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On the day New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio called for a national draft of retired doctors and medical workers to be rushed to New York City, Louisiana COVID-19 cases broke above 10,000 to 10,297 cases. That's up by 1,147 new cases but that number represents half the increase seen Thursday which set a record 2,726 new cases. Governor John Bel Edwards said in his Friday press conference that's due in large part because Louisiana now ranks second in the nation for testing per capita. But more concerning, he says, is that Louisiana suffered 60 additional deaths in one day, bringing the total to 370 in 3 weeks.
"What we're seeing is looking like what we're going to see as the daily normal going forward," said Governor John Bel Edwards in his Friday press conference, "though the 13 percent increase is more in line than the 42 percent increase we saw Thursday. We are engaged in a marathon, not a sprint. I urge Louisianans to take the stay-at-home mandate seriously. We and we alone will determine just how bad the Coronavirus gets. Your neighbor's life depends on it and, quite frankly, so might your own.
"And I suspect we will continue to have a higher death rate per capita than the rest of the nation because we have underlying problems in a higher proportion of our population, mostly diabetes, obesity, kidney and heart disease."
Edwards expects a surge of COVID-19 patients next week that may overwhelm hospitals and, through the State Board of Medical Examiners, is asking retired physicians and medical staff who still have certifications to consider reentering healthcare. New York Mayor DeBlasio wants the federal government to institute an outright draft of retired doctors, surgeons, and nurses back into service to head off what he terms a juggernaut health crisis in his city. "We need 45,000 more medical personnel," said DeBlasio Friday and wants them pulled from all over the country.
"As much as I love New York," Governor Edwards replied, "I am not interested in having our medical professionals drafted and sent to New York because we know we have real problems here in Louisiana in the not-too-distant future with respect to our capacity to deliver healthcare. That's our problem in the [2,000-bed] standup hospital we're building in the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. You still have to staff it."
Retired Chief Medical Officer of Baton Rouge's Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center, Dr. Ron Radzikowski, 80-years-old, says drafting retired physicians will be difficult for several reasons. "I'm not afraid of dying and would love to jump in on Coronavirus," he says, "but my certification lapsed years ago and I wouldn't begin to know current procedures, medicines or dosages. Our creed is 'to do no harm' and I'm afraid I might harm someone in the rush of this crisis." Radzikowski practiced medicine from 1975 to 1995 before advancing to the administration of OLOL. He retired in 2008. "I guess I could re-learn but you don't want somebody training-on-the-job on you if you're sick."
Projections from the Louisiana Department of Health expect hospitalizations just in New Orleans will not peak until early May, a time when 2,500 new COVID patients per day will inundate healthcare facilities. The state is already running low on ventilators, "and without ventilators, some patients will die," Edwards said.

BATON ROUGE — Gov. John Bel Edwards today formally extended his Stay at Home order until April 30, as Louisiana works to slow the spread of COVID-19, which extends the length of time that schools and some businesses are closed and continues limits on the size of gatherings. On Thursday, April 2, the number of reported cases reached 9,150 and the number of deaths rose to 310.
The updated proclamation unites several proclamations the Governor issued in March, extending them to April 30. A separate order relating to unemployment is forthcoming. Guidelines for funeral services and licensure for healthcare workers were already extended to April 30th in the proclamation that was issued earlier this week. School closures will continue through April 30 and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is in the process of determining what could potentially happen beyond April 30.
“It is absolutely critical that each Louisianan take this Stay at Home order seriously. Act as if your life depends on it – because it does. We have seen federal modeling data that shows that Louisiana could see more than 1,800 deaths by August. It doesn’t have to be that way. By working together, we can help flatten the curve in Louisiana, but we need all of our people to comply with the order,” Gov. Edwards said. “The order means you still cannot gather in groups of more than 10 people. Frankly, you shouldn’t be gathering in groups at all. I’d love to see that Louisiana ingenuity put to use in finding ways to connect without being physically together. We all need to Stay at Home, Stop the Spread and Save Lives.”
The following businesses shall remain closed to the public:
• All places of public amusement, whether indoors or outdoors, including but not limited to, locations with amusement rides, carnivals, amusement parks, water parks, trampoline parks, aquariums, zoos, museums, arcades, fairs, pool halls, children’s play centers, playgrounds, theme parks, any theaters, concert and music halls, adult entertainment venues, racetracks, casinos, video poker establishments, movie theaters, bowling alleys, bars and other similar businesses.
• All personal care and grooming businesses, including but not limited to, barber shops, beauty salons, nail salons, spas, massage parlors, tattoo parlors, fitness centers, gyms and other similar businesses.
• All malls, except for stores in a mall that have a direct outdoor entrance and exit that provide essential services and products as provided by CISA guidelines.
• Businesses closed to the public pursuant to this provision shall not be prohibited from conducting necessary activities such as payroll, cleaning services, maintenance or upkeep as necessary.

UPDATED COMMUNICATIONS RESOURCES:
As Gov. Edwards extends the time for the Stay at Home order, Louisianans can get updates directly from the Governor in two new ways:
To get texts from the Governor’s office text LACOVID to 67283.
Visit coronavirus.la.gov, which hosts all news about the COVID-19 response in Louisiana.
In addition, the Governor’s Office shares information on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts and on its website, gov.louisiana.gov. Members of the public with general questions can also call 211.

The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office is receiving information about another SCAM which involves scammers posing as AT&T customer service.
The scammer advises the customer that it appears someone has attempted to, or has already hacked their account and that they are in need of changing their information. The scammer then sends a “CODE” to the customer, asking the customer to confirm the “CODE”. This gives the scammer access to your account.
If you receive this type of call please remember that especially in times such as these there are always persons out there preying on the public. If you are fearful that someone has accessed your account, contact your AT&T customer relations personnel via the company and speak to an actual customer service representative. Be safe and vigilant.

IBERIA PARISH – At approximately 8:50 p.m. on April 2, 2020, Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a fatality crash involving a pedestrian on the La Hwy 14 near Leleux Road in Iberia Parish. The crash took the life of 27-year-old Tarvis Coates of New Iberia.
The preliminary investigation revealed the crash occurred as Coates was walking in the westbound inside lane of La Hwy 14. At the same time, 24-year-old Brittni Hernadez of New Iberia was driving westbound on La Hwy 14 in a 2011 Ford Fusion. As Coates was walking in the westbound lane of travel, he was struck by the Fusion.
Coates was pronounced deceased on scene by the Iberia Parish Coroner’s Office. Impairment is not suspected, but standard toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis from, both, Hernadez and Coates. Hernadez was properly restrained and was uninjured. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers urge pedestrians to maintain a heightened level of awareness while walking near or on roadways. Pedestrians must assume that approaching motorists cannot see them, especially at night. Louisiana law states, under Revised Statute 32: 216. B. Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the highway or its shoulder, facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction. Furthermore, Troopers want to remind motorists that making good choices such as never driving while impaired and avoiding all distractions can often help prevent many pedestrian related crashes.
Troop I has investigated 9 fatal crashes resulting in 11 deaths in 2020.