President Trump has approved a major disaster declaration for Louisiana as the state reports nearly 14-hundred coronavirus cases and 46 deaths. Governor Edwards is urging Louisiana residents that we need to flatten the curve in order to prevent medical facilities from being overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. His statewide “stay at home” order began Monday night and he’s encouraged by how serious the public has taken his call…
cut 15 (12) “…to comply”

To comply with the order many are eating at home and only leaving the house for a trip to the grocery store. LSU AgCenter dietitian Sandra May says choose healthful foods so your immune system is as its strongest…
cut 6 (07) “….feel easy about”

Fair housing advocates are concerned we could see a tsunami of evictions when the courts open up as tenants are struggling to pay rent with no money coming in. Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center spokesperson Maxwell Ciardullo hopes landlords will work with tenants…
cut 12 (11) “…as possible’
Ciardullo is hoping the stimulus bill that Congress is set to pass will provide emergency rental assistance.

Financial pressures can result in an uptick in anxiety or depression. Clinical psychologist Doctor Michelle Moore with LSU Health New Orleans offers some suggestions on how to cope with the current crisis…
cut 8 (120 “….that’s happening”

President Donald Trump has approved Louisiana’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration, which opens the door for more federal cash and resources to flow into Louisiana. Kevin Barnhart has more…
voicer 3 (31) “….I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana is the fourth state to receive the disaster designation. In the governor’s letter to the President, he warned that hospitalizations from the COVID-19 epidemic could exceed capacity at New Orleans area hospitals beginning on April fourth.

Louisiana residents are used to hunkering down for floods and hurricanes, but staying at home through April 13th because of a pandemic is a daunting task for most. LSU AgCenter registered dietitian Sandra May says it is important to stock up on nonperishables, but you may have to think outside the box for other items…
Cut 4 (13)_ “…from the shelves.”

COVID-19 is also having an impact on mental health as we try to cope with stress and anxiety from the pandemic. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Michelle Moore with LSU Health New Orleans says whenever we are told to do something out of the norm we can react with a greater degree of anxiety or depression.
Cut 7 (09) “…also intensify.”
Moore says don’t ignore a change in behavior and seek professional help if you have trouble coping on your own.

46 people are dead from the state’s 1,388 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
In times of crisis, scam artists will prey on your emotions and wallet and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. Cynthia Albert with the Better Business Bureau says if you have ordered something in the mail already, and it does show up she urges you not to use it because it could be extremely harmful to your health.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…they are.”
To report a fraud or scam related to COVID-19 call the National Center for Disaster Fraud.
It’s the first full day of Governor John Bel Edwards stay at home order. If you’ve had addiction issues, Office of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Jim Hussey says now would definitely not be the time to restart old bad habits. He says if you’ve stopped smoking, don’t restart, and…

Cut 8 (09) “…health.”

The Governor’s shelter in place order is in effect through April 12^th.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon issues an emergency rule designed to expand access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Donelon says the rule means that insurance agencies must cover a telemedicine visit as they would for an in-person visit…

Cut 12 (12) “…rural areas”

Donelon says a patient will stay be required to pay a co-pay as they would for an in-person visit.

A shortage of hand sanitizers has some craft beer breweries and distilleries churning out the disinfectant. Founder of Acadiana-based Bayou Teche Brewing Karlos Knott says they just received the greenlight from the feds for production.  The brewery is purchasing spirits from a local distillery and chemicals from local suppliers for the initial 55 gallon batch.  Knott says the only thing standing in the way of making more is a slowdown in the supply chain.

Cut 11 (09) “…quite a bit more”

46 people are dead from the state’s 1,388 confirmed COVID-19 cases. 43 of the state’s 64 parishes are reporting finding the illness.
In times of crisis, scam artists will prey on your emotions and wallet and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. Cynthia Albert with the Better Business Bureau says con artists are using the phone, email and fake internet ads to sell all kinds of false goods.
Cut 3 (12)  “…in the mail.”  
To report a fraud or scam related to COVID-19 call the National Center for Disaster Fraud.
It’s the first full day of Governor John Bel Edwards stay at home order. Office of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Jim Hussey says to help stay sane and healthy during this period you should make a daily schedule, and keep to it.

