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BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Health reported on Tuesday evening three new presumptive positive cases of COVID-19, commonly referred to as coronavirus. All three are residents of Orleans Parish. Two are hospitalized in Orleans Parish; the third is hospitalized in St. Tammany Parish.
Gov. John Bel Edwards said, “Currently, we have a total of six presumptive positive cases of coronavirus in Louisiana. While we investigate these cases, we cannot disclose any additional information about these patients at this time.”
The presumptive positive tests will be sent to the CDC for final confirmation of COVID-19. Louisiana will move forward as if the tests are actual positives and take actions to contain the illness and assess the risk of spread.
Additional tests will be administered to determine if more people have been infected after the Department’s epidemiology team performs an investigation of close contacts.
At this time, there are a total of six known cases of the illness in the state. Gov. Edwards announced the state’s first presumptive positive case, a Jefferson Parish resident, on Monday, March 9, and two additional presumptive positive cases on Tuesday afternoon, both in Orleans Parish.
“At this point in our investigation we believe the first presumptive positive announced yesterday [Monday] is not travel-related and was community acquired,” said Dr. Alex Billioux, Assistant Secretary of the Office of Public Health.

Louisiana ramps up testing

This comes as the state has increased testing for the virus.
In the five days since receiving more test kits from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, LDH has tested more than seven times as many people for the virus.
With 43 tests of Persons Under Investigation (PUI) now completed, only six have been identified as presumptive positive in Louisiana. This compares to five completed tests as of Friday, March 6.
Health officials expected that increased testing for COVID-19 would lead to confirmation of additional cases in the state.
LDH is following the CDC’s guidance and testing three groups of people – those who have traveled to certain areas and have symptoms, those who have had close contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19 and have symptoms, and people with an unexplained acute respiratory illness.
The recent testing by the state laboratory run by LDH’s Office of Public Health includes samples from people who went to their doctor or to a hospital and had symptoms consistent with COVID-19, cough, headache, or lower respiratory illness. Some patients had recently traveled to a geographic area with known COVID-19 activity, while others did not have such a travel history.
In other instances, OPH is using the tests for surveillance purposes. This is done using existing disease surveillance infrastructure that includes several hospitals and clinics throughout Louisiana. For COVID-19 surveillance, when patients are treated for respiratory illnesses, but are not diagnosed with influenza, swabbed samples are sent to the State public health lab where the COVID-19 test is done. Following CDC guidance, a sampling of cases from each site are sent the lab. This is a proven and effective system for the early detection of diseases, allowing health officials to take the appropriate next steps.
For all people who have symptoms and who are being tested, they and their healthcare provider are being advised on precautions to take to prevent spreading the illness to others. Precautions include self-isolation at home or in an isolation room at the hospital.
Some commercial labs are now equipped to conduct COVID-19 testing. With these private labs ready to test, healthcare providers will start sending their samples to those labs. LDH will be notified of any positive results coming from a commercial lab.
Appropriate treatment and precautions will immediately be put in place for any positive commercial test before that test is confirmed by the State lab, and the public will be notified.

Advice for the public

State officials encourage Louisianans to take the following proactive steps to protect the health of themselves and those around them:
Cover your cough.
Stay home if you are sick.
Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, or with a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
Disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
Avoid close contact (within six feet) with those who are sick.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

Additional information on COVID-19 can be found on LDH’s website: ldh.la.gov/coronavirus.
About the Louisiana Department of Health

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state residents. The Louisiana Department of Health includes the Office of Public Health, Office of Aging & Adult Services, Office of Behavioral Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, and Healthy Louisiana (Medicaid). To learn more, visit www.ldh.la.gov or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or our blog.

Some tears of joy were shed when they learned they were selected as a top-three nominee for the first-ever Kiwanis Educator Award.
Tuesday morning, a group of volunteers from the Kiwanis Club and area businesses went to different schools in the parish pinning the top three nominees. The teachers, support staff and principals were unaware of what was happening when a group of strangers walked into their classroom or office.
Interim superintendent Brad Prudhomme attended every pinning with the Kiwanis Club and individually graduated each nominee.
“It is awesome that they are getting the recognition,” said Prudhomme.
Kaide Jumonville is a 24-year-old pre-k teacher at Cecil Picard Elementary. She has only been teaching for two years.
“This is awesome,” said Kaide Jumonville, who is a top three nominee for elementary school teacher of the year. “It means the world to me to know that my community backs me in what I have done. To be teaching for only two years and to get nominated is heartwarming.”
The top three nominees in each category, 21 in all, will be honored on March 31 at the Kiwanis Educator Award Gala. The top three from each category will be called onto the stage and a short video of each nominee will be shown to the crowd. Then the winner will be announced and presented an award.
The top three elementary teachers are Hannah Hebert of Herod Elementary, Kaide Jumonville of Cecil Picard Elementary and Dara Broussard of Dozier Elementary.
Hannah Hebert is a fifth-grade math and science teacher at Herod Elementary. She has been teaching a total of seven years, including four at Herod Elementary. After she learned she was nominated as a top three, she was shaken.
“I am speechless, and I am so excited,” said Hebert. “It is an honor to be nominated. I am excited that my work is being shown.
“It is an extreme honor to have an outside organization like the Kiwanis Club to honor educators like they are doing. I can’t wait to go to the gala.”
Dara Broussard was in the middle of teaching her class when everyone walked into the classroom to give her the great news. She has been at Dozier for the last 10 years.
“I am very surprised,” said Broussard. “It fills my heart with gratitude. Some times it gets so stressful, but it is good to know you made a difference.”
Abbeville High received good news Tuesday morning when the Kiwanis showed up to pin a teacher. Lacey Meaux was caught off guard after getting word that she was a top-three finalist.
“I am very humbled,” said Meaux. “I almost want to cry. I love my school, and I love my job.
“I am excited to be going to the gala, but I am still not wearing a prom dress.”
English teacher Laurie Broussard from Erath High School was nominated as a high school finalist. “I want to cry,” she said after the learning the news. “I love my job, and I love my kids. It is nice to get extra recognition.”
The top three high school teacher nominees are Lacey Meaux (AHS), Laurie Broussard (EHS) and Kelsy Sikes (EHS).
The top three middle school nominees are Jason Harrington (JHW), Joni Hebert (Erath Middle) and Malinda Roy (NVMS).
The top three high school principals are Tommy Byler (NVHS), Marc Turner (EHS) and Belisa Smith (EHS).
The top middle school principals are Joan Romero (NVMS), Dana Primeaux (JHW) and Wendy Stoute (EMS).
The top elementary principals are Lysonia Robertson (Herod), Elizabeth Bearb (Herod) and Rachelle Brown (LeBlanc).
The top three support workers nominated are Verna Broussard (Jesse Owens), Paula Duhon (EMS) and Tiffany Roche (Herod).
Roché is the bookkeeper at Herod, but she wears many hats at the school.
“I can not express how I feel right now. I am very thankful that people considered me for this award,” said Roché.
There will be limited seating and tickets for the gala are on sale at three different locations for $10. They can be purchased at Melancon Jewelers (in Abbeville), Guidry’s Eyeware (in Abbeville) and Ray Chevrolet (in Abbeville).

