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The Meridional would like to know what others are feeling or experiencing when it comes to the coronavirus and the what is going on in the World. Email your thoughts to abbnews@bellsouth.net
This is a letter written by Erath High senior Chloe Hardin.

Dear Erath Class of 2020,

In the years 2001 and 2002, many of us were born. Around this same time, two planes caused the collapse of the World Trade Center and a third struck the Pentagon. Whether we were crawling around or still in the womb, a universal question plagued our parents. “What kind of a world will our children grow up in?”
As years went by, the world of air travel was never the same.
Regardless, lives went on as usual. We took our first steps, learned to speak, and made our very first memories. Entering education proved to be just as tragic as entering the world as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita tore us apart and separated us into two schools.
We returned to our new learning environments and were ecstatic for middle school, but before we could get there, the world was expected to end in 2012. Our fifth grade year. The end of elementary school and the end of the world. Clearly, and thankfully, the Mayan calendar had it wrong.
Shortly after, middle school seemed to be looking up. We were finally reunited at Erath Middle School. After three short years, celebration turned to tragedy as we lost one of the most loved members of our class, Adontee Martin, in the middle of eighth grade LEAP testing.
Freshman year was rough without him and was made harder with the Flood of 2016. Nevertheless, we got our feet back on dry ground and were determined to make our high school experiences the best yet.
Finally, as our senior year comes to a close, a pandemic hits. Our last band assessments are canceled. Student Council, Beta, and 4-H are canceled. Cheer and dance are canceled. Track, softball, baseball, and powerlifting are all canceled. Essentially, every organization we’re a part of has come to an early close. Goodbyes are said early and the potential of a graduation ceremony also seems to slowly dwindle away.
We anticipated a month of our final memories together only to have it stripped away at the last moment. After experiencing all of this together, the lowest blow seems to be the conclusion of our senior year.
Luckily, it is not the last chapter of our lives. High school is only the beginning.
I have heard from many teachers that our class tends to complain less than others. I truly believe that this is due to the experiences and disappointments that have befallen us. We have been learning to persevere through tragedies and hard times since birth.
Our education has been constantly interrupted, yet we take it in stride and hold our heads high. We fiercely fight for what we believe in. Our relationships with one another have become incredibly strong. We build each other up after natural disasters, hold each other together through loss, and we now comfort each other through quarantine.
Looking back, some may call our life experience a tragedy. I choose to call it character-building.

Sincerely,

P.S. If there are zombies out there, I’m sure we’ll live through that, too.

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Health confirms the COVID-19 related death of an out-of-state resident from Mississippi at a facility in St. Tammany Parish. Mississippi officials are aware.
The LDH COVID-19 dashboard does not include data on out-of-state residents, as that information is included in other states’ case counts.
LDH will continue to report COVID-19 related deaths twice per day, at 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., as needed.
While older individuals and those with underlying medical conditions are at greater risk, everyone can become exposed to COVID-19 and must be vigilant to protect their health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the serious chronic health conditions include heart disease, diabetes and lung disease.
For updates on positive cases and deaths, visit the Louisiana Department of Health's COVID-19 webpage.
Everyone is warned to take the necessary precautions to help limit the spread of COVID-19 and stay safe and healthy.

These precautions include:
Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds and frequently
Covering your cough or sneeze with your arm
Avoiding touching your face
Routinely cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces
Avoiding close contact with others
And staying home if you are sick
About the Louisiana Department of Health

Due to precautions related to the COVID-19 response, Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Karen St. Germain has announced that all OMV locations across the state will be closed effective Friday, March 20.
During the closure, online OMV services will remain available to the public. Citizens may also take advantage of available Public Tag Agent locations.
Customers are urged to utilize the OMV website at www.expresslane.org for an updated list of open Public Tag Agent locations and a complete list of available online services.
Additionally, LA Wallet, the state of Louisiana's official digital driver's license, is now available to residents free of charge. The all digital identification and driver's license app will suspend its fee in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The app is available to download on Apple and Android devices by searching LA Wallet.
The entire Department of Public Safety remains committed to ensure public safety and service to the citizens of Louisiana remains a top priority.
Throughout the closure, licensing and registration requirements remain waived through Governor John Bel Edwards’ Emergency Proclamation:
1. Late fees for driver’s license which expire between March 9, 2020 through May 10, 2020, are suspended until May 20, 2020.
2. Penalties and interest due on state and local sales and use taxes collected by the Office of Motor Vehicles which began on or after March 9, 2020 are suspended and are waived until June 19, 2020.
3. The three-day period mandated in LA R.S. 32:863.1 to appear at an Office of Motor Vehicle field office for a notice of violation served on or after March 9, 2020 but before May 10, 2020, is suspended until May 13, 2020.
4. The expiration date of temporary registration plates issued pursuant to LA R.S. 47:519 and La. R.S. 47:519.2 which expired on or before March 9, 2020 is suspended until May 10, 2020.
5. The expiration date of license plates issued pursuant to LA R.S. 47:462 which expired on or after March 9, 2020 but before May 10, 2020 is suspended until May 10, 2020.
6. The notice of default issued pursuant to LA R.S. 32:429.4 that would be issued on or after March 9, 2020 and before May 15, 2020 is suspended, and the notices will not be issued until after May 15, 2020.
7. The expiration date of an apportioned registration issued under the International Registration Plan which expires March 9, 2020 is suspended and the expiration date is extended to May 10, 2020.
8. The period to request an administrative hearing submitted to the Department pursuant to LA R.S. 32:667, LA R.S. 32:863, LA R.S. 863.1 and LAC Title 55, Part III, Chapter 1, §159 which expired on or after March 9, 2020 but before May 10, 2020 are suspended and extended until June 10, 2020.
9. The sixty-day delay for the Department to submit the administrative hearing record to the Division of Administrative Law pursuant to LA R.S. 32:667(D)(1) for an arrest which occurred on or after March 9, 2020 but before May 10, 2020 is extended until August 8, 2020.
10. The expiration date of driver's licenses which expire on or after March 9, 2020, but on or before May 10, 2020, is suspended and the expiration date is extended to May 20, 2020.
11. Extend the expiration of temporary driver’s license issued pursuant La R.S. 32:667A which were issued on or after March 9, 2020 through May 10th, 2020 until June 9th, 2020.
12. All students who enroll in a driver’s education course after March 9, 2020 shall be allowed to begin the driver’s education course without the issuance of the temporary instructional permit until May 10, 2020.
13. Any suspension with the official notice of withdrawal issued on or after Feb 17, 2020 but before May 10, 2020 shall remain in pending until June 9, 2020.

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.