The Latest COVID-19 Information

Today's update from the LA Dept. of Health has the number of total cases for the State at 120,846, an increase of 1,100 cases since yesterday. These numbers list 704 cases for Vernon, 789 cases for Beauregard, 1,156 cases for Allen, 3,068 cases for Rapides, 6,527 cases for Calcasieu, 535 cases for Sabine, and 691 cases for Natchitoches Parish. The numbers show 3,910 deaths so far from COVID-19 in the State, with 22 from Vernon Parish and 17 from Beauregard Parish. 

In Louisiana, 74,246 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 430,485 cases with 44 case in Sabine County, 86 cases in Newton County, 291 cases in Jasper County, 1,021 cases in Orange County, and 5,491 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

The Louisiana Department of Health will be offering free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing in Beauregard Parish and Vernon Parish: 

Vernon Parish (8 AM to 11 AM): 

Beauregard Parish Schedule (8 AM to 4 PM): 

• July 29th: BeauCare on High School Dr., DeRidder
• Aug. 5th: BeauCare on High School Dr., DeRidder

Allen Parish Schedule (8 AM to 4 PM)

• July 27th: Kinder Fire Dept. 808 2nd Ave., Kinder
• Aug. 3rd: Kinder Fire Dept. 808 2nd Ave., Kinder

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 6,299

Calcasieu 6,527

Caldwell 200

Cameron 167

Catahoula 264

Claiborne 221

Concordia 287

De Soto 662

Acadia 2,403

Allen 1,156

Ascension 2,643

Assumption 555

Avoyelles 951

Beauregard 789

Bienville 353

Bossier 2,118

East Baton Rouge 11,263

East Carroll 501

East Feliciana 522

Evangeline 732

Franklin 839

Grant 282

Iberia 2,247

Iberville 1,152

Jackson 359

Jefferson 14,533

Jefferson Davis 963

La Salle 242

Lafayette 6,423

Lafourche 2,589

Lincoln 720

Livingston 2,680

Madison 566

Morehouse 443

Natchitoches 691

Orleans 10,426

Ouachita 4,509

Parish Under Investigation 11

Plaquemines 425

Pointe Coupee 739

Rapides 3,068

Red River 189

Richland 544

Sabine 535

St. Bernard 1,037

St. Charles 1,375

St. Helena 246

St. James 649

St. John the Baptist 1,355

St. Landry 2,226

St. Martin 1,519

St. Mary 1,445

St. Tammany 4,808

Tangipahoa 3,159

Tensas 65

Terrebonne 2,800

Union 623

Vermilion 1,378

Vernon 704

Washington 1,199

Webster 826

West Baton Rouge 661

West Carroll 259

West Feliciana 326

Winn 398