This record reporting day was eclipsed on April 4th with 221 cases reported.

Caddo Parish has set a new daily high for confirmed COVID-19 cases at 56. The previous high was 53 set on March 25th.

The new cases increase not just the total number of cases, but dim the hope that lower numbers posted on Monday and Tuesday were showing signs of the curve starting to flatten. New testing capacity has made the ability to confirm cases faster, but that doesn’t make the news of more cases less painful.

City officials recently amped up their commitment to enforcing Governor John Bel Edwards’ stay-at-home order by announcing that businesses and large gatherings that violate the order could be issued a misdemeanor summons punishable by a fine or jail time.

Many businesses have been forced to close and others are hanging on by a thread. While federal assistance programs are moving relatively quickly for Washington, D.C., the pace is glacial for working families like those at home in Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana.

As a reminder, the CDC advice for citizens on protecting yourself (and others) from the spread of the coronavirus are to know how it spreads and follow these basic steps:

  • Clean your hands often
  • Avoid close contact
  • Stay home if you’re sick
  • Cover coughs and sneezes
  • Wear a facemask if you are sick
  • Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily

Learn more at the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

What can you do during the stay-at-home order?

According to the governor’s website, under the stay-at-home order, you can:

  • Go to the grocery, convenience or warehouse store
  • Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities
  • Go to medical appointments (check with your doctor or provider first)
  • Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery or drive-thru
  • Care for or support a friend or family member
  • Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, jog and be in nature for exercise — just keep at least six feet between you and others. 
  • Walk your pets and take them to the veterinarian if necessary
  • Help someone to get necessary supplies
  • Receive deliveries from any business which delivers

You should not:

  • Go to work unless you are providing essential services as defined by this Order
  • Visit friends and family if there is no urgent need
  • Maintain less than 6 feet of distance from others when you go out
  • Visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility or other residential care facility, except for limited exceptions as provided on the facility websites.

For more information on the stay at home order, visit gov.ouisiana.gov/home