COVID-19)Novel Coronavirus Update 0210700APR20
Online John Hopkins CSSE Coronavirus Dashboard
WHO Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) website
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Novel coronavirus in China page
LOUISIANA
Please go to http://ldh.la.gov/Coronavirus/ for official information on Positive Test Results and locations. It is updated 12 noon daily. LDH officials’ latest report: As of last report there are 60 of 64 parishes reporting with 6,424 cases of COVID-19 and 273 deaths across the state. SEE END OF REPORT FOR PARISH INFO.
28 case(s) 0 death(s) under investigation to determine the “home of record/residency” to list them properly.
Reported COVID-19 Patients in Hospitals 1,355 (438 of those on ventilators)
Tests Completed – 3,469 by State Lab; 35,498 Commercial Tests Completed and Reported to State
1,498 Reported COVID-19 Patients in Hospitals – 490 of those on ventilators
3,698 Tests Completed by State Lab and 42,078 Commercial Lab and Reported to State**
Parish Under Investigation – 28 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 0 state tests | 0 commercial tests
The number of cases worldwide continues to climb. According to health officials, there have been 939,436 confirmed cases of COVID-19. More than 195,081 people have recovered, and 47,287 people have died. In China, a team of scientists have isolated several antibodies that they say are “extremely effective” at blocking the ability of the COVID-19 virus to enter cells, media reported Wednesday. A Tsinghua University researcher in Beijing said a drug made with antibodies discovered by his team could be used more effectively than the current approaches to treating COVID-19. Antibodies are not a vaccine, but they could be given to at-risk people to prevent them from contracting COVID-19.
NATIONAL
The U.S. has reported more than 216,700 cases, with over 5,100 deaths, as the death toll rose by 1,029 on Wednesday. According to media sources, this marked the first time any country reported more than 1,000 new deaths in a 24-hour period. Amid the climbing numbers, five more states – Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada and Pennsylvania – added or expanded stay-at-home orders, while Michigan proposed a 70-day extension of an emergency declaration that had been set to expire April 7. Open sources are reporting that more than 1M N95 masks are being transported to U.S. from China using New England Patriots’ private aircraft and that President Trump is addressing the time line of FDA approval of Battelle mask-sterilizing technology and will do “everything he can” to get it approved today. The White House COVID-19 task force announced they will review all United States Agency for International Development (USAID) aid shipments of personal protective equipment (PPE) bound for foreign countries to ensure that the United States retains items which are needed in the United States to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, media reported Wednesday. The review process is meant to place one official in charge of the shipments so that the administration has better control over the process, added a U.S. official.
Meanwhile, the White House approved a disaster declaration for North Dakota in response to COVID-19 on Wednesday. This is the 30th such declaration the White House has made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including 27 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. The White House also declared Wednesday that “a major disaster exists” in Hawaii due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and ordered federal assistance to supplement the state’s current efforts. Additionally, Arizona requested a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration from the White House to help the state get more support for its COVID-19 response, the governor’s office announced on Wednesday. Nevada has also asked the White House for a major disaster declaration that would qualify the state for additional federal assistance to combat the COVID-19 virus. Maine has also submitted a request for a Major Disaster Declaration in the state to FEMA, media reported Wednesday.
U.S. Navy officials say nearly 3,000 sailors aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, docked in Guam, will be taken off the ship by Friday, media reported Wednesday. A U.S. military official said that almost 1,000 of the crew had been removed from the ship, and that that number would rise to 2,700 within a couple days, and more after that. However, the vessel needs to retain around 1,000 on board just to maintain itself, as it undergoes sterilization. U.S. Navy officials stressed that the Roosevelt was the only U.S. Navy ship out of 94 deployed at sea that had active COVID-19 cases. There were scattered cases in vessels that were not deployed, Navy officials added. Navy officials say nearly 100 of the 5,000 sailors assigned to the Roosevelt have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. As of Wednesday, more than 1,400 U.S. Department of Defense employees, contractors, and dependents had been infected by COVID-19, including 771 military personnel, the Pentagon said.
NEW YORK – Gov. Cuomo said that 12,000 Covid-19 patients hospitalized across New York State and more than 3,000 in intensive care, but that the health care system, while stretched, had not yet reached capacity. New York City’s death toll has passed 1,300. He added, however, that he expected the state to reach that moment in seven to 21 days. The U.S. government has nearly emptied its emergency stockpile of protective medical supplies like masks, gowns and gloves, a senior official said.
