Hospitals are prepping to endure a wave of COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks as the peak of the epidemic in Louisiana appears just around the corner. Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says many of those who get sick in the coming days will have to go to the hospital, and many will need to go to the ICU. 85-percent of their COVID patients in the ICU are on ventilators. He believes they are in a decent position when it comes to personal protective equipment

Cut  4 (12)_ “…world.”

Per the last update yesterday at noon 490 Louisianans with COVID are on ventilators.

A nurse at New Orleans East Hospital becomes the state’s first healthcare worker to die after testing positive for COVID-19.  Larrice Anderson passed away on Wednesday.  Executive Director of the Louisiana State Nurse’s Association Thea Ducrow says the death sends a shockwave through the nursing community.

Cut 6 (13) “…what can happen.”

Governor Edwards warns the noon update in total positive COVID-19 cases totals is likely to be jarring for many, and numbers will far exceed what we have seen so far from any day to day updates. He cautions that the jump in cases is not necessarily a reflection of the current situation, but a clearing of a substantial log jam of cases that have built up in private labs over the past week or more.

Over the next three weeks, the IRS will drop money from the $2.2 trillion emergency relief bill into the bank accounts of Americans. Kevin Barnhart has the story.

Cut 2 (33) “…Kevin Barnhart ” 

Governor John Bel Edwards told a New Orleans radio station this morning that we’ll see another large spike in cases when new numbers come out at noon. As of this morning, the state is reporting 62-hundred positive cases and 273 deaths. He says people should prepare themselves mentally that it will be a long time before we’re back to normal, based on what they’re seeing in other countries…
cut 14 (08) “…here”

Ochsner Health chief Warner Thomas says they continue to increase the number of intensive care beds to keep up with the surge in COVID-19 patients. Thomas says adding to the strain is that COVID-19 patients spend over a week in the I-C-U…
cut 3 (12) “….12 to 14 days’
Thomas says 85-percent of their COVID patients in the ICU are on ventilators.

The U-S Treasury secretary says Social Security recipients will automatically receive a stimulus payment, even if they are not required to file a tax return, so they don’t need to take action. Senior tax manager at Hannis T Bourgeois, Brad Tate, says if you believe the I-R-S has outdated info of where to send your money, be on the lookout for an I-R-S media blitz…
cut 9 (12) “…quicker”

State Wildlife and Fisheries spokesperson Renee LeBreton says social media posts that claim you can’t fish or hunt as a result of the governor’s stay at home order is fake news. In fact, LeBreton says now is great time to take up fishing as a hobby in this time of social distancing…
cut 11 (09) “…offer”

Governor Edwards warns Louisianans to start mentally preparing for a traumatic month ahead due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Matt Doyle has the story.
Cut 3 (46) “…I’m Matt Doyle”

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning folks not to fall for fake news about bans on fishing or other outdoor activities during the coronavirus shutdown. LDWF spokesperson Renee LeBreton says outside of the seizure of three state parks as isolation areas for COVID patients, nothing has changed when it comes to what you can do outdoors.
Cut 10 (11) “…fake.”
LeBreton says LDWF is encouraging people to explore nature, by fishing or hunting during this time of social distancing.

Since restaurants have reduced their seafood purchases the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant are helping fishermen find alternative buyers. It’s through a website called Louisiana-Direct-Seafood-dot-com. AgCenter coastal agent Rusty Gaude says consumers can go to that website and purchase fresh seafood during this uncertain time for fishermen…
cut 6 (06) “….this hard time”

Louisiana is reporting 6,424 coronavirus cases and 273 deaths. Current projections have the New Orleans region running out of ventilators by April 6th. Governor John Bel Edwards says after that date new patients who need one will be put on non-ICU standard equipment.
Cut 15 (11)“…ventilator”
Nearly 15-hundred COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized and 490 of those require ventilation.

The federal government will send economic stimulus payments to most Americans over the next few weeks. Senior tax manager at Hannis T- Bourgeois Brad Tate says the I-R-S will use the most recent info on file to get recipients their money….
cut 8 (11) “…into your bank account”
The I-R-S says people who typically do not file a return will need to file a simple tax return to receive an economic impact payment.

The Louisiana Direct Seafood marketing program is helping fishermen sell their catch at a time when they’ve lost revenue from restaurants. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 1 (32) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”

Court records show LSU Football Coach Ed Orgeron filed for divorce from his wife Kelly on February 26th after 23 years of marriage. In the filing, Coach O says he’ll live at the former couple’s home in Baton Rouge, while Kelly has been granted exclusive use and occupancy of their Mandeville home.