Cut 7 (11) “…additional support.”

The Governor’s shelter in place order is in effect through April 12^th.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon issues an emergency rule designed to expand access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Donelon says the order also waives restrictions requiring patients to only conduct telemedicine visits with providers in the insurer’s existing telemedicine network…

Cut 14 (09) “…telemedicine networks.”

Donelon says a patient will stay be required to pay a co-pay as they would for an in-person visit.

A shortage of hand sanitizers has some craft beer breweries and distilleries churning out the disinfectant. Founder of Acadiana-based Bayou Teche Brewing Karlos Knott says they just received the greenlight from the feds and they’ve started making it today.The brewery is purchasing spirits from a local distillery and chemicals from local suppliers.  Knott says the hand sanitizer isn’t for sale though.

Cut 10 (11) “…things like that.”

The initial batch will be 55 gallons.

The newest numbers of COVID-19 cases from the state brings the total to 1,388 and 46 deaths. That’s an increase of 216 cases and 12 additional deaths. Of the current cases 271 are hospitalized and 94 of those patients require ventilators.  Governor Edwards is requesting a Major Disaster Declaration for the state to mitigate further spread. According to the Governor’s office, the current projections for hospitalization in the New Orleans area significantly exceeds capacity beginning April 4^th.

It’s the first full day of Governor John Bel Edwards stay at home order. But Edwards says that doesn’t mean you lock yourself in your house, you can spend time outside in the year and playing with the kids

Cut 6 (05) “…encouraged”

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon issues an emergency rule designed to expand access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Donelon says the rule means that insurance agencies must cover a telemedicine visit as they would for an in-person visit to the doctor and it requires insurers to cover mental health telehealth services as well.

Cut 13 (12) “…psychiatrist”

A shortage of hand sanitizers has some local breweries and distilleries producing disinfectant. Founder of Acadiana-based Bayou Teche Brewing Karlos Knott says they just received the greenlight from the feds and started making it today.

Cut 9 (08) “…ready to go″

The number of Coronavirus cases rose sharply today to nearly 14-hundred and the death toll is up to 46.

State Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon issues an emergency rule designed to expand access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Donelon says the rule means that insurance agencies must cover a telemedicine visit as they would for an in-person visit…
Cut 12 (12) “…rural areas”

Many Lousiana residents are at home obeying the governor’s stay at home order. Office of Public Health Medical Director Doctor Jim Hussey says stay away from consuming large amounts of alcohol…
cut 8 (09) “…health”

Some breweries have begun producing hand sanitizer that will be given to local doctors and retirement homes.…
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Cynthia Albert with the Better Business Bureau of Louisiana is warning residents not to respond to emails that say you are receiving a government check…
cut 5 (10) “…in there”
Albert says fraud schemes are running rampant with the COVID-19 outbreak.

The newest numbers of COVID-19 cases from the state brings the total to 1,388 and 46 deaths. That’s an increase of 216 case and 12 additional deaths. Of the current cases 271 are hospitalized and 94 of those patients require ventilators.  Governor Edwards is requesting a Major Disaster Declaration for the state to mitigate further spread. According to the Governor’s office the current projections for hospitalization in the New Orleans area significantly exceeds capacity beginning April 4^th.

It’s the first full day of Governor Edwards stay at home order. Office of Public Health Medical Director Dr. Jim Hussey says to help stay sane and healthy during this period you should make a daily schedule and keep it.

Cut 7 (11) “…additional support.”

In times of crisis, scam artists will prey on your emotions and your wallet and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. Cynthia Albert with the Better Business Bureau says if you have ordered something in the mail already, and it does show up she urges you not to use it because it could be extremely harmful to your health.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…they are.”

Check with Better Business Bureau’s website at bbb.org/scamtracker to see if the product is deemed a scam.