DC AREA – While the number of known coronavirus cases in the District of Columbia (DC), Maryland and Virginia stands at 4,062 on Thursday, with 1,986 cases in Maryland, 1,486 in Virginia and 590 in the District. The total of virus-driven deaths was 37 in Virginia, 34 in Maryland and 11 in the District, for a total of 82 fatalities in the region.
TEXAS – In the Houston area, the number of cases climbs to 1,540 with 16 deaths, with 144 recoveries. Concerning Utility usage, residential electricity bills are expected to increase as COVID-19 has a whole new wave of people working from home and kids out of school. However, there is some relief for those economically impacted by the virus. Utility companies are bracing for higher residential demand which means higher bills for homeowner. It comes at a tough time for many as people deal with layoffs due to COVID-19. That’s why the Texas Public Utility Commission voted to pass the COVID-19 Electricity Relief Program. “What they will do is put you on this list that does not let the provider disconnect your services for non-payment for a temporary period of time,” he said. You do have to qualify for the program.
HAWAII – Officials have issued a proclamation that requires residents and visitors who travel between islands to quarantine themselves for 14 days, media reported on Wednesday. People traveling for health care aren’t required to quarantine themselves, though they must follow the social distancing measures laid out in a previous supplementary proclamation. Anyone who violates the mandatory quarantine could face up to $5,000 in fines or a year in prison, if convicted.
GEORGIA – Officials announced on Wednesday they will be issuing a statewide shelter-in-place order as the state continues to battle the COVID-19 virus. A senior state official said on Wednesday that he would sign the order to go into effect on Friday and last until at least April 13. The order will include exceptions for grocery stores, medical supplies, and certain manufacturing. As of 7 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, the death toll from COVID-19 in Georgia was 154, while the total number of cases was at 4,748 and of those cases, 1,013 have been hospitalized.
NEVADA – A senior official in Nevada activated the state’s National Guard on Wednesday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The official said the activation is to help deliver medical supplies, as well as to assist with logistics, transportation, and personnel. About 100 National Guard soldiers and airmen will join the 17,000 National Guard members already active across the nation.
MISSISSIPPI – A senior official in Mississippi announced on Wednesday that a statewide shelter-in-place order will go in effect starting at 5:00 p.m. local time on Friday. Under the order, people may leave their homes only to perform essential activities, such as caring for someone in the vulnerable population, getting food or necessary supplies, and working for an essential business. The order stipulates that all non-essential businesses are to stop all activities other than those necessary for minimum operations. The order also prohibits gatherings of 10 people or more.
PENNSYLVANIA – Officials placed all of Pennsylvania under an order to stay at home on Wednesday expanding the geographic footprint of the quarantine as state officials combat the COVID-19 pandemic, media reported on Wednesday.
MASSACHUSETTS – Health officials have announced 33 new coronavirus deaths in Massachusetts, meaning the number of fatalities has now more than doubled over the last two days, media reported Wednesday. On Monday, the state’s COVID-19 deaths stood at 56, but that number is now at 122 just two days later. The state’s Department of Public Health also reported a total of 7,738 cases across the state as of Wednesday, April 1.
The CDC urges residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately. This Domestic Travel Advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply. These employees of critical infrastructure, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security (https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforceexternal icon) have a special responsibility to maintain normal work schedule. The Governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will have full discretion to implement this Domestic Travel Advisory.
The US State Department has issued a “Do Not Travel” health advisory. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the global impact of COVID-19. In countries where commercial departure options remain available, U.S. citizens who live in the United States should arrange for immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period. U.S. citizens who live abroad should avoid all international travel.
