Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the state is having some difficulties getting results from the COVID contact tracing program. He says the recent explosion in cases is making it tough to get to people in a timely manner. And…

Cut 4 (09)_ “…those people”

Another big issue they’ve had is that when they can get in contact with a confirmed COVID-positive person, most of them are not telling contact tracers who they may have infected.

Governor Edwards says further actions could be taken against Firehouse BBQ in Denham Springs.  The Livingston Parish restaurant remains open despite having its food permit revoked for blatant defiance of spread mitigation efforts including a lack of mask-wearing for customers and employees as well as social distancing.

Cut 7 (08) “…is just unacceptable..”

An LSU Health New Orleans oncologist helps author a study showing 13 to 16 percent of cancer patients with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will die within 30 days of diagnosis. LSU Health Clinical Medicine Professor Suki Subbiah (Sue-Bye-uh) suggests cancer doctors familiarize themselves with this data.

Cut 12 (10) “…too”

The state sees its first reported case of a dog testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans.  Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the dog, like most animals that test positive for the virus, was not sick.Early in the pandemic, it was believed that pets could not contract the virus, but the CDC has now learned animals can be infected.
Cut 15 (09) “…and ten cats.” 
Strain says the dog was tested because its owner tested positive.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the statewide mask mandate, bar closures and other coronavirus business restrictions that are part of phase two will remain in effect for another three weeks through August 28th. Edwards says the state is seeing a positive impact from the mask mandate, but the White House still sees Louisiana in the red zone for cases.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture says the state has its first positive coronavirus case in a dog. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Assistant health secretary Doctor Alex Billioux says the state is facing hurdles with its contact tracing program. Billioux says labs are not giving them enough data to contact infected patients, a back log in testing is keeping them from contacting patients in a timely manner and 70-percent of the people they contact say they don’t have contacts to provide on who they may have infected. But Billioux still believes the program is providing useful information…
cut 6 (09) “….tracing”

LSU says its planning to have fans inside Tiger Stadium for football games this season, but how many people will be able to attend is unknown. Governor Edwards says it’s too soon to speculate as to what in-stadium attendance for LSU football will look like…
cut 9 (11) “….you that today”

A Baton Rouge judge is set to hear arguments today on whether Governor Edwards’ statewide mask mandate and restrictions on bars to slow the spread of the coronavirus are unconstitutional. Four Jefferson Parish residents are seeking to prohibit the governor from enforcing the regulations. Edwards says the mask mandate and bar restrictions are helping to reduce cases.

State hired contact tracers are having a tough time getting COVID patients to say who they may have infected….
cut 1 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

An LSU Health New Orleans oncologist participates in a study that followed more than 900 cancer patients who also tested positive for COVID-19 and 13-percent of them died within 30 days of a diagnoses of COVID. Doctor Suki Subbiah says cancer patients and their doctors should take extra caution when assessing whether a patient needs to come in for treatment..
cut 11 (11) “….cancer”

Firehouse BBQ in Denham Springs continues to welcome customers inside their Livingston Parish restaurant, even though the state department of health has revoked its food permit because it’s not following the state’s mandate and social distancing guidelines. Edwards calls Firehouse BBQ’s defiance unacceptable and reminds businesses that the immunity from civil liability for contracting the coronavirus at private-sector establishments is not available for those who do not follow CDC guidelines…
cut 8 (070 “….a reckless manner”

An LSU Health New Orleans oncologist helps author a study that shows 13 percent of cancer patients with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will die within 30 days of diagnosis. LSU Health Clinical Medicine Professor Suki Subbiah (Sue-Bye-uh) says cancer patients are far more vulnerable to the virus.
Cut 10 (09) “…they are”

Louisiana has its first positive case of a dog testing positive for the coronavirus. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says dogs who have COVID can suffer from mild respiratory or gastrointestinal issues and the virus usually resolves quicker in dogs than with humans…
cut 14 (10) “…to a person”
Strain says the dog was tested because its owner tested positive.

Governor Edwards says further actions could be taken against Firehouse BBQ in Denham Springs. The Livingston Parish restaurant remains open despite having its food permit revoked for blatant defiance of spread mitigation efforts including a lack of mask-wearing for customers and employees as well as social distancing.
Cut 7 (08) “…is just unacceptable..”
The owners of the restaurant have called the governor’s mask mandate illegal.

The state health department is trying to make its contact tracing program more effective. Assistant Health Secretary Doctor Alex Billioux says many of the COVID-19 patients they are contacting, are not providing the names of people they may have infected through close contact…
cut 5 (12) “…or not”
To help their contact tracing efforts, Billioux says the state is planning on rolling out a contact tracing app for voluntary use.

Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the state is having some difficulties getting answers from its COVID contact tracing program. He says first off the recent explosion in cases is making it tough to get to people in a timely manner. And…
Cut 4 (09)_ “…those people”
And Billioux says when they can get in contact with a confirmed COVID-positive person, most of them are not telling tracers who they may have infected.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture says the state has its first reported case of a dog testing positive for the coronavirus. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the dog, like most animals that test positive for the virus, was not sick.
Cut 13 (09) “…it was tested .”
Strain is not providing details about the dog or where the owner lives.

A study of the Cancer Consortium Registry reveals patients with cancer who get COVID can be eight times more likely to die than the average person who contracts the disease. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

There are currently 1,487 COVID-19 patients in the hospital statewide, numbers that are down over the past few weeks after a sharp mid july rise. Governor Edwards says there are also fewer people showing up at ER’s reporting COVID-like symptoms. Edwards says we can continue to reduce the transmission of the virus, but it will take everyone doing their part

Cut 14 (12) “…as well.”