A shortage of hand sanitizers has some craft beer breweries and distilleries churning out the disinfectant. Founder of Acadiana-based Bayou Teche Brewing Karlos Knott says their initial batch will be 55 gallons.  Knott says the only thing standing in the way of making more is a slowdown in the supply chain.

Cut 11 (09) “…quite a bit more”

It will be donated to healthcare facilities

46 people are dead from the state’s 1,388 confirmed COVID-19 cases. 43 of the state’s 64 parishes are reporting finding the illness. Governor Edwards is requesting a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Louisiana in an effort to mitigate the further spread of the coronavirus.

Scam artists are taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic, how can you protect yourself? Brooke Thorington explains.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington” 

It’s the first full day of Governor John Bel Edwards stay at home order. But Edwards says that doesn’t mean you lock yourself in your house, you can spend time outside in the year and playing with the kids

Cut 6 (05) “…encouraged”

The Governor’s shelter in place order is in effect through April 12^th.
A shortage of hand sanitizers has some craft beer breweries and distilleries churning out the disinfectant. Founder of Acadiana-based Bayou Teche Brewing Karlos Knott says they just received the green light from the feds and they’ve started making it today. The brewery is purchasing spirits from a local distillery and chemicals from local suppliers.  Knott says the hand sanitizer isn’t for sale though.

Cut 10 (11) “…things like that.”

The initial batch will be 55 gallons.

Governor John Bel Edwards is requesting that the White House declare a major disaster area in his state so that additional federal aid can be made available. In his letter to the president, Edwards says the coronavirus outbreak could result in the New Orleans area running out of hospital beds in early April. The governor says the state has also provided a significant amount of resources in the form of personal protective equipment…
cut 15 (06) “…do it” ‘
The White House has already granted similar federal disaster declarations for California, Washington, and New York.

The governor’s stay at home order lasts until April 12th. Louisiana Public Health Assistant Secretary Doctor Alex Billioux says the state’s rate of case increase is remarkably high and even with containment measures that may not change in the next few days…
cut 14 (08) “….virus”

In times of crisis, scam artists will prey on your emotions and your wallet and the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. Cynthia Albert with the Better Business Bureau says con artists are using the phone, email and fake ads on the internet and selling all kinds of false goods.
Cut 3 (12) “…in the mail.”

A shortage of hand sanitizers has some craft beer breweries and distilleries producing the disinfectant. Founder of Acadiana-based Bayou Teche Brewing Karlos Knott says they just received the green light from the feds and they’ve started making it today.
Cut 9 (08) “…ready to go″
Knott says once the sanitizer bottles are produced, they’ll be donated in the area to local doctors and retirement homes.

Gov Edwards is requesting a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Louisiana as the number of cases of COVID-19 grows and the state’s efforts to combat the spread of illness intensifies. The declaration would allow the federal government to provide additional support for state and local agencies in dealing with this growing public health threat. According to the Governor’s office the current projections for hospitalization in the New Orleans area significantly exceeds capacity beginning April 4^th. The Governor also spoke with Vice President Pence and renewed Louisiana’s request for a military field hospital.

While much of the state’s workforce is home today, Louisiana’s chemical plant employees are still on the job producing goods needed to fight the virus.  

Louisiana Chemical Association President Greg Bowser says they may still be in operation but the longer this pandemic goes on, the more the global economy will slow, which means it will take a financial toll on Louisiana’s plants.  

Cut 12 (04) “August”

Essential critical infrastructure workers are now eligible for childcare assistance through the state department of education. A reason why childcare facilities remain open is so health care workers can go to work. Assistant State Superintendent of Education Jessica Baghian says this program allows eligible families to access subsidized care for children ages 12 and under…
cut 8 (13) “….out to us”

An application for the childcare assistance program can be found at Louisiana-Believes-dot-com.

State Police and other law enforcement agencies have been overwhelmed with phone calls pertaining to misinformation of road closures related to mitigating the spread of COVID-19.  Lt. Nick Manale encourages the public to get information from trusted, reliable sources.

Cut 5 (10)  “…state right now.”