Governor Edwards extended the current modified Phase Two COVID public health order for another four weeks. He also appealed to businesses to do everything they can to maximize the number of workers who can work from home.

Cut 14 (11) “…region.” 

Edwards says every region of the state has a positivity rate above ten percent.

Health officials are seeing strong demand for the COVID vaccine. Louisiana Hospital Association President Paul Salles says the state will expand eligibility in phases as the state gets more vaccines, you can schedule an appointment online or by phone in advance…

Cut 5 (11) “…bear with us.”

Ochsner Health System says they have scheduled 113-thousand vaccine appointments over the next two months.

Just under 140,000 COVID-19 vaccines have now been officially administered in Louisiana. Roughly half of the vaccines the state is receiving are being held back for the moment, State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says that’s because the feds can’t promise us how many doses we will receive three to four weeks in the future…

Cut 11 (07) “…come up”

A study of NCAA athletes and COVID indicates that despite close contact associated with athletics, more student-athletes reported COVID exposure at social gatherings versus athletics.  Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Dr. Catherine O’Neal says it supports one can play sports but only when strict CDC mitigation guidelines are followed…

Cut 9 (09) “…activity.”

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended Louisiana’s Phase 2 COVID mitigation measures for another 28 days and he strongly recommends that all businesses move to remote work for as many employees as possible. The extension of his public health order means restaurants can maintain 50-percent capacity and Edwards also encourages curbside or delivery service…
cut 15 (07) “….you can”
Doctor Catherine O’ Neal, an infectious disease expert at LSU Health New Orleans says research suggests more than half of COVID-19 transmissions come from people with no symptoms. She says if you’ve been exposed, but not showing symptoms, you need to quarantine for at least seven days and get tested during that time…
cut 8 (08) “…know it”

During the governor’s weekly COVID-19 briefing, State Health Officer Doctor Joe Kanter gave an update on the status of the state’s COVID vaccination campaign…
cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

LSU Health Shreveport is administering Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to individuals over the age of 70 at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds parking lot. They have four lines of vehicles going into a tent and those 70 and over will get a shot in the arm, without having to leave their car. Pre-registration is required at l-s-u-h-s-dot-edu.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended the current modified Phase Two COVID public health order for another four weeks. Edwards says that means most businesses will remain limited to 50 percent capacity as the state rides out a third wave of the pandemic.
Cut 13 (07) “…mandate.”
Edwards reiterated previous comments that the state cannot enforce its way to COVID compliance, it needs people to voluntarily follow mitigation measures and discontinue small group gatherings that are driving the current surge.

There are over two-thousand COVID patients hospitalized. Louisiana Hospital Association President Paul Salles encourages social distancing…
Cut 6 (11) “…begin with.”

A study of NCAA athletes supports CDC revised quarantine guidelines when testing is performed during the 5th day or later. Brooke Thorington on how LSU Health New Orleans participated in the study.
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

ULM has hired former West Virginia, Michigan, and Arizona Head Coach Rich Rodriguez as its new offensive coordinator. Rich’s son, Rhett Rodriguez, is also transferring from Arizona to compete for the quarterback job.

Louisiana will remain under the current modified Phase Two COVID restrictions for at least another 28 days. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle.”

The U-S House is expected to impeach President Donald Trump today for a second time this time under the allegation he incited an insurrection when the U-S Capitol was raided last week. Louisiana Congressmen Steve Scalise and Clay Higgins say they will vote against the impeachment. Congressmen Mike Johnson and Garret Graves have not said how they will vote.

The state health department has reported that 159-thousand COVID-19 vaccines have been administered and 21-thousand individuals have received both doses. The state received 35-thousand doses this week and state health officer Doctor Jospeh Kanter says they are developing better policies to make sure those shots end up in a person’s body…
cut 12 (07) “…lost”
120 vaccine doses were lost as a result of a power outage in Baton Rouge.

Ochsner Health System says they have scheduled 113-thousand vaccine appointments over the next two months. Louisiana Hospital Association President Paul Salles says if you are 70 and over and wishing to get vaccinated, schedule an appointment
Cut 4 (09) “…as they can.”
Salles says the Louisiana Health Department will expand eligibility in phases as the state gets more vaccines so check the L-D-H’s website for updates.

Governor John Bel Edwards has extended Phase 2 coronavirus restrictions for another 28 days and he’s urging businesses to have their employees work from home if possible…
cut 14 (11) “….region”
Edwards says every region of the state has a positivity rate above ten percent. The governor says there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that is the vaccine.

