Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the stay at home order until May 15th. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 1 (44) “I’m Matt Doyle”
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The number of fatal crashes is up in Louisiana despite a significant decrease in the amount of traffic. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”
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An international agreement to reduce oil production is not going to save the Louisiana oil sector from massive furloughs according to the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association…
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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Governor Edwards extends the statewide stay at home order to May 15th citing concerning levels of case growth outside of the Metro New Orleans epicenter.
Cases have recently increased in northeast Louisiana, Baton Rouge, and Acadiana, and Edwards says every doctor and scientist advising him agreed with the extension…
Cut 4 (12)_ “…counts.”
Vice President Mike Pence was informed of the plan and agreed with it as well.
Edwards says the stay at home order has not been a failure, and it helped the state avoid a worst-case scenario but it hasn’t slowed case growth fast enough just yet.
Cut 5 (11) “…perspective”
Three minor changes were announced as well allowing pick up outside mall-based retail stores, customers to eat take out orders outside of restaurants, and one requiring employees working with the public to wear masks.
Stay at home orders in neighboring Mississippi and Texas are set to end this week, but Edwards says you can’t compare us to them.
Cut 6 (10) “…first.”
Edwards says the next announcement on the stay at home order’s status will be made May 11th.
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Fatal crashes were up eight percent from March 16th to April 20th compared to the same time last year despite an estimated 30 to 40 percent fewer cars being on the road.
Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman says it appears the more open roads are bringing out the worst in some motorists.
Cut 7 (10) “…at risk.”
The state counted 66 fatal crashes during that March to April period.
It’s a rough time to get into a bad crash and end up in the ICU. Freeman says be courteous to our frontline medical heroes and don’t drive recklessly.
Cut 8 (10) “…sure.”
Freeman says reckless, drunk, or distracted driving is in some ways possibly more dangerous than it used to be with all the new foot traffic on sidewalks these days.
Cut 9 (12) “…factored in”
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The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association warns the sector is on pace to be hit harder than previously thought, and oil futures are likely to again trade in the negatives.
President Gifford Briggs says estimates show the world is producing 30 million barrels of oil a day more than it can consume. He says more than half of state wells are set to shut down as a result.
Cut 10 (11) “wells”
He says the recent international deal with OPEC and Russia to cut production by 10 million barrels a day just wasn’t enough.
Briggs says roughly 33,000 people earning wages over three billion dollars directly work in the industry. He says surveys indicate 70 percent of those jobs will now be lost.
Cut 11 (10) “…economy”
Briggs says the industry needs tax relief, lawsuit reform, and other state and federal help to survive the historically tough period, but most of all…
Cut 12 (09) “travel”
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The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness announces the opening of additional state-supported drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites in Ascension and Lafourche Parishes. GOHSEP Deputy Director Casey Tingle says the sites will be located in Donaldsonville and Raceland.
Cut 13 (08) “…can get it.”
The two sites had a soft opening for first responders and seniors yesterday with a full opening to all Louisiana residents today. Tingle says those being tested will not need to get out of their vehicle and says there has been a change in the swabbing process.
Cut 14 (11) “…that they need.”
Candidates for examination must be at least 18 and have a Louisiana ID. GOHSEP spokesperson Mike Steele says there is a process that may eliminate some patients from swab eligibility.
Cut 15 (08)“…just not necessary.”
The sites are open daily from 8am until noon and can be found at the Donaldsonville Primary School as well as the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Range.