The Latest COVID-19 Information

Today's update from the LA Dept. of Health has the number of total cases for the State at 128,746, an increase of 1,601 cases since yesterday. These numbers list 748 cases for Vernon, 819 cases for Beauregard, 1,245 cases for Allen, 3,223 cases for Rapides, 6,752 cases for Calcasieu, 622 cases for Sabine, and 761 cases for Natchitoches Parish. The numbers show 4,089 deaths so far from COVID-19 in the State, with 27 from Vernon Parish and 17 from Beauregard Parish. 

In Louisiana, 89,083 cases are presumed recovered since their positive result. A person is presumed recovered if 1) it has been more than 14 days, since they tested positive and they are not currently in the hospital or deceased (when hospital status is known), or 2) it has been more than 21 days, since they tested positive and they are not deceased (when hospital status is unknown). 

Texas has reported a total of 467,485 cases with 51 case in Sabine County, 93 cases in Newton County, 304 cases in Jasper County, 1,369 cases in Orange County, and 5,771 cases in Jefferson County.

The Dept. of Health has gone to releasing their information once a day at the Noon hour. The number of cases per Parish is listed at the bottom of this page. The Louisiana Department of Health updates case numbers once a day online at LDH.Louisiana.gov/coronavirus.

Beginning Monday, July 13th masks are now mandated statewide for anyone 8 years of age or older. All bars in the State are also closed except for curbside pick-up (both those that serve food and those that do not). Indoor gatherings are also now limited to 50 people. This does not change the restrictions in place on occupancy limits from Phase 2. More information on Phase 2 is below. 

Gov. Edwards announced July 21st that LA will remain in Phase 2 for an additional 2 more weeks beginning July 24th due to the number of cases and related hospitalizations continuing to rise. Here is information on Phase 2:

Louisianans should wear face masks whenever they are in public, practice social distancing, wash their hands frequently and avoid going out in public when they are experiencing any symptoms.

Fort Polk is still in Phase 2 of the installation's reopening:

• gatherings of up to 50 will be allowed, gyms will increase from 25-50% occupancy, however they are still restricted to soldiers only.
• Soldier's travel radius has been increase to 100 miles
• Toledo Bend will open on Monday, the beach will remain closed.
• The Warrior Center will be open for ceremonies, limited to a 50 person headcount.
• Pools on post remain closed at this time.
• Religious services will increase capacity to 50%.
• ACP's will once again scan all id cards for those entering post.
• Platoon level PT will begin on Monday, however it will remain squad level for foot marches and runs.
• Masks are still required at all AAFES facilities

Free COVID-19 testing at sites sponsored by the federal government will end next week due to a limited number of tests left. Testing is available at Cajun Field at the University of Louisiana, the Lake Charles Civic Center and the Rapides Parish Exhibition Center in Alexandria. The final testing sites will be:  

Vernon Parish (8 AM to 11 AM): 

For more information 

Because of the critical need for healthcare workers, the State of Louisiana has created a volunteer website for students, graduates, or retirees of the health care profession. If you are qualified, willing and able to volunteer, please visit: covid-19lavolunteers.org

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that small businesses in all 64 Louisiana parishes will have access to federal Small Business Administration disaster aid in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza confirmed that Louisiana’s more than 440,000 small business are eligible to apply for low-interest federal disaster loans, which will be made available to eligible firms suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus. 

On April 15th, GOV. JOHN BEL EDWARDS SIGNED A PROCLAMATION CLOSING ALL K-12 LOUISIANA SCHOOLS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR. 

The Louisiana Dept. of Education has released some information for students who were supposed to be graduating High School this year on Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarships and recaps the various regulatory flexibilities granted by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), the Board of Regents, the Governor, and the U.S. Department of Education to make graduation and promotion possible during this extraordinary time. You can find this information online by clicking here. You can also visit the louisianabelieves.com website by clicking here.

There is a testing site at the Rapides Parish Coliseum parking lot Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 PM-3 PM. You must be symptomatic to receive a test. The CDC list of symptoms for COVID-19 include fever, coughing, difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, and a new loss of smell or taste.  

LOUISIANA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ON APRIL 4, 2020 WAS POSTPONED. The Presidential Preference Primary July 11th and the Municipal Primary election will be held August 15th. Louisiana's Emergency Election Plan has passed. You can read the details of the plan by clicking here.

Symptoms

For confirmed infections, reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms (similar to the common cold) to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
• Chills
• Repeated shaking with chills
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• New loss of taste or smell

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

Questions about Coronavirus?

If you have questions about Coronavirus, please contact the Coronavirus general information line at 1-855-523-2652 from 8 am – 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Cases by Parish: 

Caddo 6,610

Calcasieu 6,752

Caldwell 212

Cameron 167

Catahoula 280

Claiborne 251

Concordia 303

De Soto 710

East Baton Rouge 11,946

East Carroll 518

East Feliciana 567

Evangeline 861

Franklin 896

Grant 298

Iberia 2,450

Iberville 1,219

Jackson 368

Jefferson 15,103

Jefferson Davis 1,005

La Salle 283

Lafayette 7,468

Lafourche 2,759

Lincoln 766

Livingston 2,845

Madison 609

Morehouse 494

Natchitoches 761

Orleans 10,637

Ouachita 4,787

Parish Under Investigation 213

Plaquemines 451

Pointe Coupee 780

Rapides 3,223

Red River 212

Richland 586

Sabine 622

St. Bernard 1,091

St. Charles 1,442

St. Helena 258

St. James 693

St. John the Baptist 1,403

St. Landry 2,631

St. Martin 1,616

St. Mary 1,543

St. Tammany 5,086

Tangipahoa 3,397

Tensas 70

Terrebonne 2,986

Union 675

Vermilion 1,529

Vernon 748

Washington 1,247

Webster 868

West Baton Rouge 701

West Carroll 287

West Feliciana 345

Winn 413

Acadia 2,570

Allen 1,245

Ascension 2,798

Assumption 577

Avoyelles 1,021

Beauregard 819

Bienville 364

Bossier 2,311