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Is curve flattening?

Testing remains an issue

East Baton Rouge Parish is Louisiana's most populated parish. U.S. 2020 Census estimates rank EBR in 1st place with 440,000 residents.

Jefferson Parish is next and then Orleans.

But in nearly four weeks, EBR is still being tested 75% less than Orleans, though the ratios of tests-to-positive cases are about the same.

In Orleans, Louisiana's COVID epicenter, 25% of those tested have the virus. In EBR, 17% test positive but the testing rate is only one-fourth that of Orleans.

In Caddo, the 2nd most tested parish, only 6% test positive. So why is the state's Capital City so far behind in testing

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Abbeville Police release name of person who died in shooting

The Abbeville Police Department has released the name of the person who was shot and killed on April. 2.
The person who was shot and died was Emmit Perry of Abbeville. Perry was 73 years old.
The Abbeville Police Department did not release the information of who, how or why Perry was shot.
On Thursday, April 2nd a shooting happened at approximately 5:32 p.m., and officers responded to a “shots fired” call at the 300 block of Dutel Street in Abbeville. Officers quickly determined that two subjects had been shot. One of the victims was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The other victim died as a result of the shooting.
On Tuesday, the other person, who was shot, is said to be recovering from the gun shot wound.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no one has been arrested in regard to the two shootings.
Abbeville Chief of Police William Spearman would also like to remind all of the citizens that the Abbeville Police Department is there, 24 hours a day, to serve you. The APD is encouraging all of the citizens to stay vigilant and to contact the APD if they need. In addition to dialing 911, you can contact the APD at 893-2511. You may contact the “Tips” line at 892-6777. All callers may remain anonymous. Citizens may also send anonymous tips through the Tip411 system at the department’s Facebook page @ www.facebook.com/AbbevillePolice Department/, the official web page @ www.abbevillepd.com by clicking on the “Submit a Tip” link provided or through the official Abbeville Police Department app, which can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

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Louisiana Department of Health COVID-19 Updates for April 8

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Health has extended its Emergency Order to align with the Governor’s Executive Order that has been extended to April 30. The LDH extension applies to all previously issued LDH Notices and Orders and shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2020, but may be further extended by subsequent order of the State Health Officer. Click here to see the order.
The Louisiana Department of Health has updated its website to reflect the latest number of COVID-19 positives and will continue to update its website at noon each day.
As of noon on April 8, the Department reported 746 additional cases since yesterday, bringing the total to 17,030 positive cases.
To receive critical guidance about COVID-19, text LACOVID to 67283.

Hospitalization

Today, a total of 1,983 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized; of those, 490 patients require ventilation.
Information on available hospital beds, ICU beds and hospital vents is on the LDH dashboard.

Deaths

The Department reports an additional 70 deaths since yesterday, bringing the total to 652 deaths. Deaths are listed on the LDH dashboard by parish under the by parish tab and information by age can be found on the by age tab.
Yesterday, additional information was added to the LDH website to share a breakdown of deaths by race and underlying conditions by percentage.

Long-term care facilities

COVID-19 cases have been reported by 93 nursing homes in Louisiana. For context, there are a total of 436 nursing homes and adult residential care facilities in Louisiana. Within nursing homes, 557 patients have been reported to have COVID-19; among nursing home residents 130 deaths have been reported. These facilities care for thousands of Louisianans, including older people and those with underlying medical conditions that put them at higher risk for complications and death from COVID-19.
In many cases, a nursing home resident is tested and diagnosed with COVID-19 by a provider outside of the long-term care facility. The facilities have begun self-reporting positive cases to the Department of Health. Due to the volume, the Department is no longer listing individual facilities. The Department continues to work with facilities to minimize the spread of the illness and protect residents and staff. Facilities have been given guidance to minimize the spread of illness.
The Department will update the number of nursing homes with COVID-19 cases, the number of nursing home residents who are confirmed to have COVID-19 and the number of deaths among these residents on Mondays and Wednesdays.

