The state is on a six-day streak of COVID hospitalization decreases, down today by 16 to 1,471. Nearly 1500 new cases were reported, bringing the state’s total to just shy of 126-thousand. 41 new fatalities.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture receives the state’s first reported case of a dog testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans.  Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the dog, like most animals that test positive for the virus, was not sick.
Cut 13 (09) “…it was tested .” 

Senator Bill Cassidy proposes a second round of stimulus checks that would send 1,000 dollars to most Americans, instead of the previous 1,200 to working adults and 500 to their children. It may be 200 dollars less for some people, but Cassidy says a grand would still go a long way.

Cut 4 (8)_ “is.”

The Colorado State Hurricane forecast team has revised its forecast and they are now calling for an extremely active season with 24 named storms. C-S-U researcher Jhordanne Jones says they also believe we’ll see a dozen hurricanes, five of them will be major hurricanes. 2005 set the record for most named storms in one year with 27 and that includes Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Jones says warm sea surface temperatures and very low wind shear in the tropical Atlantic are primary factors for the extremely active season…

Cut 7 (10) “…The Caribbean”

Senator Bill Cassidy proposes a second round of stimulus checks that would send 1,000 dollars to most Americans, instead of the previous 1,200 to working adults and 500 to their children. Cassidy says the people with the most pain right now are the ones with young children, and the next round of stimulus should reflect that.

Cut 3 (10)  “…childcare”  

The annual income limit to receive a check would still be 75,000 dollars for an individual and 150,000 for joint filers.

The Colorado State Hurricane forecast team has revised its forecast and they are now calling for an extremely active season with 24 named storms. C-S-U researcher Jhordanne Jones says they also believe we’ll see a dozen hurricanes, five of them will be major hurricanes

Cut 6 (10) “…active season”

A study published in the Lancet medical Journal shows 13-16 percent of all cancer patients who come down with COVID-19 will die within 30 days of their diagnosis. LSU Health Clinical Medicine Professor Suki Subbiah (Sue-Bye-uh) helped author the study and says there are likely a number of reasons why cancer patients are so much more vulnerable than the general population.

Cut 10 (09) “…they are”

Adjusting for male sex, former smoker status, age, and comorbidities further increased the death rate.

LSU fans are antsy to find out more about the fate of their upcoming All-SEC game season, and whether or not they’ll be able to watch any of those games in Tiger Stadium. Governor Edwards says it is too soon to try to speculate as to what in-stadium attendance for LSU football will look like for the upcoming season.

Cut 9 (11) “…you that today.”

Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the state is having some difficulties getting results from the COVID contact tracing program. He says the recent explosion in cases is making it tough to get to people in a timely manner. And…

Cut 4 (09)_ “…those people”

Another big issue they’ve had is that when they can get in contact with a confirmed COVID-positive person, most of them are not telling contact tracers who they may have infected.

Governor Edwards says further actions could be taken against Firehouse BBQ in Denham Springs.  The Livingston Parish restaurant remains open despite having its food permit revoked for blatant defiance of spread mitigation efforts including a lack of mask-wearing for customers and employees as well as social distancing.

Cut 7 (08) “…is just unacceptable..”

An LSU Health New Orleans oncologist helps author a study showing 13 to 16 percent of cancer patients with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will die within 30 days of diagnosis. LSU Health Clinical Medicine Professor Suki Subbiah (Sue-Bye-uh) suggests cancer doctors familiarize themselves with this data.

Cut 12 (10) “…too”

The state sees its first reported case of a dog testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 in humans.  Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the dog, like most animals that test positive for the virus, was not sick.Early in the pandemic, it was believed that pets could not contract the virus, but the CDC has now learned animals can be infected.
Cut 15 (09) “…and ten cats.” 
Strain says the dog was tested because its owner tested positive.

