1,158 Louisianans are now hospitalized with COVID-19, and 385 of them are on ventilators as statewide positive confirmed cases cross the 4,000 mark. 185 people have now died due to coronavirus related causes, an increase of 34 in the past 24 hours, and nearly 500 new cases have been reported in that same time period. 28 nursing homes now have reported cases of COVID-19.

Governor Edwards says they’re doing everything they can to prepare for a peak…

Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Louisiana has become a COVID-19 hotspot, ranking in the top three locations in the nation for confirmed cases of the illness, and number two in per capita deaths linked to the virus. Attorney General Jeff Landry with the number of cases exploding locally, LSU’s medical school has received approval to begin clinical testing of hydroxychloroquine, a potential treatment for COVID-19

Cut 7 (06) “…a treatment medicine.”

He also announced Louisiana has received 400,000 hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets from a donation.

After a two-week break, LSU’s spring semester resumes today, but all classes have been moved online. English Professor Kevin Cope says LSU was not exactly prepared to transition all it’s courses online, but they’re doing the best they can. Cope says the school has not been able to invest in its online capabilities due to chronic underfunding of state schools.

Cut 5 (12)  “…scramble”

Louisiana now has over 4,000 confirmed coronavirus cases sees 34 new deaths and 485 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 over the past 24 hours. Governor Edwards says, unfortunately, that shows Louisiana has not yet begun to flatten the curve of new coronavirus cases, and that likely means he will have to extend the statewide stay at home order that was set to expire April 13^th. Edwards says we’re second in the nation in per capita COVID-19 linked deaths.

Cut 11 (11) “…as well know”

Attorney General Jeff Landry celebrates news that the state is receiving 400,000 tablets of hydroxychloroquine, a possible COVID-19 treatment he says could help keep our frontline healthcare workers in the fight…

Cut 8 (07) “…with this crisis.”

LSU students return to school today for the first time in two weeks, but they won’t be on campus as all classes have been moved online for the semester. English Lit Professor Kevin Cope says the transition to online learning has gone about well as it could considering the short notice, but LSU was not fully prepared to make the jump.

Cut 4 (10)_ “…subscription.”

Cope says those in traditional liberal arts classes will likely fare the best under the new online-only curriculum, and those in lab heavy courses, as well as those in sociology, education, and social work will likely lose the most in the transition.

1,127 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in Louisiana, and many still are hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms and awaiting test results. That problem is particularly acute in New Orleans where current projections have the region running out of hospital beds by April 10^th. To combat that Governor Edwards says a makeshift hospital is going up inside the New Orleans Convention Center with over a thousand beds…

Cut 10 (11) “discharged home”

The region is also set to run out of ventilators by the end of the week.

Attorney General Jeff Landry announces a donation of 400,000 hydroxychloroquine sulfate tablets from Amneal Pharmaceuticals to the state. The drug has been identified as a possible treatment for COVID-19 and is in high demand…

Cut 6 (11) “…that supply crunch.”

After a two-week break, LSU’s spring semester resumes today, but all classes have been moved online. English Professor Kevin Cope says there will be something lost in the translation to online for all students, but he expects those in traditional liberal arts classes will fare best, while…

Cut 3 (11)  “education”  

The campus has been closed to all but the few students who couldn’t leave and are at the dorms, and essential staff.

28-year-old Cecil Spencer and Clifton Smith have been charged for organizing and leading a 100 person second line through New Orleans over the weekend in defiance of the Governor’s ban on large gatherings. Mayor Latoya Cantrell says people participating in similar incidents going forward will be charged as well.

Cut 16  (08)  “…the law” 

Similar large gatherings were reported in Madisonville, Springfield, and Central.

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.

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 ”

The growing number of cases of COVID-19 in the state and especially in the New Orleans area prompts the need for additional healthcare workers and the state in the process of opening a 1,120-bed facility at the Morial Convention Center. Edwards says LSU Health Shreveport was able to accelerate the timeline for getting residents into the healthcare facilities, and he wants LSU Health New Orleans to do the same.

Cut 4 (12)_ “…professionals.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was questioned on a Louisiana radio station about the outbreak of COVID-19. Fauci says the summer season may help flatten the curve but adds there are still many unknowns about this virus.

Cut 8 (13) “…there in Louisiana..”

Families who’ve just lost a loved one are now faced with the reality of constrained, socially distant funeral services. Jeff Palermo spoke with the President of Mothe (Mott) Funeral Homes about the situation…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

Louisiana Economic Development opens a COVID-19 Help Desk that will provide information for businesses on what the federal $2.2 trillion emergency relief bill means for them. LED Secretary Don Pierson says businesses can find out info online at opportunitylouisiana.com.

Cut 15 (04)“…this website.”