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Louisiana leads U.S. in COVID testing; Tests administered unevenly

BY LEO HONEYCUTT

BATON ROUGE – While Louisiana’s COVID-19 case count appears to be leveling off, Governor John Bel Edwards Tuesday warned of taking slightly better numbers to mean infection rates are diminishing. The Louisiana Department of Health posted 1,417 additional Coronavirus cases since Monday, 400 less than the 1,857 new cases posted the day before.
“We are seeing early signs that the curve is starting to flatten, though we can’t say that in all confidence,” Edwards admitted in the daily press conference at his Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness miles east of the Capitol. “What this means is, we have to continue to do the things that have caused the slowing of the spread, and that’s the mitigation measures, the stay-at-home order. You want to see our numbers spike, you stop those mitigation measures, and I promise you they will be right back up there. This week is still going to be difficult and next week will be difficult.”
Most distressing, Louisiana COVID-19 deaths continue unabated. From Monday to Tuesday, 70 more Louisianans died, the largest single one-day jump. That brings the state total to 582 deaths out of 16,284 confirmed cases of the virus. Private and state laboratories have completed 74,655 tests.
“We have ramped up testing and we are now Number One in the country in per capita testing,” the governor added. “But we’re not satisfied with that. In fact, we want a lot more testing and a lot more testing in rural areas especially.”
Of the state’s 75,000 administered tests, Orleans Parish commands the lion’s share of 20,000. Of those, 5,000 New Orleaneans have tested positive so far. In northwest Louisiana, diagonally farthest from Orleans, Caddo Parish is the next most tested area with just over 12,000 residents swabbed for the virus, resulting in almost 800 COVID cases. Next, but far down the list in testing, is East Baton Rouge where just over 5,000 citizens have been tested, resulting in over 900 confirmed infections. Three weeks into testing for Coronavirus, Louisiana’s capitol city has been tested at half the rate of Shreveport-Bossier and only 25 percent of that in New Orleans.
“Orleans, unfortunately, was at the forefront of this outbreak,” explains Dr. Alex Billioux, Assistant Secretary of Public Health at Louisiana’s Department of Health. “We consolidated two FEMA sites in New Orleans, put most of our resources there, and we just have more hospitals and healthcare resources in the greater New Orleans area that are doing in-house testing. We’re, looking at how we reallocate resources to do more adequate testing across the state especially in rural areas. We want to make sure that wherever COVID is, we’re seeing it, identifying it, isolating it, and reducing the spread.”
Dr. Billioux, a graduate of Johns Hopkins, says a problem in Baton Rouge has been the bottleneck in administering the tests and confirming results.
“There’s a challenge we’ve had nationally of the swabs that go in the nose,” Billioux says. “We’re looking at alternative swab types and using those. That would certainly increase our ability to test more and faster in the capital and in rural areas.”
The New Orleans population will nearly touch 400,000 in this year’s census, while Baton Rouge is expected to post 226,000 residents. Shreveport has 188,000. While Shreveport’s tests-to-positives ratio is 7 out of 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19, New Orleans is 25 out of 100. But Baton Rouge, in testing thus far, registers 17 out of 100, much closer to the Crescent City in positive results.

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Help our Community flatten the curve by staying home

During this time, it is critical for our community to join efforts to help flatten the curve of the spread of COVID-19 by staying home in the coming days and weeks.
According to Abbeville General Hospital CEO, Ray Landry, FACHE, “The virus is in the Vermilion Parish community and patients are presenting to Abbeville General. According to the Louisiana Office of Public Health website, as of Friday, April 3, noon, there are 18 cases and one death in Vermilion with 180 tested.
“Some of you may have the virus and are undiagnosed with no symptoms. With potential for spread of the virus, the community is well advised to stay at home and remain physically distant as per orders by the President, Governor, and local authorities.”
Here is a letter written by the medical profession encouraging everyone to stay home.

“The AHA, AMA, and ANA are urging all Americans to Stay Home to combat this virus. We ask for all to stay informed with the guidelines provided in their open letter to the American public below:
Physicians, nurses and our entire medical community are urging all people to stay at home. We are honored to serve and put our lives on the front line to protect and save as many lives as possible. But we need your help.
Physical distancing and staying at home are the key to slowing the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to give physicians, nurses and everyone on the front lines a fighting chance at having the equipment, time and resources necessary to take on this immense challenge. Those contracting COVID-19 are your family, friends, and loved ones.
That’s why we’re urging the public to #StayHome as we reach the critical stages of our national response to COVID-19. Of course, those with urgent medical needs, including pregnant women, should seek care as needed. Everyone else should #StayHome.
Millions of you are already leading this effort – and we thank you. You’re still connecting with friends and loved ones through video chats, social media or just over the telephone - proving that meaningful social connections can happen at a safe distance. Millions more must join this effort, which is why we’re calling for all-hands-on-deck to confront this public health battle against COVID-19. Staying at home in this urgent moment is our best defense to turn the tide against COVID-19.
Physicians, nurses and health care workers are staying at work for you. Please stay at home for us.
Your partners in health,
American Hospital Association
American Medical Association
American Nurses Association

The Louisiana Office of Public Health website is updated daily at noon: www.ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus/
If we can all fight this together by staying home, we are optimistic that we can stop the spread of this virus and overcome this difficult time.