150 ventilators have arrived from the federal government, but the New Orleans region is still projected to run out of the equipment early next week. Governor John Bel Edwards says once they run out of ventilators, they will try to assist patients with breathing machines that are normally not used in intensive care units…
cut 16 (11) “….need them”
273 people have died from COVID-19 in Louisiana nearly 200 of those fatalities are from the Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. St. John the Baptist Parish is reporting 13 deaths.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says social media posts that say fishing or other outdoor activities have been banned is fake news. L-D-W-F spokesperson Renee LeBreton urges the public to trust state government to tell you what is and is not allowed right now…
cut 12 (08) “…there”

The Treasury Department and IRS announce the distribution of the economic impact payments will be sent out in the next three weeks. Senior tax manager at Hannis T. Bourgeois Brad Tate says an income of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for married couples will be the dividing line between getting a full $1,200 or a smaller payment.
Cut 7 (09) “…married filing jointly.”
The I-R-S says Social Security recipients who do not normally send in a tax return will have to file a “simple” tax return, which will be available soon.

A website called Louisiana-Direct-Seafood-Dot-com is trying to help fishermen sell their harvest as sales are down. LSU AgCenter coastal agent Rusty Gaude says the website posts from harvesters detail on what they’ve caught, prioritizing the post order by the freshest catch…
cut 5 (09) “….messages get buried”

Governor Edwards paints a grim picture of just how long, and how severe the coronavirus epidemic could get in Louisiana as the nation braces for an estimated 100,000-240,000 COVID deaths. The governor plans to keep the state’s stay at home order through April 30th, but Edwards says life will not return to normal for a long time.
Cut 13 (09) “…vaccine”
Louisiana saw another big jump in deaths and coronavirus cases yesterday with 34 more fatalities and 11-hundred more positive cases. The total death toll is up to 273.

Louisiana has lost its first healthcare worker to the virus. Larrice Anderson worked as a nurse at New Orleans East Hospital. She passed away after testing positive for COVID-19.

The IRS will soon allocate money from the $2.2 trillion emergency relief bill into the bank accounts of Americans…
Cut 2 (33) “…Kevin Barnhart ”

If you are looking to purchase a large amount of seafood, you can do so directly from a fishermen by using to Louisiana-Direct-Seafood-dot-com. LSU AgCenter coastal agent Rusty Gaude (GO-TAY)…
cut 4 (11) “….with that catch”

The reported death toll has risen by 34 from COVID-19 in Louisiana, down from yesterday’s high of 54, but still one of the highest days on record. We’re now over 6,400 confirmed state cases with 1,500 hospitalizations for COVID-19. The state’s total reported fatalities: 273.

The oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia and the coronavirus pandemic has brought the state’s oil and gas industry to its knees. Jeff Palermo has the story…

Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Jeff Palermo” 

The New Orleans region is now projected to run out of ventilators for COVID-19 patients on April 6th, and the state is scrambling to try and secure more. When you combine requests to the feds and private companies, Louisiana has requested 14,000 ventilators total, but Edwards says that doesn’t mean 14,000 people are projected to need them.
Cut 11 (11) “…time.”
490 COVID-19 patients are on ventilators in Louisiana as of the noon update.
LSU’s DeepDrug team is using artificial intelligence to analyze anti-viral drugs or drug combinations that could be used to treat COVID-19 patients. LSU Computer Science Professor Supratik Mukhopadhyay (Moo-co-pod-a) says drugs like hydroxychloroquine appear promising, but cardiac patients shouldn’t take the anti-malarial…

Cut 12 (07) “…patients”

The New Orleans region is now projected to run out of ventilators for COVID-19 patients on April 6th. The state received 150 ventilators from the feds today, but that number has already been factored into models warning of a shortage this weekend. Governor Edwards says at least…
Cut 10 (09) “…ICU”
490 COVID-19 patients are on ventilators in Louisiana as of the noon update.
LSU’s DeepDrug team is using artificial intelligence to analyze anti-viral drugs, or drug combinations that could be used to treat COVID-19 patients. Once the ten to fifteen possibilities are discovered, LSU Computer Science Professor Supratik Mukhopadhyay (Moo-co-pod-a) says LSU will move to test them in more traditional clinical and lab settings.
Cut 14 (08) “…week”
DeepDrug is a current semifinalist for the IBM Watson AI X-PRIZE.

Baton Rouge Congressman Garret Graves is encouraging small businesses to get a jump on filling out applications for the Payroll Protection Act. Small businesses can apply to receive low-interest loans, with money that is used for payroll being forgiven. Graves says the funding is not intended to float the payrolls of small businesses for the rest of the year.

Cut 5 (08)  “…4 month period.”

The program is part of the $2.2 trillion emergency relief legislation.

As oil prices continue to drop the outlook for Louisiana workers in the industry continues to look bleak. Oil is trading in the low twenties and President of the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association Gifford Briggs says the situation is dire and two weeks ago when he surveyed members the predictions were extreme.

Cut 6 (11) “…90 days.”