The state now has just over 17,000 COVID-19 cases, and a total of 652 fatalities. State health officials are encouraged to see the number of COVID-19 patients who require ventilation has gone down, four days in a row. Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health Alex Billioux says we are seeing now the results of public behaviors that started two weeks ago and while the trend is promising…
Cut 5 (10)  “…we have already.”
490 COVID-19 patients are on ventilators today, down from 519 yesterday.
A Louisiana Oil and Gas Association survey projects more than 23-thousand jobs in the industry are at immediate risk. Association President Gifford Briggs calls for the suspension of state severance tax collections for one year, oil and gas storage capacity expanded and legislation to end government-led coastal lawsuits
Cut 14 (08) “…or investment”

Drivers are staying home, and that’s saving auto insurance companies a lot of money. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon spoke with Matt Doyle about getting those saving passed on to customers…

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

Nationwide the curve of new coronavirus infections appears to be flattening as the seeds of state-led efforts to implement social distancing appear to be bearing fruit. In Louisiana yesterday we saw our largest single-day reported death total, but new hospitalizations were down and ventilator use was down.

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association projects over 23-thousand jobs are at immediate risk if oil prices remain low and no immediate action from federal and state governments…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The Democratic Primary is now basically over as Senator Bernie Sanders drops out.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says he expects other car insurers in Louisiana to follow Allstate’s lead and offer rebates to customers for premiums paid during the stay at home order. Allstate is paying back customers in the state 13 million dollars in rebates. Donelon says it’s because the company is saving a lot of money right now.

Cut 6, 10 seconds, America

Donelon says the company is paying back roughly 600 million dollars to policyholders in the US.

State health officials are encouraged to see the number of COVID-19 patients who require ventilation is no longer increasing. Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health Alex Billioux highlights the efforts of the public in social distancing and uptick in good hygiene habits as a major contributing factor.

Cut 4 (08)_ “…next coming days.”

We’ll see if those numbers hold today at the 12 PM update.

A Louisiana Oil and Gas Association survey projects more than 23-thousand jobs in the industry are at immediate risk. LOGA President Gifford Briggs says there are over 33-thousand oil and gas wells operating in the state and half of those could be shut-in. He says prices need to recover to about 40-dollars a barrel for oil by June first… or there will be massive job losses…
Cut 13 (08) “…global economy”
The price of oil has dropped 66-percent since January first.
State health officials are encouraged to see the number of COVID-19 patients who require ventilation is no longer increasing. Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health Alex Billioux credits I-C-U doctors who are learning better methods in treating the virus
Cut 3 (10)  “…Bi-pap”  
A Bipap pushes air into a person’s lungs and works much like a C-Pap machine.

Concern about transmitting COVID-19 from humans to pets has grown.  State public health veterinarian Dr. Gary Balsamo says it’s a rare occurrence, but sometimes animals can get sick from exposure.
Cut 4 (09)_ “…the animal directly.”

A tiger in the Bronx Zoo has tested positive for the virus over the weekend.
Questions still remain about how the remainder of the school year will be handled, but much of the determination is left in the hands of each district.  Executive Director for the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents Michael Faulk says rural broadband availability has been a hurdle for some districts, so they have resorted to other methods of getting educational content to students.
Cut 11 (12) “…students the packets.”

Governor Edwards says new data appears to show the state’s stay at home order is working to flatten the curve, but now is no time for residents to get complacent…
Cut 2 (31) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The state reported an additional 70-deaths yesterday, bringing the overall total to 582. St. John, Orleans, St. Charles, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. James, West Baton Rouge, and Iberville are among the parishes with some of the highest death rates in the nation.

A Louisiana Oil and Gas Association survey projects more than 23-thousand jobs in the industry are at immediate risk. LOGA President Gifford Briggs says the coronavirus pandemic and an oil glut has dropped the price of oil 66-percent since January first…
cut 12 (10) “…through the industry”
Briggs says there are over 33-thousand oil and gas wells operating in the state and half of those could be shut-in.

A tiger in the Bronx zoo has tested positive COVID-19, so is it possible for your pet to get coronavirus? State public health veternian Doctor Gary Balsamo says it’s unlikely, but there are some steps you should follow to reduce the risk of pets becoming ill from exposure…
cut 6 (08) “….a lot”

There are over 16-thousand positive cases of coronavirus in Louisiana and an additional 70 deaths were reported yesterday to bring the death toll to 582. But Governor John Bel Edwards says there are signs the state is flattening the curve and credits aggressive testing…
cut 9 (08) “….75-thousand tests”
But Louisiana has ten parishes listed among the top 25 U-S counties with the highest per-capita death rate. St. John the Baptist leads the nation.

