Louisiana - COVID-19 Covered

Louisiana

Total Cases: 178,870 (October 25)
Fatalities: 5,820 (October 25)
Testing:
  • A list of Louisiana COVID-19 testing locations can be found here. 

ECONOMIC RESPONSE

Essential Service Designations:

  • Following Governor Edwards’ issuance of a statewide shelter in place, his office announced that the state will follow Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) guidelines for Essential Worker Functions, which includes “healthcare workers and caregivers, mental health and social service workers, pharmacy employees, workers supporting groceries, pharmacies and other retail sales of food and beverage products, restaurant carryout and quick-serve food operations and food delivery employees, farmworkers, electricity, and utility industry employees, critical manufacturing employees (medical supply chains, energy, transportation, food, chemicals), petroleum, natural and propane gas workers, transportation and logistics workers, communications and information technology employees, financial services and banking industry employees.” (March 22)

Labor & Workforce Guidance, Standards and Regulations:

  • New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell announced businesses will be required to maintain logs of the names and contact information of patrons entering their establishments when the city reopens. The measure is intended to assist the city in contact tracing. (May 6)
  • The Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s Office, in collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health, has launched a web-based program, Open Safely, to “assist businesses and religious organizations with safely resuming operations” as the state public health emergency remains declared. (May 4)

Economic Stimulus & Relief:

  • Governor Edwards has requested that the Louisiana Legislature reallocate $175 million in unspent Main Street Recovery Grant Program money to help those impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including $75 million in funding directed to the state’s unemployment trust fund. (September 28) 
  • Governor Edwards announced reimbursements for COVID-19-related expenditures, which were sent out to local government agencies on August 1. (July 26) 
  • Governor Edwards announced at least $24 million emergency rental assistance program will be allocated to help struggling renters during the COVID-19 pandemic. (July 16) 
  • The Louisiana Legislature approved $250 COVID-19 check for state front-line workers who continued working during early stages of the pandemic. (June 29) 
  • As part of the CARES Act, Louisiana will receive more than $18 million in federal aid to support the state’s response to COVID-19, including funds to support homeless individuals impacted by the pandemic, as well as aid to bolster telehealth measures in health centers. (June 4)  
  • As part of the CARES Act, Louisiana will receive more than $18.3 million in COVID-19 relief funding to support “low-income elderly and needy children, housing market disruptions, and reducing virus transmission.” (May 13) 
  • Governor Edwards announced Louisiana has committed $10.3 million in community development block grant (CDBG) funds to New Orleans to support nine affordable rental housing projects “that were in danger of losing their funding” due to the coronavirus pandemic. (May 5) 

Business Support & Resources:

  • State Treasurer John Schroder announces Louisiana small businesses impacted by COVID-19 can apply for up to $15,000 in grants beginning July 28. (July 2) 
  • Louisiana lawmakers approved a $34 billion state budget, which provides hundreds of millions for businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. (July 1) 
  • Governor Edwards signed a bill allocating $300 million in federal COVID-19 aid to support small businesses in Louisiana. (June 15) 
  • Governor Edwards announced an e-commerce initiative “to empower the online performance of Louisiana’s small businesses” during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. (June 3)  
  • As part of the CARES Act, the Louisiana fishing and seafood industry will receive approximately $14.8 million in federal aid to help it overcome economic losses incurred to due to COVID-19 pandemic. (May 7) 
  • The Louisiana Loan Guaranty Program will distribute $30 million in loans to companies with fewer than 100 employees struggling throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. (April 19) 

SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS

Reopening:

  • Louisiana will stay in Phase 3 for another 28 days. The state’s mask mandate will remain in place. (October 9) 
  • Governor Edwards issued an updated public health emergency order that allowed for alcohol to be served at sporting events in parishes that qualify and have opted into open bars. (October 5) 
  • Louisiana will implement new federal guidance on nursing homes, allowing for socially distant nursing home visits. (September 18) 
  • Governor Edwards altered his Phase 3 order to allow the on–premises sale and consumption of alcohol until 11PM at restaurants, casinos, and bars in parishes that are eligible to opt–in to reopen bars. (September 18) 
  • Governor Edwards said the state will move to Phase 3 reopening. Some businesses will now be able to increase their occupancy, and bars may reopen subject to certain restrictions. The statewide mask mandate will stay in place. (September 14) 
  • Governor Edwards announced that he will extend the COVID-19 mask mandate, bar closures, and other Phase 2 restrictions for another two weeks. (August 26) 
  • Governor Edwards announced that the Phase 2 order will be extended, including the mask mandate, bar closures, and crowd size limitations. (August 4) 
  • New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell banned the sale of takeout alcohol from bars and restaurants in the city. (July 24) 

SCHOOL PLANNING

K-12:

  • Governor Edwards amended his Phase 3 order for outdoor high school sports by allowing outdoor stadiums in parishes with lower rates of positive COVID-19 tests to move to 50 percent capacity, up from 25 percent. Parishes must have positivity of less than five percent for two consecutive weeks. (October 23) 
  • Louisiana high school football is scheduled to begin October 8-10. (September 4) 
  • Louisiana Department of Education releases guidelines and resources for virtual learning. (August 12) 
  • Louisiana Department of Education released a 2020-2021 school reopening guidelines, alongside the Louisiana Department of Health and Resilient Louisiana Commission. (June 25) 
  • Governor Edwards announced K-12 schools will open for on-campus learning in August. (June 23) 

State Higher Education:

  • A list of Louisiana universities and colleges planning to reopen in the fall can be found here. 
  • Louisiana College announced plans for its fall semester with new COVID-19 measures. (July 9)  
  • LSU announces new changes to the fall semester, including no in-person classes after Thanksgiving break. (June 26) 
  • The nine schools that are a part of the University of Louisiana System announced plans to resume in-person classes for the fall semester. (May 11)

Giving Opportunities

April 20, 2020

Primary supplies needed are N95 Mask (10,000), surgical gowns (10,000), and small bottles of hand sanitizer (20,000).

Produced by Marathon Strategies, an independent PR firm that delivers intelligent communications and research solutions. For information, email Phil Singer at COVID-19@marathonstrategies.com