The Rundown: Latest coronavirus trajectory, travel restrictions,and more Louisiana politics news
Today in The Rundown: Louisiana’s latest coronavirus figures show the state continues on the trajectory set out by researchers who say there could be as many as 2,000 deaths before it’s over; AG Jeff Landry steps into the debate over coronavirus treatments; an update on vents; and more!
Be sure to check out a *bonus* edition of The Rundown this weekend: Deep dives into what the federal stimulus package provides and how you can tap into it; the impact that coronavirus is having on campaigns and elections; and more.
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The Countdown…
Days until Louisiana Legislature is scheduled to return to session: TBD
Days until the Governor’s stay-at-home order is lifted: 10*
Days until the Louisiana legislative session must end: 60
Days until the newly-scheduled Louisiana presidential primary: 79
Days until the presidential/senatorial/congressional election: 216
Days until the Louisiana runoff election (as needed): 247
*Gov. John Bel Edwards has said he’ll extend his order through the end of April. That formal proclamation is anticipated later this week.
Coronavirus in Louisiana
The Numbers…
Cases: 6,424
In Hospitals: 1,498 (On ventilation: 490)
Deaths: 273
Tests administered (state and privately reported): 45,776
Parishes with reported cases: 60 (of 64)
**Numbers reported as of noon April 1. For updated numbers see: The Louisiana Department of Health.
The Latest…
Another rough day in Louisiana: The total recorded coronavirus deaths during the 24 hour period leading to noon Wednesday didn’t spike like the day before, but Louisiana is quickly approaching 300 covid-19 deaths.
The state also has five of the deadliest per capita parishes (counties) in the country on Tuesday — a chart that Gov. John Bel Edwards called “disturbing.”
What’s more, Edwards said darker days are ahead for the state. “Nobody should rest easy or even begin to think we’ve tackled this problem,” he said. “It’s only gonna get worse.”
The Edwards administration hasn’t released the models its using to determine when the state’s numbers may peak. But public health researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations have released public models based on data from the World Health Organization and government trends that projects it will take at least a weak.
(Image via the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations)
The researchers also estimate that Louisiana will see nearly 2,000 deaths by Aug. 4.
"There are gonna be an awful lot of people who will die of covid-19,” Edwards said in his latest briefing while continuing to urge social distancing and other mitigation measures. “We can decide whether we’re going to have a fewer deaths or more.”
Medical equipment: Louisiana has received its first delivery of ventilators from the federal government but Gov. Edwards said the New Orleans area is on track to run out next week if it doesn’t get some more. (The UW researchers predict the state will reach full capacity, needing more than 1,000 ventilators on April 10 – Edwards has requested 5,000 from the federal government.)
The nation’s governors have described a fraught situation where they are competing with one another for access to much-needed vents before they reach critical capacity, but during a daily press briefing this week, Trump, who has questioned the states’ needs, said he wants the federal government to maintain tracking of them and determine which states are most in need while more ventilators are being produced in factories.
Travel questions: President Trump revealed in his press briefing Wednesday that he’s looking “very closely” additional travel restrictions on coronavirus “hot spots” including New Orleans.
“We’re looking at the whole thing. We’re getting into a position now where we (may) have to do that,” he told reporters. “We will let you know fairly soon.”
Trump’s close ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, also has broached the topic.
Additionally, several governors, by executive order, have already restricted travel from parts of Louisiana, including Texas, Florida, West Virginia, Kansas, South Carolina and Oklahoma (most requiring a 14-day quarantine for those traveling to the state for essential purposes.)
Trump noted his major concern was that any major transportation hub shutdown would cause economic disruption and harm the airline industry.
“Once you do that, you’re really clamping down an industry that is desperately needed,” he said.
The CDC has already issued guidance urging New York, New Jersey and Connecticut residents to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days.
Stay tuned…
Treatment: After support from President Trump and a granting of emergency FDA approval, Louisiana has accepted a major donation of an antimalarial drug that could be used to treat coronavirus patients.
Attorney General Jeff Landry and State Sen. Fred Mills, a St. Martin Parish pharmacist, announced this week that New Jersey-based Amneal Pharmaceuticals has dedicated nearly half a million hydroxychloroquine sulfate tabs to treat covid-19 patients in the state.
“Amneal's donation is one step toward trying to find treatments and cures for this epidemic. Right now, there are no silver bullets,” Landry said in a news release. “We must remain vigilant against the spread of this virus.”
LSU’s Med School is preparing to launch clinical trials on two potential hydroxychloroquine treatments for coronavirus. One will utilize hydroxychloroquine on people who have covid-19 – the disease caused by the novel coronavirus and another to test the drug as a preventative measure for healthcare workers battling the epidemic. The trials will be conducted at University Medical Center—New Orleans and LSU Med School locations in Baton Rouge and Lafayette.
Similar trials are taking place across the country as the nation grapples with an epidemic that has left most of the country on lock-down orders to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
Other states that Amneal has donated to include New York and Texas.
Trump has named the drug among what he considers a potential “game changer” in battling the pandemic. Early studies have shown mixed evidence for the drug’s effectiveness of treating the coronavirus, but doctors in China reported this week that a small study had shown positive results.
Important reminder…
Gov. Edwards has issued a proclamation loosening restrictions on health care workers coming to the state to aid the coronavirus response efforts. People can sign up via LAVA: https://lava.dhh.louisiana.gov/
Tweet beat…
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