That being said Edwards announces Louisiana will remain in phase two for another three weeks.

State Treasurer John Schroder estimates about 10,000 small businesses have completed an application for Main Street Recovery grants, but they’re running into some issues and misconceptions from applicants. The Treasurer says there’s also been misunderstanding about who can apply. One, you can apply if you received federal aid and two, the program is not just for minorities.

Cut 11 (04) “…everybody.”

LSU’s D-D Breaux announces she’s retiring after 43 years as head coach of the Tigers gymnastics program. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the state is having some difficulties getting results from the COVID contract tracing program. Billioux told reporters today that labs are not providing adequate contact info for a third of all COVID positive people, and that of those they can get in contact with 70 percent are not informing contact tracers who they potentially could have infected. 

Louisiana will remain in Phase Two and the mask mandate and bar closure order will remain in effect for at least another three weeks. Governor Edwards says the White House coronavirus task force recommends that the state keeps its mitigation measures in place. But he says there is encouraging news, the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital is on the decline

Cut 13 (11) “…seven days” 

There are currently 1,487 COVID-19 patients in the hospital statewide.

Legendary coach D-D Breaux announced today she’s retiring after 43 years as the leader of LSU women’s gymnastics program. Breaux is not completely leaving LSU as she’s been named as an ambassador for LSU, so she plans to be involved in a lot of different community service projects…

Cut 8 (10) “do that”

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley is confident in the protocols for spread mitigation as schools begin to re-open.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”  

About ten thousand small businesses have finished applications for Main Street Recovery grants but State Treasurer John Schroder says that number could increase if more business owners realize that any business with fewer than 50 employees can apply, even if you received some federal aid, and you are not minority owned.

Cut 11 (04) “…everybody.”

Governor John Bel Edwards announces Louisiana will remain in phase two for another three weeks until August 28th as he plans to officially extend the state’s coronavirus restrictions on Thursday. Edwards says this means the mask mandate and bar closure order will stay in place…
cut 12 (10) “…for ourselves”
Edwards says they are seeing evidence of progress, as the number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital is slowly declining.

A very unique school year is set to begin and some school systems have made the decision to provide virtual instruction full time or a hybrid model of in-person and online learning. Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says the state will soon provide school districts with more guidance on virtual education…
cut 4 (10) “…of vetting that”

State Treasurer John Schroder said on Talk Louisiana today that 10,000 Louisiana small businesses have completed applications for Main Street grant progam and he estimates there’s enough cash to offer another 20,000 businesses a no-strings-attached 15-thousand dollar grant. Schroder advises interested businesses to apply on their desktop computer and not their phone…
Cut 10 (08) “…application”
He says 65% of applicants have tried on a phone.

The longest tenured coach in SEC history, LSU’s D-D Breaux announced her retirement today after leading the Tigers gymnastics program for 43 years. LSU has finished as national runner-ups three times since 2016. The Donaldsonville native says after building the gymnastics program into a powerhouse, she looks forward to more time with her grandkids…
Cut 7 (10) “…right time’” (2x)
Jay Clark, who was the co-head coach, will take over Breaux.

Kids will be back in class in seven school systems across the state later this week, but State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says many schools are using a hybrid model, a split between virtual and in-person learning. Virtual instruction has reportedly had mixed results but Brumley says they’ve used 300 million in federal cash to bolster their efforts.

Cut 3 (10)  “…for teachers”  

Nearly 10,000 small businesses have completed applications for Main Street Recovery grants, but State Treasure John Schroder says some business owners are having difficulty completing the process because they  haven’t filed annual reports with the Secretary of State, haven’t filed their taxes, or…

Cut 9 (08) “…bookkeeping.”

Those who qualify can receive up to 15,000 dollars in no-strings-attached cash to help offset COVID related costs and interruptions. Applicants must have fewer than 50 employees to be eligible.

Legendary coach D-D Breaux announced today she’s retiring after 43 years as the leader of LSU women’s gymnastics program. Co-head coach Jay Clark will take over. The 67-year-old Breaux admits the past year has been difficult with the death of her mother and then the coronavirus pandemic

Cut 6 (10) “…we’re in”

Breaux is leaving on top as the Tigers are three-time defending SEC champions and fans have been packing the PMAC to watch their meets.

An LSU Health New Orleans oncologist helps author a study showing 13 to 16 percent of cancer patients with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will die within 30 days of diagnosis. That’s far higher than the general 1.63 percent rate that was thought to be the case in Jefferson and Orleans Parishes back in May when an infection mortality rate study was conducted for the area by Ochsner.

The state sees another day of declining numbers of people in the hospital with COVID-19.

State Education Superintendent Cade Brumley says classes begun this week for seven different school systems. Brumley says many schools are using a hybrid model, a split between virtual and in-person learning and adds the guidance from the state level does leave room for local autonomy in how a school system handles its mix of virtual and classroom instruction.
Cut 5 (10)  “…decide to use.”
State Treasurer John Schroder estimates about 10,000 small businesses have completed an application for Main Street Recovery grants, but they’re running into some issues and misconceptions from applicants. The Treasurer says there’s also been misunderstanding about who can apply. One, you can apply if you received federal aid and two, the program is not just for minorities.
Cut 11 (04) “…everybody.”
Schroder says about 70 percent of applicants are classified as minorities.
LSU’s D-D Breaux announces she’s retiring after 43 years as head coach of the Tigers gymnastics program. Jeff Palermo has the story…

cut 2 (31) “I’m Jeff Palermo”  

Louisiana reports over 3,600 additional COVID-19 cases today, but says about 1,700 come from a testing backlog. The state is on a five day streak of hospitalization decreases, down today by 9 to 1,487. Fatalities increase by 27 to 3,937.