Louisiana was the first state to implement a digital driver’s license and now Louisiana is the first state that allows you to renew your driver’s license and IDs through L-A Wallet. Envoc President Calvin Fabre developed this technology and says now is a good time to try the app, especially since it’s free and OMV offices are closed…
cut 15 (05) “…right now”

Could your pets get sick from COVID-19 exposure? Brooke Thorington has the details.
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Brooke Thorington.”

A 28-year-old man wanted for questioning in connection with the fatal shooting of his 26-year-old girlfriend was fatally shot in a shootout with law enforcement in Caddo Parish. Authorities say three State Police troopers and a sheriff’s deputy were involved in the gunfight after Derek Swanson left a home he broke into yesterday afternoon. His girlfriend, Taylor Baskins, was fatally shot multiple times on Friday.

It’s been just over two weeks since the state’s stay at home order was implemented and Governor Edwards says they are seeing signs that the curve in the number of cases is starting to flatten. Edwards says another encouraging sign is that fewer patients are needing a ventilator…
Cut 7 (13) “earlier”
Edwards says the New Orleans region is no longer projected to run out of ventilator capacity or hospital beds in the next two weeks.

Some pet owners are concerned that they can get COVID-19 from their four-legged friend. But State public health veterinarian Doctor Gary Balsamo says the virus survives best on smooth surfaces, so it is a relatively low threat for animals to carry the virus in their fur…
cut 5 (09) “….porous surfaces”

Questions still remain about how the remainder of the school year will be handled, but much of the determination is left in the hands of each district. Executive Director for the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents Michael Faulk says some districts are making the effort to engage students through technology.
Cut 10 (13) “…the state standards.”
Faulk says some rural school districts are having bus drivers bring classwork to students as they drive their regular routes.

You can now renew your driver’s license through the LA Wallet app, Louisiana’s digital driver’s license. The app was designed by Envoc and President Calvin Fabre (fay-bree) says the next time you log into the app you’ll notice a new button that says “check for renewal” that checks your renewal eligibility.
Cut 13 (07) “…address.”
But the digital version will be updated in less than 24 hours.

Governor John Bel Edwards says they continue to see signs that the stay-at-home order is paying off, but he says now is not the time to start slacking on social distancing or spending a lot of time in public settings…
cut 8 (12) “…we were”
Tuesday saw the state’s highest reported one-day increase in deaths at 70, but Edwards says ventilator use is down and the number of new hospitalizations is slowing.

O-M-V locations remain closed due to COVID-19 precautions, but you can renew your driver’s license through the L-A Wallet App. Envoc President Calin Fabre (fay-bree) developed the technology and says if you renew through the app, you’ll have an up to date license available for use in less than a day…
cut 14 (07) “….license”

Schools are doing their best to keep students engaged while outside of the classroom setting. Kevin Barnhart has that story.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Kevin Barnhart.”

The LHSAA executive committee holds its spring meeting today. Executive Director Eddie Bonine holds out hope that spring sports can resume, but that’s dependant on the governor lifting the stay at home order.

70 percent of the people in Louisiana who have died from COVID-19 were African Americans, a group that only makes up a third of the population. LSU Health New Orleans Professor of Public Health Dr. Jim Diaz says relative to other groups African Americans are underinsured.

Cut 8 (10) “…health insurance.”

A survey from Public Policy Polling shows 68 percent of Louisianans approve of Governor Edwards’ handling of the coronavirus crisis. When asked if Governor Edwards or President Trump is doing a better job Edwards lead 46-41 percent.  UL Lafayette Poli Sci Professor Pearson Cross says that’s because the question led to a generic partisan split.

Cut 14 (09) “…support”

Landlords are not legally allowed to evict you in April due to Governor John Bel Edwards’ stay at home order.  A landlord might threaten to call police to have a tenant removed, but Staff attorney at Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Hannah Adams says that is not within police jurisdiction.

Cut 4 (11)_ “…they can handle.”

Allstate says auto insurance policyholders will see a rebate on their April and May premiums due to the lack of driving during the coronavirus pandemic. Real Reform Louisiana, Executive Director Eric Holl says tech companies are showing data that driving is down an average of 55-percent across the state and in some of the more populated areas like New Orleans driving is down as much as 75-percent, Holl says fewer cars means fewer accidents.

Cut 10 (12) “…go down”