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Broussard and her team delivered bags to seniors on Saturday.

Councilwoman Broussard, team make bags for senior citizens

During this time when people are told to stay home to curb the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), stores remain open to allow for the purchase of essential items.
Unfortunately, not everyone can get out for those much-needed items, like cleaning supplies.
Abbeville Councilwoman Terry Broussard and her team have been working to make sure that the most vulnerable who live in District D are not going without.
“It was important that my team and I do something,” Broussard said. “I know that the kids are being taken care of because they are being fed by the school system.
“One morning I woke up with an idea.”
Broussard and “Team Terry” have gotten together in this time of uncertainty due to the Covid-19 pandemic to help the senior citizens in the community by putting together preparation bags for dissemination in the district. They are necessities that have been purchased from various businesses in the community by Councilwoman Terry Broussard and her Team along with citizens that wanted to donate.
“I’d like to extend a huge thank you to my Team,” Broussard, “I’m truly grateful for each of them.”
Broussard and members of her Team distributed the bags on Saturday. Gathering items to fill the bags took place during the course of the past couple of weeks. Bags included paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, wipes, water, snacks and toothpaste. “We went around to local stores to purchase the different items,” Broussard said. “We had three people who made financial donations to help purchase items. The rest we paid for ourselves.”
Broussard and her Team are always looking for ways to help the district and community. As far as she is concerned, the seniors being helped now are the ones who have done what Broussard and her Team are doing now.
“I know so many of them paved the way for our community,” Broussard said. “If they could today, they would be doing the same things to help others.”

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Some of the surgical masks made Dee Duhon of Abbeville.

‘I just love to help’: Duhon making, giving masks during COVID-19 pandemic

Many people are looking for ways to occupy an unprecedented amount of downtime.
Dee Duhon of Abbeville is using her time, and her abilities, to help others during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Duhon is sewing masks that she is giving to people who are continuing to work in essential businesses.
Duhon has created masks she has given to employees at B’s Wild Wings, members of the Kaplan Volunteer Fire Department and people at stores.
“I am giving them to anyone who needs them,” Duhon said. “I made one for a little girl I met at a store in Erath. Her mother asked if I could make her one. I had never made one for a child, but I made her one.”
Duhon is making masks for members of her family, too. Duhon estimates she has made around 25 since efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 ramped-up a couple of weeks ago.
“It doesn’t take me that long to make them,” Duhon said. “I made my own pattern.”
Now, Duhon’s drive to do this is simply following a pattern she has had all of her life.
“I just always want to help people,” Duhon said. “It broke my heart to see people who needed masks and didn’t have any. It’s a bad situation, and I had a lot of material.
“I will make masks for anyone who needs one.”
Duhon is abiding by Gov. John Bel Edwards’ stay-at-home-order, which has been extended through April 30, to help keep herself and her family members safe. Still, Duhon is ready for the day when things return to normal.
“I do listen to Mass every day,” Duhon said, “but I am ready to be able to go back to church.”
Making masks has been somewhat therapeutic. Ultimately, it’s about helping.
“I’m just trying to help any way that I can,” Duhon said. “I wish I could be at the hospital helping all of those people.
“I just love to help.”

Louisiana leads U.S. in COVID testing

Tests administered unevenly

While Louisiana’s COVID-19 case count appears to be leveling off, Governor John Bel Edwards Tuesday warned of taking slightly better numbers to mean infection rates are diminishing. The Louisiana Department of Health posted 1,417 additional Coronavirus cases since Monday, 400 less than the 1,857 new cases posted the day before.

“We are seeing early signs that the curve is starting to flatten, though we can’t say that in all confidence,” Edwards admitted in the daily press conference at his Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness miles east of the Capitol. “What this means is, we have to continue to do the things that have caused the slowing of the spread, and that’s the mitigation measures, the stay-at-home order. You want to see our numbers spike, you stop those mitigation measures, and I promise you they will be right back up there. This week is still going to be difficult and next week will be difficult.”

Most distressing, Louisiana COVID-19 deaths continue unabated. From Monday to Tuesday, 70 more Louisianans died, the largest single one-day jump. That brings the state total to 582 deaths out of 16,284 confirmed cases of the virus. Private and state laboratories have completed 74,655 tests.

“We have ramped up testing and we are now Number One in the country in per capita testing,” the governor added. “But we’re not satisfied with that. In fact, we want a lot more testing and a lot more testing in rural areas especially.”

