As of 12 Noon Thursday

1,795 positive cases | 65 dead Wednesday 12p

2,305 Positive Cases | 83 Dead |676 Hospitalized Thursday 12p

2746 Cases |119 Dead | 773 Hospitalized Friday 12p

54 of 64 Parishes now reporting cases

Locally: Rapides 26 Cases 1 Death

Catahoula 1 Case, 1 Death

 Avoyelles 10, Natchitoches, Vernon 2, Evangeline 4,  Grant 1

Governor Edwards Virus Update 2p KSYL 970 AM / 104.9 FM & KISS 98.7 FM

State Health Department Updates Only Once Per Day at 12 Noon

Louisiana Department Of Health Link

Gov.Louisiana.Gov (Governor Edwards Webpage)

Come Together Locally (For Cenla Business Information)

City Of Alexandria (For All Business Information)

"Stay At Home" Order Issued Effective  5p Monday, Earlier if you can.

For All Non-Essential Workers

All State Offices Closed at Once

All City Of Alexandria Offices Will Be Closed To The Public

If you have questions about coronavirus, please contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing dial 211. Or, you can text the keyword LACOVID to 898-211 for the most current information about the outbreak as it becomes available.

A staggering number of Louisianans have filed unemployment claims as the coronavirus wreaks havoc on the world economy. By noon Thursday, 30,000 people had applied for unemployment insurance this week, versus 1,700 for all of last week. Laid-off workers can apply online at laworks.net or by calling 1-866-783-5567.

LSU announcing yesterday they will close the campus except for an extremely limited number of essential personnel and those students who have received permission from Residential Life to remain in on-campus housing.

About Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some causing illness in people and others that circulate among animals, including camels, cats and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can evolve and infect people and then spread between people such as has been seen with recent outbreaks of MERS and SARS.

Risk and Guidance for the Public

To minimize the risk of spread, Louisiana officials are advising the public to practice social distancing by not gathering with large groups of people. Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in Louisiana and introduce the virus to new communities.

Governor John Bel Edwards has issued a stay at home order for Louisiana residents. Click here to read the full order.

• Stay home unless it is necessary to go to work or get necessities.
• Cover your cough.
• Wash your hands.

For a list of additional guidance for the public click here.

Questions about Coronavirus?

If you have questions about coronavirus, please contact the Louisiana 211 Network by dialing dial 211. Or, you can text the keyword LACOVID to 898-211 for the most current information about the outbreak as it becomes available.

Stressed about COVID-19? We're here to talk.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with stress, fear and anxiety about the uncertainty surrounding this public health emergency, there is a special Keeping Calm through COVID Hotline you can call. This connects you to trained, compassionate counselors who can offer support and who can direct you to mental health and substance abuse counseling services.

Call 1-866-310-7977 24/7

Trained counselors available 24/7. All calls are confidential.

Symptoms

For confirmed infections, reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms (similar to the common cold) to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 infection. People infected with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms.

How does novel coronavirus spread?

Health experts are still learning the details about how this new coronavirus spreads. Other coronaviruses spread from an infected person to others through:

• Through respiratory droplets produced when coughing and sneezing
• Close personal contact
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes

The deadline for filing you State & Federal Tax returns has been pushed back  to July 15th

The OMV is now closing all offices effective today as a result COVID-19. On line services at the OMV will remain up and running.

The state is offering free counseling for anyone experiencing stress or anxiety from the COVID-19 outbreak.
The phone number is 1-866-310-7977.

 Statement from the Alexandria Fire Department

Apply For Food Stamps or S.N.A.P

Local Restaurants In Our Area Open For Business For Takeout & Delivery

The Weekend Round Up

A Special Devoted To The Coronavirus

Our Stations Public Files

Click Logos To Visit Their Websites!

Advertiser Sizzle from Radio Advertising Bureau on Vimeo.

News for Friday March 27^th, 2020

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States has now surpassed the total number of cases in China, the country that previously had the most people sick due to the coronavirus.

At the county or parish level, Orleans Parish now leads the nation in per capita deaths, more than twice as many as the 2nd highest county.

Governor Edwards sounds the alarm about the increasingly alarming situation in the New Orleans area, saying current projections show the region’s medical system running out of ventilators by late next week, and out of hospital beds by the week after that.

5^th District Congressman Ralph Abraham, a doctor currently doing volunteer shifts at a clinic in his native Richland Parish, to call for the expanded use of experimental. 

A Pineville man is in custody and another man is wanted in relation to a kidnapping incident in the 100 block of Sunset in Alexandria on Thursday evening.

Parts of the state could see record highs today, and that’s led some armchair virologists to speculate that the state could see a dip in COVID-19 cases as a result. Our Lady of the Lake infectious disease specialist Catherine O’Neal says that’s a dubious claim that’s not supported by research.

As the coronavirus forces the economy into a freefall, oil and gas prices continue to drop. Patrick DeHann, Head Petroleum Analyst with Gas Buddy dot com says the average price for a gallon of gas in Louisiana is currently $1.85, with speculation that the price could drop as much as another 50 cents in the coming months.

Saints QB Drew Brees and his wife committed $5 million dollars to help feed Louisiana residents who are struggling financially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Four people in Baton Rouge have died after a car traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into a house.

In addition, protecting the community the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office is now offering to pick up and deliver groceries to at-risk members of the community who can’t leave their homes due to the coronavirus.

Cleco announced on Thursday that it had donated $1,500 to Louisiana College to support the college’s efforts to make face shields for health care facilities that are facing supply shortages amid the Corona Virus Disease outbreak.

KALB Reporting Last Night With the spread of COVID-19, the Food Bank of Central Louisiana is still open and fully operational at this time.

The Pelicans are trying to adjust to life under the threat of COVID-19 and maintain the momentum that had them challenging for the 8th seed before the season was suspended.