According to a UL-Lafayette study, Louisiana has one of the fastest growth rates of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the world. Dr. Gary Wagner, Acadiana Business Economist Endowed Chair at UL-Lafayette, has a few theories on why Louisiana is seeing a large rate of cases compared to other areas.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…other states.”

Governor Edwards issues a statewide shelter in place order and the closure of all “non-essential” businesses. Cases have been found in 36 parishes. Edwards says he’s counting on Louisianans even in parts of the state without a large confirmed number of cases to be unselfish and follow the order or we will replicate Italy’s deadly outcome.

Cut 16  (12)  “…problem.” 

The order takes effect at 5 PM.

Governor Edwards will be on radio and television tonight at 7PM for a one-hour broadcast to address the fight against the spread of COVID-19. Edwards’ spokesperson Shauna Sanford says there will be no audience at the LPB studio, but Edwards and a health professional along with other guests will answer questions from the public that were sent in over the weekend.

Cut 8 (10) “…as possible”

Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas says their health system is prepared to handle a potential influx of COVID-19 patients. Thomas says their estimates show the system can handle patients without being overloaded, assuming every Louisianan heeds the Governor’s call to social distance.

Cut 12 (11) “concern”

Governor Edwards issues a statewide shelter in place order, and the closure of all “non-essential” businesses in Louisiana. The order does not apply to grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, and allows for restaurants to serve takeout or drive-through meals, but for individuals…

Cut 13 (12) “go out.”

The state has 832 positive cases.

According to a UL-Lafayette study, Louisiana has one of the fastest growth rates of confirmed cases of COVID-19. Dr. Gary Wagner, Acadiana Business Economist Endowed Chair at UL-Lafayette says he compares the state’s numbers for the first 14 days to other recorded numbers of other cities and nations first two weeks.

Cut 3 (12)  “…in the world.”  

Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas says its health system is prepared to handle a potential influx of COVID-19 patients. Despite reports of hospitals lacking personal protective equipment and not enough respirators, Thomas says they are in good shape right now.

Cut 10 (11) “equipment.”

Thomas says they are sourcing new beds to increase their capacity should a surge of patients arrive.

Governor Edwards will take to radio and television tonight at 7PM for a one-hour broadcast to address Louisiana’s fight against the spread of COVID-19. Edwards’ spokesperson Shauna Sanford says the goal is to answer many of the questions the public has about the pandemic.
Cut 7 (12) “…who are unemployed.”

Governor Edwards issues a statewide shelter in place order, and the closure of all “non-essential” businesses in Louisiana saying drastic measures are needed to slow the spread of COVID-19. Edwards says two weeks ago we had zero COVID-19 cases. One week ago we had 91 confirmed cases. As of Sunday 837 confirmed cases and twenty deaths, a ten times increase in seven days.

Cut 15 (09) “…Louisiana.”

Governor Edwards will take to radio and television airwaves tonight at 7PM for a one-hour broadcast to address Louisiana’s fight against the spread of COVID-19 and answer pre-submitted questions. Edwards’ spokesperson Shauna Sanford says they will also discuss mental health.

Cut 9 (12) “…every facet″

Children are preparing to transition into online learning as physical schools are shut down. Kevin Barnhart talks to an expert for tips to make the change easier.

Cut 1 (27) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

State Police have issued a statement to urge the public to check reliable sources such as Louisiana 511 and the Louisiana DOTD Twitter Accounts for possible road closures. With the COVID-19 outbreak state police say they have received numerous calls of the spreading of misinformation. Other reliable sources include 511la-dot-org and the Louisiana 511 phone app.

Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a statewide Stay at Home order that will go into effect at 5 PM last until April 12th. Edwards says the order is needed because the state has the fastest growth rate of confirmed cases in the world. The order means that people should stay at home unless they are traveling to get food or medicine. Workers at grocery stores, pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and other critical infrastructure are allowed to go their job. Edwards says there will be no checkpoints or enforcement of travel restrictions, but the governor is asking people to be good neighbors and follow the order, or we will see an untenable spike in cases…
cut 14 (11) “…risk group”
Edwards says we are in a race against time in an effort to avoid what happened in Itay, where coronavirus cases overwhelmed their hospitals.

Governor Edwards, along with health experts and members of his administration will discuss Louisiana’s response to COVID-19 during a one-hour program that will air on radio and TV stations starting at 7 PM tonight. Kevin Barnhart has more..
Cut 2 (26) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Many parents are turning to homeschooling or online learning as schools are closed for a second week. Head of Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy Daniell Scott says keep learning habits as normal as possible and set a schedule…
cut 5 (11) “…playtime”

Governor Edwards issues a stay at home order as Louisiana’s case count increases by tenfold over the last week. Matt Doyle has the story…
Cut 3 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

Louisiana has 837 positive coronavirus cases. The state ranks third in the nation, behind New York and Washington state-in per capita cases. 36 parishes are reporting cases and 20 people have died. Louisiana is the ninth state to announce a stay at home order and it lasts until April 12th.

Making sure health care providers have the equipment they need to treat coronavirus patients is a priority for government leaders. Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas says they’ve received additional ventilators and they are expecting more this week. He says they are also opening additional rooms for Coronavirus patients…
cut 11 (12) “….other regions”

Meanwhile, schools are closed for a second week and parents are turning to other methods to educate their children, like homeschooling or online learning. Head of Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy Danielle Scott says have a designated area for learning…
cut 4 (07) “….the TV on
Scott says children also need a routine, so parents should create a schedule for their child.