The state health department reports just under 140-thousand COVID-19 vaccines have been administered. State health officer Doctor Joe Kanter says 210 pharmacies and other providers received over 38-thousand doses of the vaccine this week, but unfortunately…
cut 10 (09) “…next week”
He says that’s due to the slow pace of vaccine allocations by the feds. This week the number spiked as Louisiana freed up more vaccines held in reserve.

A study of NCAA athletes and the length of COVID quarantine supports the CDC revised quarantine guidelines from 14 to 10 days after a negative test on the 5th day or later. Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans Dr. Catherine O’Neal co-authored the study.
Cut 7 (09) “…fairly low.”
The analysis showed that nearly 49-percent of the positive test results occurred by day two of quarantine and by day five for 73-percent of the athletes.

A study of NCAA athletes supports CDC revised quarantine guidelines when testing is performed during the 5^th day or later. Brooke Thorington has more and how LSU Health New Orleans participated in the study.

Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

_______________________________

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter gave an update on the status of the state’s COVID vaccination campaign. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle.” 

_____________________________

Louisiana will remain under the current modified Phase Two COVID restrictions for at least another 28 days. Matt Doyle has the story.

Cut 3 (29)  “…I’m Matt Doyle.”  

__________________________

Health officials are seeing strong demand for the COVID-19 vaccine. Ochsner Health System says they have scheduled 113-thousand vaccine appointments over the next two months. Louisiana Hospital Association President Paul Salles says if you are 70 and over and wishing to get vaccinated, schedule an appointment

Cut 4 (09) “…as they can.”

Sallas says the Louisiana Health Department will expand eligibility in phases as the state gets more vaccines so check the L-D-H’s website for updates. He says you can schedule an appointment online or by phone in advance…

Cut 5 (11) “…bear with us.”

There are over two-thousand COVID patients hospitalized. Salles says it is critically important that Louisianians take proper precautions and practice social distancing…

Cut 6 (11) “…begin with.”

________________________

A study, of NCAA athletes and the length of COVID quarantine, supports the CDC revised quarantine guidelines from 14 to 10 days after a negative test on the 5^th day or later. Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Dr. Catherine O’Neal co-authored the study.

Cut 7 (09)  “…fairly low.”

The probability of developing a positive result after the tenth day was less than five percent.

The CDC reviewed data of 620 athletes that tested positive for COVID, it showed 49-percent tested positive by day two of quarantine and 73-percent tested positive by day 5.  Thus, more supporting data to reduce the quarantine hardship to ten days when testing is performed during the quarantine.

O’Neal says it’s important to recognize in trying to control the pandemic that it’s extremely common to be asymptomatic and still test positive for COVID.

Cut 8 (08) “…know it”

The study also indicates that despite close contact associated with athletics, more student-athletes reported COVID exposure at social gatherings versus athletics. O’Neal says it supports one can play sports but only when strict CDC mitigation guidelines are followed…

Cut 9 (09) “…activity.”

________________________________

Just under 140,000 COVID-19 vaccines have now been officially administered in Louisiana.

State Health Officer Dr. Joe Kanter says vaccination of members of the public over 70 and some essential workers, also known as group 1B, is going well. This week 210 pharmacies in every parish of the state will receive 35,785 doses. Unfortunately…

Cut 10 (09) “…next week.”

That’s due to the slow pace of vaccine allocations by the feds. This week the number spiked as Louisiana freed up more vaccines held in reserve.

Roughly half of the vaccines the state is receiving are being held back at the moment. Kanter says that’s because the feds can’t promise us how many doses we will receive three to four weeks in the future…

Cut 11 (07) “…come up”

The Trump Administration agreed to a request by the incoming Biden Administration to release reserve vaccines, but even with that policy, it’s unclear how many doses the state will receive in the coming weeks.

Kanter also says they’re developing better policies to make sure every ounce of vaccine is administered before it expires.

Cut 12 (07) “…lost”

Kanter also noted the nursing home resident and staff vaccination program is going well with Walgreens administering 6,144 doses and CVS administering 6,414.

______________________________________________

Governor Edwards extends the current modified Phase Two COVID public health order for another four weeks.

Edwards says most businesses will remain limited to 50 percent capacity as the state rides out the brutal third wave of the pandemic.

Cut 13 (07) “…mandate.”

