2 positive coronavirus tests in St. Landry Parish

Image
Body

A news conference announced the first person in St. Landry Parish had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
That was Thursday morning. By the afternoon a second person in the parish had tested positive for the virus.
Dr. Tina Stefanski with the Louisiana Department of Health announced the positive test at the news conference held in the St. Landry Economic Development office in Opelousas.
Details about the first person who tested positive were not released.
“I just want to say that St. Ladnry Parish has been preparing. This is not unexpected. We expect more cases not only in this parish, but throughout Acaidana especially as we have hundreds of commercial lab tests that are outstanding,” she siad.
“Nothing has changed today. Again, we expect the number to increase statewide and nationally. I can assure you this individual has been extremely responsible. Has been following isolation precautions and I have not concerns regarding that,” Stefanski said.
Also at the news conference, Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said his office would enforce the provisions of Gov. John Bel Edwards proclamation, particularly about closing down bars.
The sheriff said he is in the process of contacting a bar owner in east St. Landry Parish that reportedly has stayed open.
“I can assure you he will close The proper action will be taken if he refuses. I’m told that his comments were that Congress said that they can stay open. He must have read Facebook or something,” Guidroz said.
“Congress doesn’t run this show in St. Landry Parish. So, we’re going to insist that they follow the governor’s proclamation. It is for all four good,” he said.
Also on Thursday, Gov. John Bel Edwards said, new models show Louisiana’s COVID-19 cases could overwhelm the state’s capacity to care for those patients within seven to 10 days without more support from the federal government,
He said the “worst-case scenario” can be avoided if residents follow state and federal guidelines to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, including avoiding large groups, staying home as much as possible and practicing social distancing when they interact with others.
“Our trajectory is basically the same as what they had in Italy,” Edwards said.
Italy’s COVID-19 death toll exceeds 3,400, and health care providers are being forced to choose which patients will receive intensive care based on their survival chances, according to published reports.
Edwards has granted a request from state education officials to suspend testing and school accountability measures for the current school year. His declaration only goes into effect if federal regulators grant the state a waiver, which the governor says he expects will happen.
Requests for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in Louisiana have tripled, Department of Children and Family Services Secretary Marketa Walters said. Federal legislation may expand eligibility, and the state has applied for waivers to loosen some restrictions, she said.
As of mid-day Thursday, the Louisiana Workforce Commission had received 30,000 new requests for unemployment benefits this week, said LWC Secretary Ava Dejoie, compared to 1,700 new claims all of last week. While the LWC has moved staff to its call center to deal with the surge of requests, she recommends applying online late at night or early in the morning.

Tags