The Center Square/David Jacobs

On the first day of the 2020 legislative session Monday, the first of his second term, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards stressed “investments in education at every level” during his State of the State address.
“I know that it’s going to take some time to fully recover from years of budget cuts and stagnant funding in education,” he said. “But we need to demonstrate to students, to parents and to educators that we are serious when we say we aren’t going back.”
Early childhood education is the “number one priority” of his second term, he said, calling for $25 million in new funding. He is also calling for an additional $39 million for K-12 education, which he is urging school systems to dedicate to teacher raises as part of a process begun last year to increase teacher pay to at least the regional average.
Edwards is proposing a $30 million increase for higher education while funding the TOPS and Go Grant scholarship programs “at their highest level ever.”
“For ten years, Louisiana disinvested in higher education more than anywhere else in the country, and we suffered the consequences,” he said. “For the next 10 years, let’s commit to reinvesting in higher education in order to strengthen our state.”
Edwards also wants to expand the number of Jobs for America’s Graduates programs, which serves at-risk youth, from 124 to 200 by the end of his second term.
Edwards stressed the importance of diversifying the economy. He said his newly formed rural revitalization advisory council will focus on “everything from better broadband and infrastructure to more opportunities for apprenticeship programs and dual enrollment.”
Edwards will push for legislation that would establish a state minimum wage of $9 per hour Jan. 1 that rises to $10 an hour six months later. Another bill he supports seeks to prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who discuss or disclose their salary, and bar employers from asking an applicant’s salary history as a condition of employment.
Studies show that pay transparency leads to more equity in how much employees are paid, he said.
“It is simply unacceptable that Louisiana continues to have the largest gender pay gap in the country,” Edwards said. “Quite frankly, I’m ashamed of that. All of us should be ashamed.”
Louisiana maternal mortality rates exceed the national average, and black women are four times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death, he said. Edwards plans to enact a Maternal Mortality Review to ensure that any hospital or birthing center has written policies and procedures to investigate any maternal death and to do so in a timely manner.
Edwards also is supporting a series of bills by state Sen. Jay Luneau that would ban auto insurance companies from basing rates on gender, credit score, losing a spouse or being deployed in the military. Auto insurance rates should be based on driving records, he argues.
“If in addition to real insurance reform you want to pursue other efforts, I am willing to sit down with you and discuss with a goal of finding common ground,” Edwards said, presumably referring to various changes to the state’s civil legal system some legislators say could lead to lower rates.
Near the end of his speech, he urged lawmakers to work with him to encourage Louisiana residents to participate in the 2020 Census.
“Despite the obvious challenges that we face, I am as optimistic as ever about the future of this great state,” Edwards said. “And I look forward to forging new partnerships this session as we enter a new year, a new term, and a new chapter for Louisiana.”

On March 9, at approximately 12:43 p.m., officers from the Abbeville Police Department received information of a threat made against Abbeville High School.
​Officers immediately took action, securing the school. Officers worked with school officials, Vermilion Parish School Board Superintendent Brad Prudhomme, Vermilion Parish School Board Staff, Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and K9 handlers from LA K9 to assure that all of the children and school staff were able to safely leave the school.
​An investigation is being conducted by the detective division of the Abbeville Police Department. No arrests have been made at this time. The details of the threat are not being released.
Abbeville Chief of Police William Spearman would like to commend his officers for a job well done. Chief Spearman would also like to thank the citizens of Abbeville for their support and help they provide to the Abbeville Police Department.
​Chief Spearman would also like to remind all of the citizens that we are there, 24 hours a day, to serve you. We encourage all of our citizens to stay vigilant and contact us if you need. In addition to dialing 911, you can contact us at 893-2511. You may contact our “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.