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
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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.
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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.
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Unemployment applications continue to inundate the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Executive Director Ava Dejoie says the department has had a total of roughly 136-thousand claims come in 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 for claims as many workers in the department have received a crash course in unemployment benefits.
Cut 5 (08) “…and phone calls.”
Dejoie says the best way to file is still online at louisianaworks.net and recommends that filers practice some patience with the process.
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Our Lady of the Lake infectious disease specialist Catherine O’Neal says since a vaccine could be over a year away, our best hope to stop coronavirus is for people to slowly build up “herd immunity”.
When you get a virus and recover, you make antibodies that prevent you from getting the virus again for a period of time. O’Neal says because 80 percent of cases are mild or asymptomatic.
She warns we do not currently know how long those anti-bodies will last once formed.
O’Neal explains how herd immunity works…
O’Neal says she expects even with social distancing and shelter in place orders in effect, a majority of Louisianans are still expected to catch the coronavirus.
O’Neal made the comments to Jim Engster on Talk Louisiana.
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With new hospital restrictions limiting visitors due to the coronavirus outbreak, some expectant mothers are seeking alternatives and reaching out to midwives. Kyra Kana (Con-yah) of The Natural Birth House in Broussard says they’ve seen an increase in the number of new patients.
What used to be an occasion shared with family and friends immediately afterward has been restricted and the delivery room is also limited. Kana says many mothers are not ready to forgo the change.
Cut 11 (12) “…proper support.”
Kana says if an expectant mother is wanting to transfer from a physician delivery to a midwife, no matter what stage of pregnancy, the midwife must receive the mother’s medical records and it typically takes 2-3 days for a doctor to send over records.
To locate a midwife Kana recommends social media and the Louisiana Midwives Association Facebook Page. You can also follow Kana on her YouTube Channel “The Cajun Stork.”
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Governor Edwards is begging the public to stay indoors and to not congregate after the state saw several reports of mass gatherings over the weekend in defiance of state orders.
Edwards says it’s not an easy situation but the public needs to comply, and understand we could be enduring this past the initially estimated April 13th reopening of the state…
Louisiana currently has the second-highest COVID-19 mortality rate per capita of any state in the country.
New Orleans police had to break up a second line in New Orleans of about 100 people over the weekend. Edwards says these kinds of gatherings have got to stop.
Other large gatherings in Madisonville, Springfield, and elsewhere were reported as most Louisianans hunkered down for their first weekend in isolation. Edwards says it’s incredibly irresponsible.
Organizers of the now infamous second line in New Orleans have been charged, and New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell says people participating in similar incidents going forward will be charged as well.
28-year-old Cecil Spencer is accused of organizing the second line. Clifton Smith, the alleged band leader, has been charged as well.
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In a podcast that can be found on the Saints website, General Manager Mickey Loomis says he’s surprised the team was able to re-sign defensive tackle David Onyemata and left guard Andrus Peat. Onyemata inked a three-year deal and Peat agreed to a five-year deal. Loomis says Peat’s greatest asset is his versatility…
Loomis says the key to what he believes has been a successful free agency period is that Q-B Drew Brees re-signed on a salary cap friendly deal
Cut 18 (25) “…compeitive team.”
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