Despite the dramatic recent spike in cases, Edwards reiterated comments that the state cannot enforce its way to COVID compliance, it needs people to voluntarily follow mitigation measures and discontinue small group gatherings that are driving the current surge.

Edwards appealed to residents to lean on services like Zoom to avoid in-person socializing and called on businesses to do everything they can to maximize the number of workers who can work from home.

Cut 14 (11) “…region.” 

Edwards says every region of the state has a positivity rate above ten percent.

While businesses will be allowed to remain open at half capacity Edwards says that doesn’t mean you have to go inside. He encourages curbside or delivery service …

Cut 15 (07)“…you can.”

______________________________________________

LSU men’s basketball begins a three-game homestand tonight as they host Arkansas at the Maravich Center at 6 PM. The Tigers beat the Razorbacks in the PMAC by two points last season and but also lost to the Hogs in Fayetteville giving up 99 points. Tigers coach Will Wade says he didn’t prepare his team well enough to face Arkansas last season so he studied up on their head coach Eric Musselman

Cut 16 (22) “…our team.”

LSU enters the game with 8-2 record, 3-and-one in conference play, while the Razorbacks are 10-and-2, two and two in the SEC. The Hogs lead the league in scoring at 88 points per game and Wade says they like to push the ball up the court

Cut 17 (20) “..three-point line.”

__________________________________________________

When the Saints and Buccaneers play on Sunday, New Orleans will look to complete a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay this season.  Bucs head coach Bruce Arians has faced the same team three times in one season on multiple occasions and says that each game is different.

Cut  18 (14) “…know each other.”

A key for the Bucs will be to put pressure on quarterback Drew Brees, which is no easy task.  Arians says it’s tough to get to Brees because he makes quick decisions.

Cut 19 (12) “…get him there free.”

Tampa Bay will benefit from the return of former LSU linebacker Devin White, who will suit up for Tampa Bay on Sunday. White missed the Bucs’ last two games as he was on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Arians calls White one of the best in the league.

cut 20 (09) “…in the league.”

Governor Edwards extended the current modified Phase 2 coronavirus restrictions for another 28 days. He also implored residents to discontinue small gatherings outside their immediate households as contact tracing indicates that’s spurring the current spike in cases.

State Police says they are aware of a planned protest at the State Capitol and Lt Nick Manale says the FBI has warned them of armed protests at every state capitol in the country being planned for the weekend. Over the last several weekends, Trump supporters have gathered on the steps of the Louisiana State Capitol but held peaceful demonstrations. The crowd is expected to be much bigger this Sunday, and Manale says they’ll be prepared.

Cut 5  (10) “…security protocols” 

President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration is set for next Wednesday.

President Donald Trump briefly spoke with reporters this morning saying the House Democrat backed impeachment vote Wednesday is causing “tremendous danger to our country and causing tremendous anger.” UL Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says most Republicans, including Louisiana’s Congressional delegation, will argue impeaching the President for a second time less than two weeks before he leaves office is unnecessary.

Cut 10 (10) “.constitution.”

President Trump is being impeached for “Incitement of Insurrection.”

The Louisiana Supreme Court has ordered all criminal and civil jury trials to be halted until March 1^st due to the pandemic. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says this is yet another unavoidable pandemic problem and will cause ongoing lawsuits to remain unresolved.

Cut 13 (10)“…understandable.”

Last spring court proceedings were put on hold at the beginning of the pandemic.

Governor Edwards extended the Phase 2 coronavirus restrictions for another 28 days. He also encouraged businesses to have employees work remotely where possible as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations remain high. He stated the majority of contract tracing shows small gatherings are responsible for the ongoing spike in COVID cases.

House Democrats are moving ahead with another impeachment of the President alleging his comments at a D.C. rally spurred on last week’s mob assault on the U.S. Capitol.

cut 2 (29) …I’m Matt Doyle”  

Louisiana State Police say they are aware of planned protests at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge as armed pro-Trump crowds are expected to gather at state capitol buildings across the nation. Lt. Nick Manale says the FBI reportedly issued a bulletin of planned protests leading up to the inauguration on January 20th. He says they will have additional security measures in place…

Cut 4 (11) “…peaceful gathering” 

The Louisiana Supreme Court has ordered all criminal and civil jury trials to be halted until March 1^st due to the pandemic. Last spring court proceedings were put on hold at the beginning of the pandemic. Loyola University Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the delay is not without repercussions.

Cut 12 (12) “…not settle.”