INTERNATIONAL
In Spain, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Spain has reached 104,118, representing the third-highest number of infections globally, following the US and Italy. The Health Ministry reported that the death toll increased by 864 over a 24-hour period, bringing the total number of fatalities to 9087. This represents the highest death toll recorded in a single day in the country since the beginning of the pandemic. Spain also has the second-highest virus death toll after Italy. Nonetheless, Health Minister Salvador Illa indicated that the infection rate has decreased in recent days. Congress approved extending a related state of emergency to Sunday, April 12. Under the state of emergency, the government is granted exceptional powers to limit the free movement of people and vehicles, and ration goods and services, among other powers. Residents are to restrict all movement except for going to work for essential employees, hospitals or health centers, and financial institutions, and shopping for groceries, pharmaceuticals, and other primary necessities. Nonessential employees have been instructed to stay home until at least Thursday, April 9. Schools, bars, restaurants, and most shops remain closed. All social gatherings are banned, and police officers have been deployed to enforce the orders.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that social distancing measures currently in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak will be extended until at least Sunday, April 19, after which they will be reevaluated. On Sunday, March 22, authorities announced a ban on gatherings of more than two people. German citizens are also advised to keep contact with people outside of their own household to a minimum and maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters (5 ft.), preferably two meters (6.5 ft.), between themselves and others in public. On Monday, March 16, the federal government and states agreed to close non-essential shops and public spaces until further notice. This includes restaurants, bars, clubs, theaters, museums, and churches. Grocery stores, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, post offices, and delivery services are excluded from the ban. Schools and daycare centers have also been closed. As of April 1, there have been 77,981 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Germany, including 931 associated fatalities.
In the U.K., Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated testing is the solution to “unlock the puzzle” of coronavirus. Mr. Johnson was speaking after it was revealed only 2,000 out of some half a million frontline NHS workers in England had been tested.
The PM said the government needed to “massively ramp up” testing so that NHS staff who were self-isolating unnecessarily could return to work. On Wednesday, Dr Yvonne Doyle, Public Health England (PHE) medical director, said during Downing Street’s daily coronavirus briefing that the “intention” was for testing for frontline staff to increase from “thousands to hundreds of thousands within the coming weeks”. It came as the UK had its biggest daily increase in deaths – 563. The overall number of deaths from the virus in the UK was 2,352 of 29,865 confirmed cases.
Up to 3,000 U.K. armed forces reservists are being called up to aid the military response to the coronavirus pandemic. Individuals with specialist skills will provide medical and logistical support to the NHS, engineers and accountants, the Ministry of Defence said. The MoD said it had identified the units and individuals it will need and notified their employers.
Reserves who are already working in the NHS or delivering front-line services will not be called up. The MoD has already set up a 20,000-strong Covid-19 response force to help in the fight against the virus, though only a few thousand full-time military personnel have so far been deployed. They have been assisting in tasks such as delivering protective clothing to the NHS and building the Nightingale Hospital in east London, the first of several new temporary hospitals to be set up across the UK.
In South Korea, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will require all inbound passengers to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine amid the ongoing outbreak. Most short term travelers, including US citizens on 90 day visa free travel and short term visa holders, will be required to quarantine at their own expense for 14 days at a government-mandated facility. Long term travelers and residents will be required to self-quarantine at their residences. Any passengers exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be required to undergo testing for the disease upon their arrival at the airport. Individuals traveling for diplomatic, business, humanitarian, or academic reasons may be exempt from the quarantine requirements but must obtain a pre-approved waiver from a Korean Embassy or Consulate. The quarantine measures will not apply to passengers transiting through Incheon International Airport (IIA), but such travelers will be subject to a temperature screening and health questionnaire. On April 1, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will begin providing free face masks to foreigners who show a passport or alien registration card. Face masks will be available at the following locations: Seoul Global Center, Southwest Seoul Global Center, Seongdong Global Migrant Center, Seongbuk Global Migrant Center, Eunpyeong Global Migrant Center, Yangcheon Global Migrant Center, Geumcheon Global Migrant Center, and Gangdong Global Migrant Center. To date, there have been more than 9976 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in South Korea, including 169 associated fatalities.
In Indonesia, authorities declared a nationwide state of emergency in efforts to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The government has assumed extensive powers to combat the outbreak, and has taken measures including shutting down schools and entertainment venues, releasing 30,000 prison inmates to alleviate the spread of the disease within the penal system, and encouraging social distancing. As of Wednesday, April 1, previously announced measures remain in place including the prohibition of all entry and transit by foreign nationals into or through Indonesia. However, foreigners with a limited stay permit card (Kitas), permanent stay permit card (Kitap), or other similar permits will still be allowed to enter the country. Earlier on Friday, March 20, the Indonesian government suspended all visa-free and visa-on-arrival arrangements for one month. A state of emergency in Jakarta remains in place for two weeks as of Friday, March 20. Effective Monday, March 23, non-essential businesses such as bars, spas, and cinemas have been closed, and public transportation has been limited. Authorities have also urged companies to allow staff to work from home. As of Wednesday, April 1, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 1677 COVID-19 cases nationwide, with 157 fatalities and 103 recoveries.