Of the state’s 75,000 administered tests, Orleans Parish commands the lion’s share of 20,000. Of those, 5,000 New Orleaneans have tested positive so far. In northwest Louisiana, diagonally farthest from Orleans, Caddo Parish is the next most tested area with just over 12,000 residents swabbed for the virus, resulting in almost 800 COVID cases. Next, but far down the list in testing, is East Baton Rouge where just over 5,000 citizens have been tested, resulting in over 900 confirmed infections. Three weeks into testing for Coronavirus, Louisiana’s capitol city has been tested at half the rate of Shreveport-Bossier and only 25 percent of that in New Orleans.

“Orleans, unfortunately, was at the forefront of this outbreak,” explains Dr. Alex Billioux, Assistant Secretary of Public Health at Louisiana’s Department of Health. “We consolidated two FEMA sites in New Orleans, put most of our resources there, and we just have more hospitals and healthcare resources in the greater New Orleans area that are doing in-house testing. We’re, looking at how we reallocate resources to do more adequate testing across the state especially in rural areas. We want to make sure that wherever COVID is, we’re seeing it, identifying it, isolating it, and reducing the spread.”

Dr. Billioux, a graduate of Johns Hopkins, says a problem in Baton Rouge has been the bottleneck in administering the tests and confirming results.

“There’s a challenge we’ve had nationally of the swabs that go in the nose,” Billioux says. “We’re looking at alternative swab types and using those. That would certainly increase our ability to test more and faster in the capital and in rural areas.”

The New Orleans population will nearly touch 400,000 in this year’s census, while Baton Rouge is expected to post 226,000 residents. Shreveport has 188,000. While Shreveport’s tests-to-positives ratio is 7 out of 100 confirmed cases of COVID-19, New Orleans is 25 out of 100. But Baton Rouge, in testing thus far, registers 17 out of 100, much closer to the Crescent City in positive results.

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Louisiana Department of Health COVID-19 Updates for April 7

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Health has updated its website to reflect the latest number of COVID-19 positives and will continue to update its website at noon each day.
As of noon on April 7, the Department reported 1,417 additional cases since yesterday, bringing the total to 16,284 positive cases.

Hospitalization

Hospitalization information reported to the Department of Health yesterday was incomplete. 1,809 hospitalizations were reported yesterday but that number should have been 1,981 hospitalizations. The number of patients requiring ventilation yesterday should have been 552, which is lower than what was reported yesterday.
Today, a total of 1,996 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized; of those, 519 patients require ventilation.
Information on available hospital beds, ICU beds and hospital vents is on the LDH dashboard.
“Hospitals across the state continue to do incredible work to aggressively treat COVID-19 patients. Physicians are using innovative treatments and practices to minimize the time patients spend on ventilators and reduce the length of hospitalization for patients,” said Dr. Alex Billioux, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health. “We remain grateful for our health care heroes in every region of our state.”

Deaths

The Department reports an additional 70 deaths since yesterday, bringing the total to 582 deaths. Deaths are listed on the LDH dashboard by parish under the by parish tab and information by age can be found on the by age tab.
Yesterday, additional information was added to the LDH website to share a breakdown of deaths by race and underlying conditions by percentage.

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Louisiana Department of Health COVID-19 Updates for April 7

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Health has updated its website to reflect the latest number of COVID-19 positives and will continue to update its website at noon each day.
As of noon on April 7, the Department reported 1,417 additional cases since yesterday, bringing the total to 16,284 positive cases.

Hospitalization

Hospitalization information reported to the Department of Health yesterday was incomplete. 1,809 hospitalizations were reported yesterday but that number should have been 1,981 hospitalizations. The number of patients requiring ventilation yesterday should have been 552, which is lower than what was reported yesterday.
Today, a total of 1,996 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized; of those, 519 patients require ventilation.
Information on available hospital beds, ICU beds and hospital vents is on the LDH dashboard.
“Hospitals across the state continue to do incredible work to aggressively treat COVID-19 patients. Physicians are using innovative treatments and practices to minimize the time patients spend on ventilators and reduce the length of hospitalization for patients,” said Dr. Alex Billioux, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health. “We remain grateful for our health care heroes in every region of our state.”

Deaths

The Department reports an additional 70 deaths since yesterday, bringing the total to 582 deaths. Deaths are listed on the LDH dashboard by parish under the by parish tab and information by age can be found on the by age tab.
Yesterday, additional information was added to the LDH website to share a breakdown of deaths by race and underlying conditions by percentage.

Pages

Vermilion Today

Abbeville Meridional

318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022

The Kaplan Herald

219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548