Governor John Bel Edwards says the statewide mask mandate, bar closures and other coronavirus business restrictions that are part of phase two will remain in effect for another three weeks through August 28th. Edwards says the state is seeing a positive impact from the mask mandate, but the White House still sees Louisiana in the red zone for cases.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture says the state has its first positive coronavirus case in a dog. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
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Assistant health secretary Doctor Alex Billioux says the state is facing hurdles with its contact tracing program. Billioux says labs are not giving them enough data to contact infected patients, a back log in testing is keeping them from contacting patients in a timely manner and 70-percent of the people they contact say they don’t have contacts to provide on who they may have infected. But Billioux still believes the program is providing useful information…
cut 6 (09) “….tracing”

LSU says its planning to have fans inside Tiger Stadium for football games this season, but how many people will be able to attend is unknown. Governor Edwards says it’s too soon to speculate as to what in-stadium attendance for LSU football will look like…
cut 9 (11) “….you that today”

A Baton Rouge judge is set to hear arguments today on whether Governor Edwards’ statewide mask mandate and restrictions on bars to slow the spread of the coronavirus are unconstitutional. Four Jefferson Parish residents are seeking to prohibit the governor from enforcing the regulations. Edwards says the mask mandate and bar restrictions are helping to reduce cases.

State hired contact tracers are having a tough time getting COVID patients to say who they may have infected….
cut 1 (29) “….I’m Matt Doyle”

An LSU Health New Orleans oncologist participates in a study that followed more than 900 cancer patients who also tested positive for COVID-19 and 13-percent of them died within 30 days of a diagnoses of COVID. Doctor Suki Subbiah says cancer patients and their doctors should take extra caution when assessing whether a patient needs to come in for treatment..
cut 11 (11) “….cancer”

Firehouse BBQ in Denham Springs continues to welcome customers inside their Livingston Parish restaurant, even though the state department of health has revoked its food permit because it’s not following the state’s mandate and social distancing guidelines. Edwards calls Firehouse BBQ’s defiance unacceptable and reminds businesses that the immunity from civil liability for contracting the coronavirus at private-sector establishments is not available for those who do not follow CDC guidelines…
cut 8 (070 “….a reckless manner”

An LSU Health New Orleans oncologist helps author a study that shows 13 percent of cancer patients with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will die within 30 days of diagnosis. LSU Health Clinical Medicine Professor Suki Subbiah (Sue-Bye-uh) says cancer patients are far more vulnerable to the virus.
Cut 10 (09) “…they are”

Louisiana has its first positive case of a dog testing positive for the coronavirus. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says dogs who have COVID can suffer from mild respiratory or gastrointestinal issues and the virus usually resolves quicker in dogs than with humans…
cut 14 (10) “…to a person”
Strain says the dog was tested because its owner tested positive.

Governor Edwards says further actions could be taken against Firehouse BBQ in Denham Springs. The Livingston Parish restaurant remains open despite having its food permit revoked for blatant defiance of spread mitigation efforts including a lack of mask-wearing for customers and employees as well as social distancing.
Cut 7 (08) “…is just unacceptable..”
The owners of the restaurant have called the governor’s mask mandate illegal.

The state health department is trying to make its contact tracing program more effective. Assistant Health Secretary Doctor Alex Billioux says many of the COVID-19 patients they are contacting, are not providing the names of people they may have infected through close contact…
cut 5 (12) “…or not”
To help their contact tracing efforts, Billioux says the state is planning on rolling out a contact tracing app for voluntary use.

Assistant Health Secretary Dr. Alex Billioux says the state is having some difficulties getting answers from its COVID contact tracing program. He says first off the recent explosion in cases is making it tough to get to people in a timely manner. And…
Cut 4 (09)_ “…those people”
And Billioux says when they can get in contact with a confirmed COVID-positive person, most of them are not telling tracers who they may have infected.

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture says the state has its first reported case of a dog testing positive for the coronavirus. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says the dog, like most animals that test positive for the virus, was not sick.
Cut 13 (09) “…it was tested .”
Strain is not providing details about the dog or where the owner lives.

A study of the Cancer Consortium Registry reveals patients with cancer who get COVID can be eight times more likely to die than the average person who contracts the disease. Matt Doyle has more.
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”