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OPELOUSAS — A person in St. Landry Parish has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Dr. Tina Stefanski with the Louisiana Department of Health announced the positive test during a news conference held Thursday morning at the St. Landry Economic Development office in Opelousas.
Details about the 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.

LAFAYETTE – Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis, Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) activated its Acadiana Disaster Response Fund.
Donations to the fund will deploy resources to community-based organizations on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak in the greater Acadiana Region.
The fund will be used to provide support for organizations such as nonprofit regional health organizations, government entities, nonprofit organizations, churches, and schools that work with people and communities that are affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
CFA will provide disaster response services at no charge thanks to our generous members and fund holders.
Donations of any amount can be made to the Acadiana Disaster Response Fund at www.cfacadiana.org/responsefund. People who have a Donor Advised Fund at CFA or elsewhere can donate by emailing donorservices@cfacadiana.org. Checks can be mailed to CFA, memo: Response Fund, 1035 Camellia Boulevard, Suite 100, Lafayette, LA 70508.
CFA will continue to host South Louisiana Giving Day (SOLA) on Thursday, May 7, a 24-hour online fundraiser for nonprofit organizations, churches, and schools.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have canceled their spring fundraising events. Donors can support their favorite participating organizations who were affected at www.solagivingday.org. Donors can schedule a donation today through Wednesday, May 6, or contribute during SOLA Giving Day on Thursday, May 7.
Registration to participate in SOLA Giving Day has been extended for nonprofit, organizations, and schools who wish to fundraise for a specific project, program, or initiative. The deadline to register is Friday, March 27. Organizations that are interested in learning more can visit www.solagivingday.org/about or email solagivingday@cfacadiana.org.
CFA is one of south Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organizations benefiting our region. Our core purpose is to build legacies and improve communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about.
Since its inception in 2000, CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $281 million and has made cumulative grants of more than $144 million. Learn more at www.cfacadiana.org. CFA is one of more than 750 community foundations in the U.S. Community Foundations are grantmaking public charities that are dedicated to improving the lives of people in a defined local geographic area.

BY DAVID JACOBS, THE CENTER SQUARE

Louisiana is entering a critical stretch in its efforts to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday.
“We have two weeks to minimize the spread of COVID-19,” he said.
While the fight against the outbreak and its impact will continue much longer, the next two weeks are critical to “flatten the curve” and avoid overwhelming health care providers, he said.
The Louisiana National Guard is helping to open three drive-through testing sites in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, hopefully by Friday. Edwards said state officials are awaiting testing kits and other supplies from the federal government.
A testing site in Baton Rouge that was opened this week only to shut down when it ran out of testing kits reportedly is operational again.
He said supplies and re-sources are limited and only people with COVID-19 symp-toms and a doctor’s referral should get tested. People who do not have a primary care provider to contact can call 211.
“As we flatten the curve, we have to ramp up our surge capacity to deliver health care,” Edwards said.
The Louisiana Department of Health is working to identify health care workers who are available to treat the sick, as well as temporary facilities that with minor renovations can house pa-tients. The “staffing surge” will be more of a challenge than the “bed surge,” Ed-wards said.
All eviction and foreclosure proceedings are suspended, Edwards said, adding that people should still continue to make their rent or mortgage payments. Unemployment benefits are available for people who are temporarily out of work, though the Louisiana Workforce Commission’s website has crashed multiple times as an unprecedented number of people apply at once.
Edwards also has closed bars, theaters and fitness facilities, limited restaurants to delivery and carryout only, and banned gatherings of 50 or more people in the same room, among other restrictions.
Attorney General Jeff Landry, making a rare joint appearance with Edwards, said the governor’s actions appear to fall within his legal authority to combat a public health crisis.
Landry said his staff is re-viewing relevant statutes to ensure the government’s “emergency powers” are “within reach in order to protect the public.”
“We may need to make adjustments to make sure we stay within the law and the constitution,” Landry added.
Edwards and Landry usu-ally are political enemies. On Wednesday, Landry endorsed the governor’s actions and urged people to respect the various restrictions.
“There are much more drastic measures that could be taken,” Landry said, without giving examples. “[Edwards] is acting with restraint and consideration of individual liberty and freedoms, and I appreciate that.”
Landry said his office is investigating about 51 allegations of price-gouging. He also urged the public to be wary of scams and to not share sensitive information over the internet unless they initiated the contact.
Wednesday’s press confer-ence also included LSU head football coach Ed Orgeron, who is part of the state’s campaign to spread awareness about safety measures.
“Have faith in the game plan,” he said. “We’re going to get through this.”
Louisiana had 257 reported coronavirus infections as of mid-day Wednesday. Seven people had died, all from the greater New Orleans area.
The number of positive tests for the virus is likely to spike dramatically over the next day or so as more than 1,000 test results are reported all at once, Edwards said.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, coughing and trouble breathing. Most people who have it develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually the elderly and those with other medical complications, develop more severe symp-toms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal.

PINEVILLE – Last Friday, Cleco announced the activation of its Pandemic Response Plan and the practice of “social distancing.”
The company’s social distancing efforts include the closure of all Cleco offices, including its corporate headquarters building in Pineville, to the public with non-critical administrative employees working remotely from home. Employees critical to operations will continue to work as usual while practicing proper hygiene and social distancing.
These are just a few of the company’s ongoing efforts to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the coronavirus, and still meet customers’ power needs.
“Companywide, Cleco currently has no reported nor any confirmed coronavirus cases. However, our priority is the safety of our employees, customers and communities. By practicing social distancing, we believe that we are doing our part to protect our employees, prevent the spread of the coronavirus in our workplace and minimize the potential outbreak from overwhelming our hospitals,” said Bill Fontenot, president and CEO. “At the same time, these steps will help ensure we continue delivering safe and reliable power to our customers during this critical time.”
Cleco is enforcing the following safety measures effective immediately and until further notice:
• All Cleco customer service offices are temporarily closed
• Temporary suspension of electric service disconnects and late fees
• All Cleco locations, including the company’s corporate headquarters in Pineville, are closed to the public
• Cleco personnel who are unable to do their jobs from home, such as line mechanics and power plant workers, continue to work and are being closely monitored
• All non-critical travel for Cleco business is prohibited (air travel banned)
• Encouraging employees to practice social distancing and refrain from in-person gatherings of more than 10 people
• All company meetings are being held virtually or via phone
“We recognize this is an evolving situation and an uncertain time for our customers and employees,” said Fontenot. “As such, we will continue to evaluate our response and make the necessary adjustments as more information becomes available from local, state and federal agencies.”
For the most up-to-date information, visit www.cleco.com.