In India, doubt has been cast over India’s claim that it has no community transmission of coronavirus after the country reported its biggest daily rise in number of cases so far, connected to a religious gathering held in Delhi two weeks ago. India reported a record increase of 386 cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the total number to 2.032, according to the country’s health ministry. The death toll is now 58. In another worrying development, the first coronavirus case was also confirmed in Mumbai’s Dharavi slum, which is India’s largest and is home to almost one million people living in close, unsanitary quarters. The 56-year-old man was taken to Sion hospital and eight of his family members placed into quarantine. Yet for a densely populated country of 1.3 billion people, the number of cases is still relatively low compared with Europe and the US, and believed to be linked to both low levels of testing and poor access to an already overstretched healthcare system with people not reporting their symptoms. Only 47,951 tests have been done so far and there are just 51 government-approved testing centers across the country.
In Australia, the government has scrapped childcare fees to help parents who keep working through the coronavirus crisis, as Scott Morrison warned the nation on Thursday to brace for at least six months of disruption to society. In another day of fast-moving developments, Australia’s death toll from Covid-19 rose to 24, Western Australia announced it would shut its border this weekend, and medical teams started to check the health of crew members aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship off the coast of Sydney. Morrison said the entire funding system would be overhauled from next week to ensure parents who needed to keep sending their children to childcare did not have to pay any fees. The prime minister said he did not want parents to have to choose between feeding their children and having their children cared for and educated.
“This virus is going to take enough from Australians without putting Australian parents in that position,” he said. From Monday, the government will start making payments to childcare centers at the rate of about 50% of the usual fees but based on attendance numbers in late February, before the numbers of children attending plummeted. The government estimates these payments will be worth $1.6bn over the coming three months. Centers may also be eligible to claim the new wage subsidies of $1,500 per worker a fortnight. The Australian government also will punish people convicted of illegally exporting masks, hand sanitizer or other personal protective equipment with hefty fines, officials said. Home Minister Peter Dutton’s office said in a statement yesterday that the fines were one of several new measures being adopted by the government to keep dwindling medical supplies inside the country. More than 5,000 people in Australia, including Dutton himself, have contracted the virus. Authorities have amended customs regulations to “stop exploitative exports of essential goods,” and the country’s Biosecurity Act to require the Australian Border Force to surrender medical supplies in their custody to the national stockpile. Violating the customs law is punishable by a fine of up to 210,000 Australian dollars ($128,275), while those found guilty of violating the Biosecurity Act could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 63,000 Australian dollars, Dutton’s office said ($38,480). The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia stands at 5,108, up 244 on the previous day and a total of 24 deaths.
CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the following destinations. Most foreign nationals who have been in one of these countries during the previous 14 days will not be allowed to enter the United States.