Governor Edwards issues a statewide shelter in place order, and the closure of all “non-essential” businesses in Louisiana. The order does not apply to grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals, and allows for restaurants to serve takeout or drive-through meals, but for individuals…
Cut 13 (12) “go out.”
Edwards says the shelter-in-place goes into effect at 5 PM and lasts until April 12. He says it’s necessary because Louisiana has the fastest growth of new Coronavirus cases in the world. The state has 832 positive cases.

Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas says its health system is prepared to handle a potential influx of COVID-19 patients. Despite reports of hospitals lacking personal protective equipment and not enough respirators, Thomas says they are in good shape right now.
Cut 10 (11) “equipment.”
Thomas says they are sourcing new beds to increase their capacity should a surge of patients arrive.

Governor John Bel Edwards will take to radio and television airwaves tonight at 7PM for a one-hour broadcast to address Louisiana’s fight against the spread of COVID-19. Edwards’ spokesperson Shauna Sanford says the goal is to answer many of the questions the public has about the pandemic.
Cut 7 (12) “…who are unemployed.”
There will be no audience at the LPB studio, but Edwards and a health care professional along with other guests will answer questions from the public that were sent in over the weekend.

Started the day at 537 coronavirus cases in Louisiana and 14 deaths. Now up to 585 and 16 dead. There have been reports of another death at the Lambeth House in New Orleans and a contract worker at a plant in St. Charles Parish has also died.

Governor Edwards, along with health experts and members of his administration will discuss Louisiana’s response to COVID-19 during a one-hour program that will air on radio and TV stations starting at 7 PM on Monday. Kevin Barnhart has more..
Cut 2 (26) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Ochsner Health CEO Warner Thomas says their health system is prepared to handle a potential influx of COVID-19 patients. Despite reports of hospitals lacking personal protective equipment and not enough respirators, Thomas says they are in good shape right now.
Cut 10 (11) “equipment.”
Thomas says they’ve already begun sourcing new beds to increase their capacity should a surge of patients arrive.

Unemployment insurance claims are skyrocketing. Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie says the department has received over 30,000 new claims this week.
Cut 3 (08) “…call claim volume.”
Dejoie says the best way to file a claim is online at LAworks.net.

Governor John Bel Edwards will take to radio and television airwaves Monday at 7PM for a one-hour broadcast to address Louisiana’s fight against the spread of COVID-19. Edwards’ spokesperson Shauna Sanford says the goal is to answer many of the questions the public has about the pandemic.
Cut 7 (12) “…who are unemployed.”
You can watch at L-P-B and it will also be heard on many of these same stations.

The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline has dipped to $1.93. COVID-19 economic impacts, as well as overproduction between OPEC and Russia, are the main factors. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman…
Cut 6 (08) “…were at $2.13”
Oil prices are at their lowest levels since the early 2000s.

Children are preparing to transition into online learning as physical schools are shut down. Kevin Barnhart talks to an expert for tips to make the change easier.
Cut 1 (27) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Louisiana has waived its standardized testing for students this school year. Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory has shut down salons, spas, and tattoo parlors. And Rapides Parish Sheriff deputies arrested 27-year-old Waylon Bailey of Forest Hill on one count of terrorism for an alleged social media post that said the sheriff’s office has issued an order to shoot anyone who has the coronavirus.

Fourteen people are dead due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Louisiana and the state has 537 cases. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has issued a “stay at home” order for the city. Governor Edwards says models show New Orleans area hospitals could be overwhelmed in the next week to 10 days as a “worst-case scenario.” Edwards says they’re trying to secure enough health care workers and they’re moving respirators from surgical centers that perform elective surgeries, into frontline hospitals.
Cut 11 (10) “…state.”
A lack of respirators is reported at the heart of many of the COVID-19 deaths in Italy.

One of the 14 people who died from the COVID-19 outbreak in Louisiana passed away at an Ouachita Parish hospital. The person was 38-years-old and from Catahoula Parish. The state health department says the victim had underlying health conditions.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission has been inundated with virus-related unemployment assistance claims…
Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Governor John Bel Edwards will take to radio and television airwaves Monday night at 7PM for a one-hour broadcast that will address Louisiana’s fight against the spread of COVID-19. Members of the public are encouraged to submit questions for the panel to l-p-b-dot-org-backslash-questions.

COVID-19 cases can be found in 28 parishes and there are 537 positive cases statewide and 14 deaths. This surge in coronavirus activity has prompted Governor Edwards to ask companies with a stockpile of N95 masks to call the Department of Economic Development and donate them to hospitals that are in need of personal protective equipment…
Cut 10 (11) “…settings”

The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline has dipped to $1.93, the lowest since 2016. AAA fuel analyst Don Redman says we could see gas prices fall to post nine-eleven numbers…
Cut 7 (07) “…heading pretty soon.”
Gas prices have fallen 20-cents over the last month.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission executive director Ava Dejoie says the department has been inundated with unemployment assistance claims. Dejoie says staffing of the department has been shifted from other divisions to help process the 30,000+ new claims.
Cut 4 (10)_ “…appreciate your patience.”
The first checks are anticipated to be sent out next week. The maximum unemployment benefit is $247 per week.
Food banks across the nation are seeing a surge in those seeking assistance. Second Harvest Food Bank spokesperson Jay Vise says this situation is different from a hurricane because grocery stores are still open, but there are many people including seniors and those with compromised immune systems in which it’s dangerous for them to leave their home
Cut 13 (08) “…dire soon”