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86 Cases Of COVID-19 Now Confirmed In St. James Parish; Numbers Show Parish #2 In Cases Per Capita

Hospital Closes Urgent Care; Parish President Addresses Residents

Please remember that the fight against COVID-19 is a rapidly changing situation, so please stay tuned to local and reliable news sources for the latest:

As of April 1, 2020, at noon, the Louisiana Department of Health has confirmed 86 positive COVID-19 cases and 4COVID-19 related deaths in St. James Parish. Throughout the State of Louisiana there are 6,424 cases of COVID-19 and 273 related deaths. Also, 60 of 64 parishes now have at least one reported case of the coronavirus.

However, even though the numbers of cases in St. James Parish continue to rise, and even though 4 people have already perished, there are still many local residents of St. James Parish who continue to not follow the recommendations issued by Governor John Bel Edwards and our local elected and medical officials to stay home, practice social distancing, wash your hands often, and do not touch your face.

There are many areas throughout the Parish where it has been observed that people are not following the recommendations. Gas stations, convenience tores, grocery stores, neighborhoods where adults and young kids are riding golf carts and traveling throughout the neighborhood - to name a few. One observer counted 22-golf carts during one drive through Bellevue Lakes Subdivision.

If there is any chance to limit, or best case stop, the spread of this deadly virus, we as residents have to take personal responsibility to be good citizens.

STAY AT HOME!

As I have written in the previous weeks, it is imperative that we, at all times limit close contact with others. If you absolutely must leave your home for work or to pick up essential items, please do it safely and follow the social distancing guidelines while out in public. And, wash your hands.

This virus is invisible and it does not discriminate. It does not care if you are white or black, rich or poor.

Yes, younger people tend not to require serious medical attention should they be exposed, but the elderly, and especially those older people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, obesity and other ailments, are at a much higher risk to need a massive amount of medical assistance, which we all know is in severe short supply.

The other problem, especially with the younger generations, is that they could be exposed to COVID-19 and never show any signs or symptoms, but they may spread the virus to their friends and family members, who in turn can spread the virus as well.

Let’s not be the community who only starts to listen to and follow the recommendations once it is too late. Let’s be pro-active and do everything humanly possible to stop this virus in its tracks.

It’s the right and moral thing to do.

St. James Parish 2nd in COVID-19 Cases Per Capita

As the COVID-19 virus spreads, more people are tested, and more data is gathered, numbers are being made available concerning St. James Parish.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, St. James Parish is second in the entire state, trailing only Orleans Parish, in the number of positive cases per capita.

Now, keep in mind, that these numbers are not totally accurate because of the lack of testing, but the most current data reveals that St. James Parish, which has a population of 21,096 and 65 confirmed cases of COVID-19, is one of the most affected parishes in the State of Louisiana.

To make a comparison, Orleans Parish, which has a population of 390,144, has .38% cases per 1,000 people. Here in St. James Parish, we have a .30% cases per 1,000 residents, which is extremely high when you consider we are much smaller than Orleans.

Jefferson Parish, which has a population of 432,493, has .19% cases per 1,000 people.

Urgent Care Temporarily Closes

On 3/30/20

In order to best reallocate resources in response to COVID-19, St. James Urgent Care is temporarily being closed.

Primary Care Clinics are open during normal business hours and patients are still being asked to call ahead.

More information about best practices concerning COVID-19 can be found on the hospital’s website sjph.org/coronavirus-information.

For the latest hospital communications related to COVID-19 visit sjph.org/coronavirus-information or visit the St. James Parish Hospital Facebook Page. For Parishwide COVID-19 communications, visit the St. James Parish Government website stjamesparishla.gov and/or Facebook Page.

Parish President, Sheriff Address Parish Residents

Tuesday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. St. James Parish President Peter Dufresne and Sheriff Willy Martin (by speaker phone) spoke live to the residents of the Parish via video and both tried to answer questions and share their concerns with residents concerning the fight to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Both officials thanked the healthcare workers at the hospital and the residents who are abiding by the Governor’s guidelines for staying at home and social distancing.

Both also pleaded with residents who have not been practicing social distancing and asked those to please heed the warnings and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Dufresne reminded residents that St. James Parish is ranked second in per capita positive cases of COVID-19, which means we have room for improvement.

The Parish President and the Sheriff also asked parents to keep their children at home as there have been many reports of young people riding 4- wheelers and golf carts throughout neighborhoods.

President Dufresne said the coronavirus has been detected throughout the Parish and not just in certain areas. In fact, he said the latest numbers reveal the east and west bank case ratio is nearly 50/50.

Stay home, wash your hands often, and do not gather in groups!

News Examiner-Enterprise

2290 Texas St.
Lutcher, LA 70071
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