- China
- Iran
- Most European Countries
- United Kingdom and Ireland
- CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to all global destinations: Global Pandemic Notice
CDC recommends that older adults or those who have chronic medical conditions consider postponing travel to the following destinations: Global Outbreak Notice (Level 2 Travel Health Notice)
LOUISIANA PARISH ROLLUP 011200APR20
Orleans – 2,270 case(s) | 115 death(s) | 1,603 state tests | 5,781 commercial tests
Jefferson – 1,433 case(s) | 64 death(s) | 557 state tests | 2,240 commercial tests
Caddo – 298 case(s) | 7 death(s) | 122 state tests | 8,501 commercial tests
St. Tammany – 270 case(s) | 6 death(s) | 150 state tests | 1,361 commercial tests
East Baton Rouge – 244 case(s) | 10 death(s) | 287 state tests | 2,954 commercial tests
Ascension – 189 case(s) | 5 death(s) | 27 state tests | 1,125 commercial tests
Lafayette – 159 case(s) | 2 death(s) | 76 state tests | 4,074 commercial tests
St. John the Baptist – 118 case(s) | 13 death(s) | 4 state tests | 21 commercial tests
Lafourche – 105 case(s) | 4 death(s) | 122 state tests | 698 commercial tests
St. Bernard – 94 case(s) | 3 death(s) | 4 state tests | 155 commercial tests
Calcasieu – 90 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 74 state tests | 1,952 commercial tests
St. James – 86 case(s) | 4 death(s) | 65 state tests | 152 commercial tests
St. Charles – 82 case(s) | 7 death(s) | 1 state tests | 56 commercial tests
Ouachita – 80 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 109 state tests | 1,389 commercial tests
Bossier – 75 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 27 state tests | 1,212 commercial tests
Rapides – 69 case(s) | 4 death(s) | 61 state tests | 847 commercial tests
Terrebonne – 55 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 69 state tests | 199 commercial tests
Iberia – 49 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 71 state tests | 192 commercial tests
Acadia – 47 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 5 state tests | 151 commercial tests
Plaquemines – 47 case(s) | 4 death(s) | 2 state tests | 40 commercial tests
St. Landry – 45 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 21 state tests | 2,581 commercial tests
St. Martin – 41 case(s) | 3 death(s) | 1 state tests | 72 commercial tests
De Soto – 39 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 7 state tests | 44 commercial tests
Washington – 39 case(s) | 2 death(s) | 47 state tests | 162 commercial tests
Iberville – 36 case(s) | 3 death(s) | 1 state tests | 65 commercial tests
Tangipahoa – 33 case(s) | 2 death(s) | 6 state tests | 426 commercial tests
Avoyelles – 31 case(s) | 2 death(s) | 1 state tests | 44 commercial tests
St. Mary – 26 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 7 state tests | 120 commercial tests
Assumption – 25 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 6 state tests | 67 commercial tests
Livingston – 25 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 1 state tests | 138 commercial tests
Allen – 19 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 5 state tests | 59 commercial tests
Webster – 17 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 8 state tests | 339 commercial tests
West Baton Rouge – 14 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 0 state tests | 18 commercial tests
Lincoln – 13 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 11 state tests | 164 commercial tests
Evangeline – 11 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 8 state tests | 94 commercial tests
Union – 11 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 3 state tests | 13 commercial tests
Claiborne – 10 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 5 state tests | 26 commercial tests
East Feliciana – 10 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 6 state tests | 18 commercial tests
Vermilion – 10 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 3 state tests | 131 commercial tests
Jefferson Davis – 9 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 16 state tests | 332 commercial tests
Beauregard – 8 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 0 state tests | 111 commercial tests
West Feliciana – 8 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 8 state tests | 85 commercial tests
Pointe Coupee – 7 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 6 state tests | 56 commercial tests
Bienville – 6 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 3 state tests | 10 commercial tests
Vernon – 6 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 0 state tests | 318 commercial tests
Concordia – 5 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 0 state tests | 23 commercial tests
Franklin – 5 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 9 state tests | 79 commercial tests
Jackson – 4 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 14 state tests | 290 commercial tests
Catahoula – 3 case(s) | 1 death(s) | 1 state tests | 8 commercial tests
Grant – 3 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 0 state tests | 28 commercial tests
Richland – 3 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 2 state tests | 98 commercial tests
Sabine – 3 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 3 state tests | 38 commercial tests
La Salle – 2 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 9 state tests | 59 commercial tests
Morehouse – 2 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 5 state tests | 13 commercial tests
Natchitoches – 2 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 9 state tests | 106 commercial tests
East Carroll – 1 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 0 state tests | 22 commercial tests
Madison – 1 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 0 state tests | 0 commercial tests
Red River – 1 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 22 state tests | 26 commercial tests
St. Helena – 1 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 1 state tests | 56 commercial tests
Winn – 1 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 3 state tests | 40 commercial tests
Caldwell – 0 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 4 state tests | 22 commercial tests
Cameron – 0 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 0 state tests | 9 commercial tests
Tensas – 0 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 0 state tests | 0 commercial tests
West Carroll – 0 case(s) | 0 death(s) | 0 state tests | 6 commercial tests
BUREN R. (Ric) MOORE
GOHSEP Intelligence Officer
Louisiana State Analytical & Fusion Exchange (LA-SAFE) Liaison
Office: 225.925.3674
In the case of terrorism, to wait for an indication of crime before investigating it is to wait too long. There is no guarantee of success, but there has to be a guarantee of effort. Let’s make it hard to hurt us. If you see something suspicious, report it.
