about an uptick in cases in northwest Louisiana…
cut 12 (10) “…a statewide problem”
Edwards says the focus remains on flattening the curve and calls on citizens to do better with social distancing.

The lottery is not immune to the coronavirus pandemic. There are fewer sales for the Powerball so the minimum jackpot has been lowered from 40 to 20-million dollars. Louisiana Lottery spokesperson Kim Chopin says with state offices closed, they can not produce any more scratch-off games…
cut 6 (10) “…weeks”
Also, if you win a prize of more than 600-dollars, you can’t claim it, because lottery offices are closed.

Lincoln Parish Sheriff deputies have added another task to their job and that’s delivering groceries. L-P-S-O spokesperson Matthew Henderson says deputies began delivering groceries to elderly and at-risk people…
cut 8 (10) “…coming in”
But Henderson says the deputies find the delivery service very rewarding.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the state has yet to flatten the curve after reporting 500 new cases yesterday of COVID-19. The coronavirus has killed 83 people in the state, 676 were hospitalized as of Thursday and 239 were on ventilators…
cut 11 (10) “….as April second”
Edwards says that’s not a scare tactic as New Orleans needs an additional one-thousand ventilators.

Could the near-record high temperatures we are seeing help in the fight to limit the spread of the virus? Our Lady of the Lake infectious disease specialist Doctor Catherine O’Neal says there’s no research to show hot temperatures will limit the spread as it does for the flu…
cut 15 (08) “….winter”

Lincoln Parish Sheriff deputies are showing up at residents’ homes with groceries instead of warrants. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart ”

Toilet paper has been difficult to find as millions of Americans have been ordered to stay at home. A spokesperson for the Georgia-Pacific Port Hudson plant near Zachary says they are producing toilet paper at 120-percent of its normal capacity. The mill is able to produce 40-thousand rolls of toilet paper each hour.

Governor John Bel Edwards continues to describe a grim forecast for Louisiana as the state has yet to flatten the COVID-19 curve. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (33) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

The state is reporting 2,305 cases, 83 have died, 676 were hospitalized as of yesterday and 239 were on ventilators. Edwards has also expressed concern about an increasing number of cases in Caddo and Bossier parishes.

It will be another warm day today with near-record high temperatures. Our Lady of the Lake infectious disease specialist Doctor Catherine O’ Neal says there’s no research that shows heat will slow the spread of COVID-19, so our best weapon is social distancing…
cut 16 (10) “…longer”
A cold front moves through the state tomorrow, which will bring a return to normal temperatures.

It’s not a normal time for the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s office, but they are trying to make the most out of it. L-P-S-O spokesperson Matthew Henderson says deputies started this week a grocery delivery program so that the elderly and at-risk residents do not have to leave their homes. Henderson says deputies have enjoyed showing up at homes with bags of groceries, instead of a warrant…
cut 9 (08) “….everybody’

83 people are dead from the state’s 2,305 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including a 17-year-old from New Orleans, the first minor to die from the coronavirus in Louisiana. Governor Edwards says it is a reminder that everyone is at risk.
Cut 10 (11) “…it doesn’t discriminate.”
Orleans Parish has the highest per capita death rate in the U-S and the state is moving beds into the New Orleans convention center as hospitals could soon be overrun by patients.

More near-record heat today across the state. Can the high temperatures slow down the spread of COVID-19? Our Lady of the Lake Infectious disease specialist Doctor Catherine O’Neal says no…
cut 14 (12) “….its own”

You can still buy a lottery ticket, but winners can not claim any prizes over 600 dollars at the moment…
Cut 1 (30) “I’m Matt Doyle”

Lincoln Parish Sherriff deputies are visiting homes, not because they have a warrant, but because they have groceries. Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Matthew Henderson says they started doing grocery pickup for the elderly this week and have expanded to helping others that are at-risk.
Cut 7 (09) “…Ruston as well.”